Central Mountain Range Research Articles

The Effect of Grid Spacing and Domain Size on the Quality of Ensemble Regional Climate Downscaling over South Asia during the Northeasterly Monsoon

Abstract The performance of an ensemble-based dynamical regional climate downscaling system is evaluated over southern Asia in a northeasterly monsoon season for different choices in grid spacing and domain size. A seven-member ensemble of the ECHAM4.5 global climate model at a resolution of about 300-km grid size was used to drive the RegCM3 regional climate model with grid sizes of 100, 50, 25, and 20 km, respectively. The performance is reported in detail over Sri Lanka. Two sets of regional model runs were undertaken to assess the effect of grid spacing and model domain size on the downscaling performance. The RegCM3 simulation with 100-km grid size significantly underestimates the height of the central mountain range in Sri Lanka, in a manner that is too coarse to capture orographic influences on the rainfall. However, the RegCM3 simulations with grid sizes from 20 to 50 km capture mesoscale features that arise from uplift condensation on the windward side of the monsoon winds due to the topography. These simulations also capture the orographic influences on the month-to-month rainfall over Sri Lanka that were absent in the ECHAM4.5. While the “small domain” runs [where only the forcings for the region immediately around Sri Lanka (4°–11°N, 76°–85°E) are used] are computationally more efficient, the results are overly controlled by the lateral boundary driving of the ECHAM4.5 so they inherit large uncertainty from the seven ECHAM4.5 realizations used for the RegCM3 ensemble runs. The “large domain” simulation used a domain comprising both land and ocean (approximately 4°S–22°N, 65°–96°E). The large-domain group of simulations produced reasonable spatial distribution of precipitation over the region. Moreover, the ensemble spread was considerably reduced in the large-domain high-resolution runs. Therefore, fine enough grid resolution (25 km or less) and sufficiently large domain size are both needed to simulate the essential features of precipitation in this tropical and monsoonal region.

Four new species of Amynthas earthworms (Oligochaeta: Megascolecidae) from the Central Mountain Range of southern Taiwan

Four new species of terrestrial earthworms belonging to the genus Amynthas (Megascolecidae: Oligochaeta) are described from the Central Mountain Range in southern Taiwan. Two octothecate species, Amynthas pavimentus sp. nov. and Amynthas biorbis sp. nov., were found at elevations of 2000–2700 m and 412–1000 m, respectively, on both east and west slopes. Amynthas pavimentus has patched genital papillae between setal line and intersegmental furrow in VIII–IX and XVII–XX. Amynthas biorbis has a pair of large papillae adjacent to male porophores in XVIII. The other two species are the octothecate Amynthas libratus sp. nov., found at 1000 m, and the sexthecate Amynthas hongyehensis sp. nov., found at 950–1000 m, on the eastern slope. Amynthas libratus is related to A. pavimentus but has horizontal rows of papillae along setal lines or intersegmental furrows in VII–IX and XVII–XX. Amynthas hongyehensis has two pairs of large, presetal papillae medial to male porophores in XVIII and XIX.

Biodiversity conservation in human-modified landscapes of Mesoamerica: Past, present and future

Mesoamerica provides a unique context for biodiversity conservation in managed landscapes because of its geography, history of human intervention, and present conservation and development initiatives. The long and narrow form of the Mesoamerican landmass, and its division by a central mountain range, has served as both a bridge and a barrier. Conservation efforts in Mesoamerica are unique for the emphasis they place on regional connectivity through the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and on biodiversity conservation in managed landscapes. The emphasis on conservation in agricultural systems has fostered innovations in payment for ecosystem services, and provides novel insights on the functional role that biodiversity plays in the provisioning of ecosystem services. The increasing rate of economic development in the region and the advent of new payment for ecosystem service schemes have provided new opportunities for forest regeneration and restoration. However, the small scale of private landholdings and the diversity of land uses featured in the region, while contributing to biodiversity conservation due to their structural and floristic complexity, present challenges for biodiversity monitoring and management.

