Wind-blown Snow as a Water Resource
Basics of Blizzards and Snowdrift Control
Estimating Snow Transport
To put a number on snow transport, we need to know the water-equivalent of
winter snowfall. Precipitation is reported as water-equivalent, in inches (or
millimeters). The part that blows off the fetch we call relocated snow
water-equivalent. Wind can relocate as much as 70 percent of winter snowfall
on Wyoming short-grass plains, but taller vegetation, like sagebrush, reduces
the percentage.
If we know the fetch, in miles (or kilometers) and we estimate the relocated
snow water-equivalent (Srwe) from winter precipitation records and
vegetation, this plot gives us the amount of water that will drift off the
fetch, for the winter (after Tabler, 1994).
- Snow Transport Equation (page under construction)
- Examples (coming soon)
To Snow Transport