Publications

Kour, R; Patel, N; Krishna, AP (2016). Effects of terrain attributes on snow-cover dynamics in parts of Chenab basin, western Himalayas. HYDROLOGICAL SCIENCES JOURNAL-JOURNAL DES SCIENCES HYDROLOGIQUES, 61(10), 1861-1876.

Abstract
Terrain variables are the main factors affecting the spatial distribution of snow cover. This paper aims to find a relationship between snow-cover area (SCA) and topographic variables (elevation, slope and aspect), using MODIS Terra data (MOD09A1) in parts of the Chenab basin, western Himalayas. The inter-annual variability of SCA% for each month has been analysed for the years 2000 to 2011. The analysis reveals that mean annual SCA value was maximum (37.89%) in 2005 and minimum (32.07%) in 2001. The slope classes with maximum and minimum SCA% are 5 degrees-10 degrees and 30 degrees-35 degrees, respectively. Among the 16 aspect classes, the ESE-facing slope evinces maximum SCA%. During the snow accumulation period, the expanse at 3600-4300m elevation, and in the depletion period, 4300-5000m elevation are found to have maximum rate of change in SCA% per 100m rise in elevation, i.e. 3.37% and 3.67%, respectively.

DOI:
10.1080/02626667.2015.1052815

ISSN:
0262-6667