SnowHydro: 12. – 15. February 2018
Snow is an important component of the hydrological cycle. The seasonal storage of water in the snowpack may last over months, and its retarded release is a major factor of reliable water supply for ecosystems and human needs during dry periods. Rapid snow melt can however cause destruction through sudden floods, mostly in combination with rainfall. [more]
Thus, water demanding downstream regions, settlements and infrastructures are highly vulnerable with regard to the presence or absence of snow in the headwaters. Increasing air temperatures and changing precipitation patterns driven by climate change will modify snow conditions and thus lead to changing water supplies. Snow cover is also a critical factor in global and regional energy balances. The consequences of reduced snow duration and an increasing share of rainfall on precipitation will completely change the land-atmosphere interactions and thus lead to further modifications of the regional climatic conditions.
The spatial heterogeneity of snow accumulation and ablation in complex terrain is triggered by multiple causes, among which vegetation and topography play a major role. However, the reliable estimation of snowpack variability remains a challenge. Traditional methods, including new direct measurement techniques, provide accurate information about snow conditions at the point scale. But they lack high observation frequency and spatial coverage.
Remote sensing techniques have been widely used for snow monitoring in recent years, and they are able to monitor the snowpack over large spatial domains. Yet, beside limited temporal resolution, remotely sensed data is often biased by snow misclassifications, and cloud cover frequently limits the availability of snow related information. Hydrological models which include snow dynamics require reliable input data, but these have limited availability especially in mountainous regions. The simulation of snowmelt frequently lacks sufficient spatial and temporal detail, so that forecasting of snowmelt runoff for operational purposes is still a challenging task.
The SnowHydro conference will address the range of topics with regard to snow and its significance for hydrology. It aims at bringing together experience from experimental research, hydrological modelling and remote sensing and it will facilitate joint research on snow science.
The purpose of the SnowHydro conference is to present recent research findings in all areas of snow hydrology, to facilitate scientific discussions and to provide opportunities for collaboration and cooperation. The conference shall attract scientists, students and other professionals with different geographic origin and scientific background. The participation of early career researchers is positively encouraged. The organizing committee will strive as far as possible for a balance with respect to senior and junior scientist in the conference’s sessions.
We welcome contributions on all aspects of snow and hydrology, with emphasis on the following specific topics:
- remote sensing of snow properties
- experimental research and new measurement techniques
- spatial variability of snow
- snow-vegetation interaction
- snow data assimilation for modelling purposes
- the prediction of snow melt and runoff
- simulation models of snow, model comparisons
- snow in semi-arid environments
- climate change, snow conditions and water supply
- teaching concepts in snow hydrology
Scientific Sessions and Meetings
a) Advances in snow hydrological modelling. Conveners: Tobias Jonas, Timothy E. Link
b) Recent advances in experimental snow research and new measure-ment techniques. Conveners: Jakob Garvelmann, Franziska Koch
c) Application of remote sensing snow products in hydrological studies. Convenors: Abror Gafurov, Richard Kelly
d) Assimilation of snow data for hydrological modelling in cold regions. Convenors: Gaia Piazzi, Guillaume Thirel, Gabriëlle De Lannoy, Tobias Jonas, Jan Magnusson
e) Snow and climate change. Convenors: Irene Brox Nielsen, NN
f) Snow hydrology in semi-arid environments. Convenor: Denis Ruelland
g) Open session on snow hydrology. Convenor: Lucas Menzel
h) Operational applications in snow hydrology. Convenors: NN
i) Young scientists meeting. Meeting organizer: Gaia Piazzi, Caleb Pan
Registration and Call for Contributions
Please register at the conference webpage:
https://express.converia.de/?sub=107
For abstract submission use Word or a plain text file to compile the abstract (title, author(s), affiliation(s) of author(s), and abstract text). Your abstract text should have 100–500 words. Clearly indicate your preference for poster or for oral presentation. There is no guarantee that an oral preference can be realized. Please note that accepted speakers and poster presenters have to register for the conference.
Registration Fees
Early bird (ends 31 August 2017): 250,-- Euro
Regular: 270,-- Euro
Young scientists* (students, PhD students): 190,-- Euro
The conference fee includes participation in all sessions, digital book of abstracts, coffee/tea and snacks, lunch, conference dinner, guided city tour and a public transportation ticket
* proof to be shown upon registration or at the registration desk
On 15 February 2018 a one day excursion heads to the Black Forest (snow cover development, snow monitoring, winter tourism, National Parc etc.). The cost is 50,-- Euro which includes bus transport, documentary and lunch. Please indicate upon registration if participation is desired.
- John Faulkner Burkhart, University of Oslo (Norway)
- Sergey Chalov, Lomonosov Moscow State University (Russia)
- Chunyu Dong, University of California Los Angeles (USA)
- Abror Gafurov, GFZ Potsdam (Germany)
- Jakob Garvelmann, IMK-IFU Garmisch-Partenkirchen (Germany)
- Simon Gascoin, CESBIO Toulouse (France)
- Richard Kelly, University of Waterloo (Canada)
- Vsevolod Moreydo, Russian Academy of Sciences (Russia)
- Juraj Parajka, Vienna University of Technology (Austria)
- Denis Ruelland, HydroSciences Montpellier (France)
- Stefan Wunderle, University of Bern (Switzerland)
The conference is organized by the Professorship of Hydrology and Climatology at the Department of Geography, Heidelberg University. Contact:
snowhydro18@uni-heidelberg.de
Responsible organizers:
- Lucas Menzel, Heidelberg University (Germany)
- Verena Maurer, Heidelberg University (Germany)
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the German Hydrological Society (DHG) and the Heidelberg Center for the Environment (HCE). Photo credits: Lucas Menzel