A spectacular new Philippine monitor lizard reveals a hidden biogeographic boundary and a novel flagship species for conservation

As humans continue to explore the last uncharted regions of the planet, discoveries of previously unknown species of large vertebrates have become infrequent. Here, we report on the discovery of a spectacular new species of giant, secretive, frugivorous, forest monitor lizard (Genus: Varanus) from the forests of the northern Philippines. Using data from morphology and mitochondrial and nuclear DNA sequences, we demonstrate the taxonomic distinctiveness of this new 2 m long species and provide insight into its historical biogeography and systematic affinities. Our molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate that the new species is closely related to Varanus olivaceus (from southern Luzon and nearby islands), but it differs from this and other varanids with respect to characteristics of scalation, colour pattern, body size, anatomy of the reproductive organs and genetic divergence. The new species appears to be restricted to forests of the central and northern Sierra Madre mountain range; it is separated from the range of V. olivaceus by a more than 150 km stretch that includes at least three low-elevation river valley barriers to dispersal. This discovery identifies a seldom-perceived biogeographic boundary and emphasizes the need for continued biodiversity research in the megadiverse conservation hotspot of the Philippines. It is anticipated that the new species will serve as an important flagship species for conservation efforts aimed at preserving the remaining forests of northern Luzon.

Wind profiler observations on orographic effects of typhoon wind structure modification over Taiwan (120.38° E, 22.6° N)

Abstract. The interaction of the storm circulation with the Central Mountain Range (CMR) of Taiwan is studied with a wind profiler located at the leeside during the invasions of two (Kaemi (200605) and Bopha (200609)) typhoons. The moderate typhoon Kaemi upgraded from a tropical depression on 21 July 2006. It then was made landfall at 15:45 UTC on 24 July 2006 near Cheng-Kung. The weak typhoon Bopha formed at about 12:00 UTC on 5 August 2006 and also landed near Cheng-Kung at around 19:20 UTC on 8 August. A new finding from both typhoons is the vortex splitting into upper and lower parts with the two typhoons that have passed the observation site nearly. For the typhoon Kaemi, demarcation height of the upper-level vortex and lower level is at 2.8 km and passed the site about 3 h earlier than the low-level one. For the typhoon Bopha, the center of the lower-level vortex at 3.5 km locates to the north of the upper-level one at 5.2 km. The re-organization of the split vortexes is found in typhoon Kaemi but not for typhoon Bopha.

Terrain Effects on an Afternoon Heavy Rainfall Event, Observed over Northern Taiwan on 20 June 2000 during Monsoon Break

An afternoon heavy rainfall event in northern Taiwan, observed on June 20, 2000 during the monsoon break, is investigated using surface observation and Doppler radar data and a nonhydrostatic model with a horizontal grid spacing of 1.33 km. Heavy rainfall was brought majorly by two precipitation systems, namely A and B. System A was initiated and developed in Taipei Basin, associated with a local wind convergence line. System B was formed on the western slopes south of Taipei Basin, extended northward of the Taipei Basin, and lasted for 4 h. The formation and maintenance mechanisms of the two systems are examined using sensitivity experiments in which the terrain of Central Mountain Range (CMR) or Yangmin Mountain (YM) located north of the Taipei Basin is removed or reduced. In addition, the effect of cold outflow from System A on System B is examined.The wind convergence line responsible for forming and maintaining System A is brought from the interaction between the prevailing southwesterly winds and the easterly/northeasterly flow caused by the terrain effect of CMR. Furthermore, the northeasterly onshore flow and the low-level northwesterly/northerly flow resulting from the prevailing southwesterly winds turning southward over southern YM, enhance System A inside Taipei Basin. System B is produced over relatively high sloped areas (elevations exceeding 200 m) in southwestern Taipei Basin by the prevailing southwesterly winds. Over relatively low lands (elevations less than 200 m), the cold outflow from System A inside Taipei Basin converges with the prevailing southwesterly winds and helps the maintenance of System B.

Remarks on the South African endemic Proandricus lesothoensis species-group

Nine of fifty-three proandric South African endemic microchaetids, characterized by a location of spermathecae and their pores in testicular, and anterior to testicular segment, are discussed. Seven species: adami, amphius, bourquini, lesothoensis, oresbiosus, pajori and sani, with spermathecal pores in testicular and pre-testicular furrows, are accredited to the lesothoensis species-group. These species occur in only limited areas of the Central Drakensberg mountain range, and some of them display a discrepancy in the arrangement of setae. P. notabilis differing in size and shape of the body, possessing one pair of spermathecae in testicular segment 10 and other spermathecae in post-testicular segments in 11 and 12, with regular setal arrangement, is not included to this group. P. timmianus, in which pre-testicular spermathecae were noted only on histological slides, is also not included in the lesothoensis species-group, but was compared with other proandric species, e.g, biancae, briani and ianthinos, known from a neighboring area of timmianus type locality in the Eastern Cape. It is noteworthy that the presence of two rare characteristics, namely, location of spermathecae and their pores in segments anterior to testes, and irregularity in setal arrangements, are unique in South African microchaetid species and need more study.

