Snow water equivalent mapping in a mountainous sub-basin of Karoon using GIS (case study-Samsami basin)

Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) is one of the important parameters in climatic and hydrologic studies and knowledge on SWE values is essential for supplying, season floods control and water providing for human consumptions use. In this research, first, correlations between SWE and corresponding elevation were determined using different regression relationships and then the best equation was selected based on correlation coefficient (r). In the next step, based on the equation and using GIS, spatial distribution of snow water equivalent was determined and its local map was developed. Finally, the results were evaluated using the map of exact observed data which was interpolated by ordinary Kriging geostatistical model. The results indicated that the best correlation relationships between SWE and elevation were polynomial non-linear, logarithmic non-linear and linear regressions (P value<0.05), respectively. Also, the results showed a strong corresponding between the SWE mapping which was developed by polynomial non-linear method and the interpolated map and decreasing elevation from west to east of the study area, SWE value extremely decreased.