On the Changing Snow Contribution to Runoff Across Turkiye

Year 2023, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 105 - 118, 24.05.2023

Furkan Yunus Emre Cevahir , Mustafa Berk Duygu

https://doi.org/10.31807/tjwsm.1088444

Abstract

Contribution of snowfall to runoff is especially important in snow-dominated regions where hydrological processes are mostly influenced by snowmelt. In this study, the contribution of snowfall
to runoff in Türkiye for the last 21 years was examined in the light of the hydrological model results globally provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The model outputs of the
Global Land Data Assimilation System v2.1, in which observed and remote sensing products are assimilated, were used in this study. The snow dominant regions of Türkiye for the last 21 years were
revealed, and the ratio of the spatially averaged maximum snow water equivalent to runoff (Rsr) values, an indicator showing snowmelt contribution to runoff, were calculated for a period of 11-years from 2000 to 2021 (period 1:2000-2010, period 2: 2011-2021). These Rsr values were compared across Türkiye to see whether they were decreasing or increasing in the snow-dominated regions.
According to the results of the analysis, Rsr values are decreasing in all snow-dominated regions. Rsr values decreased by up to 50 percent in the last 11-year period in the regions receiving high snowfall, such as the upper Euphrates basin.

Keywords

hydrology, snowmelt, runoff, climate change, global warming

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