Catalog Record
Report from S&T Project 21041: Combining Physically Based Snow Modeling and Remote Sensing at High Spatial Resolution to Improve Runoff Forecasts in High Elevation Basins
This project implemented the SnowModel to simulate snow water equivalent data in the headwater basins of the Upper Colorado River and in the Big Thompson Basin above Lake Estes in Colorado. The model is driven by NLDAS-2 data. The model assimilates SWE from SNOTEL stations and Snow-Covered Area from Landsat and Sentinel-2 sensors. A remote sensing tool was developed to download images and process them so they can be ingested in the SnowModel in pseudo-real time. Model calibration was performed for the 2000 to 2020 period. Calibrated model results show good performance and similar spatial pattern as ASO. This modeling tool is implemented in Eastern Colorado Area Office and will support real-time short-term forecasting for the Big Thompson River basin.
Generation Effort
S&T Project 21041: Combining Physically Based Snow Modeling and Remote Sensing at High Spatial Resolution to Improve Runoff Forecasts in High Elevation Basins
Themes
Water
Reclamation Project
Colorado-Big Thompson Project
Reclamation Program
Science and Technology Program
Location Information
Location Description
The study area for S&T Project 21041 included Willow Creek basin, and all basins that contribute to Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain and Granby Reservoirs in the headwaters of the Colorado River. It also included the Big Thompson River Basin above Lake Estes on the east side of the divide.
Location Parent
State(s)
Colorado
Unified Region(s)
Missouri Basin
Timezone
Elevation
[ N/A ]
Vertical Datum
[ N/A ]
Coordinates (lat, long)
See
Location Details
Horizontal Datum
WGS84
