Review of models and procedures for modelling urban snowmelt

Abstract

A literature review of selected snowmelt models or algorithms was undertaken to identify which of these tools could be readily used, or easily modified, for simulating urban snowmelt. In this context, the urban factors influencing snowmelt were classified into three categories: human activities, land use, and the origin of deposited snow; and served to develop a classification of urban snow covers with characteristic properties influencing snowmelt. Finally, the assessment of capabilities of the surveyed models or algorithms to simulate snowmelt for these covers indicated that: (i) only two of the tools addressed the critical characteristics of urban snow covers (for specific cases only), (ii) urban runoff models with snowmelt subroutines offered best operational flexibility, though modifications and/or guidance on input values would be required for satisfactory simulations, and (iii) the review findings should help modellers in choosing a snowmelt simulation tool best serving their task with respect to urban conditions.