Hydrologic Connectivity at the Hillslope Scale through Intra‐Snowpack Flow Paths during Snowmelt

摘要: The seasonal snowmelt period is a critical component of the hydrologic cycle for many mountainous areas. Changes in timing and rate as result physical flow paths, such longitudinal intra‐snowpack can have strong implications on partitioning meltwater amongst streamflow, groundwater recharge, soil moisture storage. However, paths are highly spatially temporally variable thus difficult to observe. This study utilizes new methods non‐destructively observe spatio‐temporal changes liquid water content snow combination with plot experiments address research question: What scale influence that downslope movement during across an elevational gradient? took place northern Colorado plots spanning from rain‐snow transition zone up high alpine. Results indicate increasing elevation, showing higher hillslope connectivity producing larger contributing areas accumulation, quantified upslope area required produce observed melt estimates. total effective accumulating was found be 17, 6, 0 m² above tree line, near below line plots, respectively. Dye tracer show capillary permeability barriers increased number thickness at elevations. We additionally utilized aerial photogrammetry ground penetrating radar surveys investigate role this process small watershed scale. here beyond scale, impacting storage transmission within snowpack