Modelling suitable areas for Hyla meridionalis under current and future hypothetical expansion scenarios

AbstractNew records of the frog Hyla meridionalis have been reported on the Iberian Central mountain range, although it is not clear if those records correspond to an expansion process or to a lack of sampling. The species' global distribution was modelled to identify possible areas of expansion in the current environment and in a near future environment. To verify the effects of modelling a dynamic situation, the hypothetical expansion process from south to north was simulated in the current scenario. The species records were partitioned in four different datasets and modelled iteratively over a study area enclosing all records: records only from North Africa, from North Africa and South Iberian Peninsula, from North Africa and all the Iberian Peninsula, and from the entire distribution. The complete dataset was also used to extrapolate the model to a current and future global environmental scenarios. The models were compared by subtraction per pairs and by Cohen's Kappa. No spatio-temporal trends were detected in species records; therefore, the hypothesis of a recent expansion is nor supported. The species spread only to the Mediterranean part of the Iberian Peninsula when modelling only with African records, and to Europe when modelling also with Iberian records. The extrapolation models were moderately similar: large suitable areas were predicted in all the continents. Temperature variables contributed more to models. The species can expand to new suitable areas, although it is not possible to know if it would expand outside the biogeographical regions where the species is present.

Environmental context of Pleistocene peopling of the Central Urals

The broader territory of the Urals has principal significance for elucidating the historical processes and environmental contexts of the Pleistocene expansion of people from the south-eastern parts of Europe into West Siberia and the northern Russian Arctic regions. Interaction of past climate change and the regional topographic modelling triggered by neotectonic activity reflected by pronounced natural transformations attest to the complexity of the Quaternary development in the Central Urals, affecting timing and intensity of the earliest human occupation of this territory. The initial peopling of the western (Fore-Ural) area is associated with the Early Palaeolithic dispersal into the marginal East European Plain, probably during some climatically favourable Middle Pleistocene interglacials. The Chusoaya River valley transecting the Central Ural Mountain range was one of the main geographic corridors for the subsequent Middle and Upper Palaeolithic migrations into the eastern (Trans-Ural) regions of West Siberia. A long-term behavioural adjustment to cold periglacial habitats is linked to progressive cultural and biological evolution during the Late Pleistocene. The north-central Trans-Urals Upper Palaeolithic Complex in the Sosva River basin with open occupation sites based on “mammoth fauna” exploitation indicates adaptation to sub-polar tundra-steppe environments of the West Siberian Plain during the last glacial stage. Geoarchaeological records provide further insights into the timing and ecology conditions of the Pleistocene colonisation of north-central Eurasia. The present study summarises the current evidence on trajectories of the Pleistocene environmental development in the broader Central Urals, still a marginally investigated geographical area of Eurasia.

Patrones de diversidad alfa en tres fragmentos de bosques montanos en la región norte de los Andes, Colombia

Diversity studies in forests are useful for conservation management. We analyzed the patterns of alpha diversity in three protected forests along an altitudinal gradient in the Northern part of the Central Mountain Range, Colombia. The study was based on six permanent plots of 1 ha (two per area). According to plant size, two main categories were used: canopy (diameter at breast height > or = 10 cm) and understory (1 cm < or = diameter at breast height < 10 cm). Species-area curves showed differences in species richness by size category in all regions. Instead, species-individual curves were independent of the size in Anorí and Angelópolis, but not in Belmira. Diversity patterns, as measured by Fisher's alpha index, showed a strong tendency to reach a plateau for sample sizes larger than 1000 individuals. Neither species-area curves nor species-individual curves showed an asymptote; however, the species accumulation rate in Belmira was very low (0.05) when compared to Anorí and Angelópolis (0.25). Fisher's alpha index is a very useful tool to understand the extent of relative differences in diversity among regions or forest types along altitudinal gradients, even when sample size is relatively small. Our results support dispersal limitation as the main mechanism structuring species assemblages at very fine scales, and the monotonic increment of density-dependence processes determining the tree community structure at larger spatial scales. Likewise, we found that density-dependence tends to increase with altitude.

