Changes in Snow Storage in the Upper Hron River Basin (Slovakia)

摘要

An evaluation of changes in the snow cover in mountainous basins in Slovakia and a validation of MODIS satellite images are provided in this paper. An analysis of the changes in snow cover was given by evaluating changes in the snow depth, the duration of the snow cover, and the simulated snow water equivalent in a daily time step using a conceptual hydrological rainfall-runoff model with lumped parameters. These values were compared with the available measured data at climate stations. The changes in the snow cover and the simulated snow water equivalent were estimated by trend analysis; its significance was tested using the Mann-Kendall test. Also, the satellite images were compared with the available measured data. The results sow a decrease in snow depth and in snow water equivalent from 1961–2010 in all months of the winter season, and significant decreasing trends were indicated in the months of December, January and February.