An Investigation on Temporal Variation of Snow Accumulated Depth and Snow Water Equivalent in Northern Karoon Basin

Karoon basin is one of the most important watersheds in southwestern of Iran. Great amount of precipitation in this region fall in the form of snow. Studying about accumulated snow and snow water equivalent in this basin can help to knowledge about hydrologic condition and better management on water sources. This research was carried out in the Col Chari region as an indicator region for snow measuring in north Karon basin. In this research snow height were measured directly with ruler. Also snow volume (with specific cylinder)، weight (with digital scale) and snow water equivalent (according to snow bulk density) were determined. In order to snow measuring، seven sites were selected and three scaled indexes (accurate to one cm and four m in length) were established in each site. This research was performed for six years. In each year، inventory and data collection were started after the first snow and snow height were measured weekly. Also three samples of snow profile were supplied. The results indicated that snow stability had been differed from 104 to 193 days during six years. Maximum height of snow was observed in February. Also، we concluded that، maximum height of accumulated snow and mean of annually snow height were varied from 103 to 197 cm and from 39 to 100 cm respectively. Maximum amount of snow water equivalent and its annually mean were determined between 37 and 110 cm and between 14 and 44 cm respectively also.