Maximum Covariance Analysis of Typhoon Surface Wind and Rainfall Relationships in Taiwan

Abstract The multivariate relationships between hourly surface wind and rainfall observations during typhoons affecting Taiwan have been investigated with maximum covariance analysis (MCA). Historical surface observations from 1987 to 2004 are used when typhoon centers were located inside the domain of 19°–28°N, 117°–127°E. The three leading MCA modes explain 70%, 20.6%, and 7.6% of the squared covariance fraction, and the correlation coefficients are 0.59, 0.48, and 0.49, respectively. The wind directions of the three leading positive modes are 1) northwesterly flow perpendicular to the Snow Mountain Range (SMR), 2) southwesterly flow toward the river valleys of the southwestern Central Mountain Range (CMR) and the southern SMR, and 3) easterly flow toward the northeastern SMR and the northern CMR. The rainfall patterns of the three principal modes reveal the contrast between the windward and the leeward sides of the mountain ranges. Based on the MCA singular vectors, historical typhoon surface wind patterns are categorized into major types. The results show that the three major wind types consist of 53% of the data, with 25%, 9%, and 19%, respectively, for these wind types. Furthermore, the analyses of the corresponding surface air temperatures, relative humidities, and air pressures also reveal contrasting patterns between the windward and leeward sides.

Indigenous Knowledge Construction and Experiential Learning of Taiwanese Aborigines

Indigenous peoples in Taiwan belong to the Austronesian racial group. Confined to their oral language tradition, knowledge about Taiwan aborigines based on written documents reflected the positionality of dominant ethnic groups. This qualitative study employed participatory research approach to explore the process of producing their own knowledge through collective investigation of problems and issues among Taiwan aborigine tribal members in the Nantou region. Nantou is located in the central mountain range of Taiwan. The data were collected through participatory observation and interviewing 6 key research participants about their experiences of participating in this project. Two main findings are revealed from the analysis of these data. The first finding is the participants’ expectation of adult educators’ role as an information provider. They also expect adult educator as a facilitator for promoting the project to move towards a more empowering praxis and as a mediator for attracting external attention on indigenous voices. The second finding is that minority’s experiences are always a site of struggle and central to this struggle is the reconfiguration of ‘ethnicity’ which is rooted in socio-cultural context. Taking account of context, experience might be distorted while experiential learning can be stigmatizing, in that learners can become un-reflective prisoners of their experience. However, experience certainly has the potential of liberating marginalized learners. The findings implied the importance of the socio-cultural context of situated ‘experience’. This insight suggests that ‘power’ can be renegotiated to challenge and eventually change the structure of the socio-cultural context.

Two genetic divergence centers revealed by chloroplastic DNA variation in populations of Cinnamomum kanehirae Hay

Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata (Lauraceae), the most valuable subtropical and temperate broadleaf timber tree in Taiwan, is rapidly disappearing from the wild. Taking advantage of a scion garden established by the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute, we examined patterns of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) variations in 19 populations including 94 individuals. By sequencing two cpDNA fragments using universal primers (the trnL-trnF and petG-trnP intergenic spacers), we found eight polymorphic sites, six haplotypes, and extremely low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.00016) from 792 bp aligned sequences. The ancestral haplotype is widely distributed. Among the populations studied, three separated populations, at Yungfeng, Fuli, and Tahu have high nucleotide diversity. No phylogeographical structures of haplotypes were revealed because the tests of NST−GST for populations did not differ from zero in any situations; a ‘star-like’ genealogy is characteristic when all haplotypes rapidly coalesce and is a general outcome of population expansion. The neutrality test also suggested demographic expansion. The genetic divergence and diversity analyses suggested that two potential refugia existed during the last glaciation with a major one located in southeastern Taiwan and a minor one located in Tahu in north-central Taiwan in the Hsuehshan Range, west of the Central Mountain Range.

