TY  - JOUR
A1  - Rottler, Erwin
A1  - Vormoor, Klaus Josef
A1  - Francke, Till
A1  - Warscher, Michael
A1  - Strasser, Ulrich
A1  - Bronstert, Axel
T1  - Elevation-dependent compensation effects in snowmelt in the Rhine River Basin upstream gauge Basel
JF  - Hydrology research : an international journal / Nordic Association of Hydrology ; British Hydrological Society
N2  - In snow-dominated river basins, floods often occur during early summer, when snowmelt-induced runoff superimposes with rainfall-induced runoff. An earlier onset of seasonal snowmelt as a consequence of a warming climate is often expected to shift snowmelt contribution to river runoff and potential flooding to an earlier date. Against this background, we assess the impact of rising temperatures on seasonal snowpacks and quantify changes in timing, magnitude and elevation of snowmelt. We analyse in situ snow measurements, conduct snow simulations and examine changes in river runoff at key gauging stations. With regard to snowmelt, we detect a threefold effect of rising temperatures: snowmelt becomes weaker, occurs earlier and forms at higher elevations. Due to the wide range of elevations in the catchment, snowmelt does not occur simultaneously at all elevations. Results indicate that elevation bands melt together in blocks. We hypothesise that in a warmer world with similar sequences of weather conditions, snowmelt is moved upward to higher elevation. The movement upward the elevation range makes snowmelt in individual elevation bands occur earlier, although the timing of the snowmelt-induced runoff stays the same. Meltwater from higher elevations, at least partly, replaces meltwater from elevations below.
KW  - compensation effects
KW  - elevation-dependency
KW  - Rhine River
KW  - snowmelt
KW  - timing
Y1  - 2021
U6  - https://doi.org/10.2166/nh.2021.092
SN  - 2224-7955
VL  - 52
IS  - 2
SP  - 536
EP  - 557
PB  - IWA Publ.
CY  - London
ER  -