Historic Average Winter Snowpack, Southern Sierra Nevada California,1971-2000
Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
This dataset is a historic average Winter (December, January, February) snowpack, in southern Sierra Nevada California, for
1971-2000, from the <a href="http://climate.calcommons.org/dataset/10">California Basin Characterization Model (BCM)</a> <br
/> <br /> Snowpack: Amount of snow accumulated per month summed annually, or if divided by 12 average monthly snowpack. This
is calculated as prior month's snowpack plus snowfall minus sublimation and snow melt. <br /> <br /> The California Basin
Characterization Model (BCM) climate dataset provides historical and projected climate surfaces for the state at a 270 meter
resolution. The historical data is based on 4 kilometer PRISM data, and the projected climate surfaces are based on the A2
and B1 scenarios of the PCM and GFDL GCMs. The BCM approach uses a regional water balance model based on high resolution downscaled
precipitation and temperature as well as elevation, geology, and soils to produce surfaces for a wide range of variables.
These variables include maximum temperature, minimum temperature, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, runoff, recharge,
climatic water deficit, actual evapotranspiration, sublimation, soil water storage, snowfall, snowpack, snowmelt, and excess
water. Data is distributed as 30-year monthly summaries and 30-year water year summaries, with month-by-month data for each
year available by special request. <br /> <br /> Creator: Flint, Lorraine E. and Flint, Alan L. <br /> Contributor: Thorne,
James, and Boynton, Ryan <br /> Publisher:Â Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER), California Energy
Commission <br />
Citation
Title Historic Average Winter Snowpack, Southern Sierra Nevada California,1971-2000