Effects of Topography on Seismic-Wave Propagation: An Example from Northern Taiwan

Topography influences ground motion and, in general, increases the amplitude of shaking at mountain tops and ridges, whereas valleys have reduced ground motions, as is observed from data recorded during and after real earthquakes and from numerical simulations. However, recent publications have focused mainly on the implications for ground motion in the mountainous regions themselves, whereas the impact on surrounding low-lying areas has received less attention. Here, we develop a new spectral-element mesh implementation to accommodate realistic topography as well as the complex shape of the Taipei sedimentary basin, which is located close to the Central Mountain Range in northern Taiwan. Spectral-element numerical simulations indicate that high-resolution topography can change peak ground velocity (PGV) values in mountainous areas by ±50% compared to a half-space response. We further demonstrate that large-scale topography can affect the propagation of seismic waves in nearby areas. For example, if a shallow earthquake occurs in the I-Lan region of Taiwan, the Central Mountain Range will significantly scatter the surface waves and will in turn reduce the amplitude of ground motion in the Taipei basin. However, as the hypocenter moves deeper, topography scatters body waves, which subsequently propagate as surface waves into the basin. These waves continue to interact with the basin and the surrounding mountains, finally resulting in complex amplification patterns in Taipei City, with an overall PGV increase of more than 50%. For realistic subduction zone earthquake scenarios off the northeast coast of Taiwan, the effects of topography on ground motion in both the mountains and the Taipei basin vary and depend on the rupture process. The complex interactions that can occur between mountains and surrounding areas, especially sedimentary basins, illustrate the fact that topography should be taken into account when assessing seismic hazard.

The Effects of the Heavy Rainfall Event of 12 June 2005 on Taiwan Terrain

A series of numerical simulations are conducted using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF-ARW) model with a 9-km mesh to examine the physical processes responsible for the torrential rainfall associated with a mesoscale convective system (MCS) along the Mei-Yu front that caused severe damage over south western Tai wan on 12 June 2005. In the control experiment (with full Taiwan terrain), the MCS tends to prop a gate north ward along the wind ward (western) slope, rather than being advected down stream, as it encounters the southern Central Mountain Range (CMR). The low-level convergence between the dynamically-driven re turn flow and the in coming southwesterly flow is an important factor for the northward propagation of the MCS. The values of the unsaturated moist Froude number (F(subscript w)) and the convective available potential energy (CAPE) are about 0.333 and 2858 J kg^(-1) for the convectively unstable basic flow. This air flow be longs to the flow-around regime as suggested by previous studies. In this flow regime, the torrential rain fall associated with the simulated MCS occurs on both the upslope side and adjacent plains over southwestern Taiwan, which agrees well with the observed rainfall distribution. A sensitivity study of lowering the Tai wan terrain elevations to 80% (F(subscript w)~0.416) or 60% (F(subscript w)~0.555) of that in the control experiment reveals that the airflow is characterized by a long-lasting orographic convective system near the mountain peaks. The simulated torrential rainfall mainly occurs along the mountain peaks of the southern CMR. The experiment with a reduced elevation to 40% (F(subscript w)~0.833) or 20% (F(subscript w)~1.666) in the control experiment shows a down stream-prop a gating MCS, which falls into the flow-over regime. This study demonstrates that the north ward propagating MCS, which is mainly caused by the flow deflection by southern CMR, played a key role in producing torrential rain fall over southwestern Taiwan during 0000-1200 UTC 12 June 2005.

A Revision of Corded Ware Settlement Pattern –New Results from the Central European Low Mountain Range

The excavation of the Wattendorf-Motzenstein Corded Ware settlement in Franconia (Germany) has yielded new information with regard to the architecture, economy, and ritual activities, as well as the social organisation of Final Neolithic groups in Central Europe. The settlement is dated to 2660–2470 cal BC and was an agrarian community. Detailed analyses of the material culture combined with biological and pedological parameters allowed new interpretations regarding Corded Ware economies as well as domestic and ritual spheres. The settlement contained about 35 individuals at most, who were organised in fewer than eight households. The exceptional results obtained call for further research strategies to be developed.

