Validation and sensitivity analysis of the snow thermal model (SNTHERM) at Binggou basin, Gansu
雪热力模型(SNTHERM)在冰沟流域的模拟和敏感性试验

In this paper, we evaluate the capability of a mass and energy balance computer modelsnow thermal model (SNTHERM.89) by simulating the snow properties with experimental data measured at Binggou basin, Gansu Province, China, 2008. We also compare the simulated snow water equivalence (SWE) with the product from the advanced microwave scanning radiometer (AMSR-E).The results show that SNTHERM model could accurately predict the snow evolution process and snow properties at Binggou , and reasonably describe the characteristics of snow evolution, indicating that SNTHERM applied at Binggou successfully. In addition, we conduct the sensitivity analysis of snow properties to the meteorological forcing data and initial input parameters. It has been found that the solar radiation energy fl ux is the most sensitive parameter to the snow properties simulated by SNTHERM, such as the snow depth, density and the grain size. The snow properties are sensitive to their respective perturbation, while the snow density is sensitive to all the other properties. Hence, in the case that snow density need to predict accurately, or SWE assimilation work is conducting, the initial snow depth, density and grain size should be accurate.