Hydrological modelling of glacierized catchments focussing on the validation of simulated snow patterns – applications within the flood forecasting system of the Tyrolean river Inn

J Schöber,S Achleitner,R Kirnbauer,F Schöberl,H Schönlaub

doi:10.5194/adgeo-27-99-2010

J Schöber, S Achleitner + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.5194/adgeo-27-99-2010

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Abstract

Abstract. The catchment of the river Inn is located in the Swiss and Austrian Alps. In the frame of the flood forecasting system "HoPI" (Hochwasserprognose für den Tiroler Inn), the Austrian part of the river Inn and its tributaries are covered within a hybrid numerical model. The runoff from the glacierized headwaters of the south-western Inn tributaries is calculated using the Snow- and Icemelt Model "SES" which utilizes a spatially-distributed energy balance approach; within SES, the accumulation and melting processes for snow, firn, and ice are considered. It is of great importance that such a type of model is used in the simulation of alpine areas since in these regions stream flow is influenced by the accumulation and melt of snow and ice and snow-free glaciers have also the potential to increase or even induce flood flow. For a prototype of the forecast system, SES was calibrated using the snow depletion of a glacier, but later, following the first results during the operational mode, the model was recalibrated and validated using remotely-sensed data covering all 13 glacierized catchments. Using the final snow-parameter setting, a simulation run of 15 hydrological years without any state corrections achieved overall agreements between observed and simulated snow cover ranging from 68% to 88% for all individual catchments. Runoff was calibrated and validated using the data from three different gauges. A parameter set, including both validated snow and runoff parameters, was applied for the modelling of a fourth gauged catchment and also achieved accurate results. This final unique parameterization was transferred to the remaining, ungauged watersheds.

Highlights

This article is focused on the hydrological modelling of the glacierized parts of the Otztaler Ache and its adjacent river basins
These mountain ranges contain some of the largest glaciers in Austria; e.g., the Otztaler Ache catchment (893 km2) with a glacierization rate of 13% is one of the main tributaries to the river Inn
Water is discharged almost without delay as observed during the main flood event on the glacier Vernagtferner in August 1998 (Braun and Weber, 2002). As well as their role in flooding processes, glaciers have a major influence on the overall runoff regime of glacierized catchments: e.g., the mean annual contribution of ice melt to total runoff for gauging stations along the Otztaler Ache derived from model results is between 37% and 27% (Innsbruck/Inn 8.4%) with a contribution up to 50% during summer months (Weber et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

This article is focused on the hydrological modelling of the glacierized parts of the Otztaler Ache and its adjacent river basins These mountain ranges contain some of the largest glaciers in Austria; e.g., the Otztaler Ache catchment (893 km2) with a glacierization rate of 13% is one of the main tributaries to the river Inn. Floodwaters from glacierized alpine regions can be caused by heavy rainfall runoff, meltwater discharge, or the outburst of ice-dammed lakes (Braun and Weber, 2002). As well as their role in flooding processes, glaciers have a major influence on the overall runoff regime of glacierized catchments: e.g., the mean annual contribution of ice melt to total runoff for gauging stations along the Otztaler Ache derived from model results is between 37% and 27% (Innsbruck/Inn 8.4%) with a contribution up to 50% during summer months (Weber et al, 2009)

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