Biogeography of Mindoro mosses

The moss flora of Mindoro Island was updated based on the 2004–2006 expeditions conducted by the author. The island’s moss flora now consists of 282 species in 128 genera and 39 families, which is higher than Palawan but far less than those of Luzon and Mindanao. Generally, the flora is most abundant in the eastern rainy part of the island, especially along mid-elevations on the east-facing slope of the central mountain range in the transition zone between montane and mossy forests. Moss diversity is also greater in riverine forests than in inland forests at low elevations. Only three moss taxa, Rhaccocarpus alpinus, Dicranoloma daymannianum and Distichophyllum noguchianum, have their Philippine range restricted to the island. Distichophyllum noguchianum is a Philippine endemic. Floristically, the Mindoro moss flora is identified more with Luzon within the Philippine archipelago, while its sharing of other widespread Malesian taxa reinforced its role as an integral component of the Malesian flora. Reports of taxa with Australasian affinity show growing evidence for a Gondwanan influence on the island moss flora, although a tenuous one. Likewise, the presence of moss taxa such as Acroporium johanneswinkleri, Cryptogonium phyllogonioides and Glyptothecium sciuroides in Mindoro, reinforce the important role of Palawan as link in the exchange of biota between Mindoro, Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia during the Pleistocene. Finally, the importance of the island in enriching the Philippine flora and the necessity to protect its remaining forests are discussed.

Wind profiler radar investigation on typhoon-orography interaction

[1] Two typhoons Kaemi (200605) and Bopha (200609) crossing over Taiwan were continuously monitored by a wind profiler radar located on the lee side of the Central Mountain Range (CMR) of the island. Wind fields rotating systematically associated with the storm passage is pronounced for both typhoons. Nevertheless, significant wind shear takes place above and below the altitude of about 3.5 km owing to the mountain blocking before typhoon landing is reported in this paper for the first time. Winds deflected due to the orography behave diversely with respect to different typhoon tracks and strengths that may cause a secondary circulation to modify the original one. In this study, a moderate typhoon, Kaemi re-organizes the winds from the CMR blocking after landfall. On the other hand, weak typhoon Bopha shows a very complicated wind pattern structure from this typhoon-orography interaction. As the winds are disturbed dramatically, it dissipates over the sea soon after the typhoon center leaves Taiwan.

Characteristics of rainfall during tropical cyclone periods in Taiwan

Abstract. Due to the Central Mountain Range with an elevation up to about 4 km, the amount and distribution of rainfall in Taiwan associated with typhoons or tropical cyclones (TCs) depends not only on the distribution of convection within the TCs (internal structure) and influences from monsoon-scale environmental flow, but also on the orographic effect. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal characteristics of rainfall associated with 62 TC cases that affected Taiwan by using observations from the 371 automatic rain stations available in the period 1989–2002. It is found from the climatology maps that highly different rainfall distributions occurred for TCs that approached the Taiwan area from different directions. By performing objective clustering analysis of the rainfall time series of all the rain gauges, several characteristic temporal rainfall profiles are obtained. The geographic distribution of rain gauges that possess a particular temporal profile is also consistent with the possible TC track types that bring maximum rain to the Taiwan area at different times. Based on data in the 1989–2002 period, the development of a TC rainfall climatology-persistence (CLIPER) model is described. CLIPER is an optimized combination of climatology and persistence with different relative weighting for different forecast periods. Independent cases (other than the model development database) during 2003–2004 are used to validate the model. Objective measures like equitable threat score and bias score show that CLIPER's skill is acceptable for practical applications for 24-h rain threshold below 100 mm. However, the underestimation bias for more heavy rainfall is serious and CLIPER seems to have better performance for the northwestern Taiwan than for the other locations. Future directions for improvement of the CLIPER model are discussed.

Hydrological Modeling of Snow Accumulation and Melting on River Basin Scale

Snowmelt is of importance for many aspects of hydrology, including water supply, erosion and flood control. In this study, snow accumulation and melt are modeled using a distributed hydrological model with two different snowmelt simulation modules. The model is applied for simulating river discharge in the Latyan dam watershed, in the southern part of central Alborz mountain range, Iran. The data consists of 3 years of observed daily precipitation, air temperature, potential evaporation, windspeed and discharge. The discharge data is used for model calibration. When using the temperature index method for snowmelt three parameters need to be calibrated, while for the energy balance approach all parameters are preset and not optimized. The model performance is satisfactory for both methods with efficiencies of more than 80%. In order to show the performance of the model, two interesting snow accumulation and melt periods are discussed in detail. This study shows that the model has great potentiality to simulate the impact of snow accumulation and melt on the hydrological behavior of a river basin.