Homework #2 HWR 519

Due Thursday, February 14, 2019 (Printed copy in class)

Problem 1 (25pt)

Use the snowpack data provided to answer the questions below. These data were derived
from some detailed measurements of snowpack properties in a sub-alpine forest of
Colorado. The site description can be found at:
http://spot.colorado.edu/~monsonr/Ameriflux.html
As part of the sampling campaign the vertical distribution of snowpack properties (snow
grain size, snow density, snow grain morphology, snow temperature, and snow depth)
were measured across a small clearing in the forest. The two profiles 25cm from the tree
boles (see data sheet) were observed under the forest canopy. The two profiles at 75cm
were observed along the edge of the canopy, and the single profile at 175cm was
observed in the opening between the trees. The image below should give you some
insight into the sampling protocol. Note the image was taken for a shallower snowpack
but the sampling protocol was the same.

Answer the following questions about the snow properties for the five different profiles
provided:
11. Plot density vs. depth, and temperature vs. depth, with the vertical dimension on the
y-axis.
22. Calculate the snow water equivalent for the pit. In some cases your density
measurements are contiguous, but in others the density cuts may overlap or have gaps
between them. Be sure to treat these appropriately in your calculation of SWE.
33. Calculate the cold content for your pit.
44. Calculate the temperature gradient for the parts of the snowpack where there is a
temperature gradient. Express the temperature gradient in degrees Kelvin per meter (K m–
1
).
55. Discuss the differences in the results for the five different profiles. Why do you see
differences in the data in the open versus under the canopy? For example, note the
differences in total depth (hint).

Metadata for the attached excel spreadsheet:

Snow grain and snow temperature profiles:

These data were acquired on 25 March 2006 at the University of Colorado Ameriflux
site. The first three columns have heading size, type, depth_t, and depth_b. The size is
the snow grain diameter in mm. The type is based on a snow classification system where
w = wet, R = round, F = facets. In some cases ice lenses or dust layers may be labeled.
Depth_t is the distance from the ground to the top of the snow layer and Depth_b is the
distance from the ground to the bottom of the snow layer – if you subtract the two you
will get the layer thickness. The next two columns are the Temp or temperature in
degrees Celsius and the Tdepth or the depth at which the measurement was made (again
with the ground as a depth = 0).

Snow density profiles:

Below the snow grain size profiles (row 20) you will see another set of headings for
depth, and density. These are made for 10cm increments across the profile as discussed
in class. The two depth columns correspond to the height above ground and the density
value is in units of kg m-3.

Problem 2 (25pt)

Catchment Y has an area of 350 ha that is totally within soil group C. The land use is 250
ha pasture in poor hydrologic condition and 100 ha Brush-weed-grass mixture in good
hydrologic condition (see table on last page for help). What is the total runoff (in mm)
resulting from a 100 mm rainfall event? Supposing that 50% of the pasture was turned
into a residential area (average lot size of 1 acre), what will be the difference in the total
runoff for the same event? Assume antecedent moisture condition II.
Problem 3 (25pt)

An agricultural watershed was urbanized over a period of 20 years. A triangular unit

hydrograph was developed for this watershed for an excess rainfall duration of one hour.
Before urbanization, the average rate of infiltration and other losses was 0.30 in/h, and
the unit hydrograph had a peak of discharge of 400cfs/in at 3h and a base time of 9h.
After urbanization, because of the increase in impervious surfaces, the loss rate dropped
to 0.15in/h, the peak discharge of the unit hydrograph was increased to 600cfs/in,
occurring at 1h, and the base time was reduced to 6h. For a two-hour storm in which 1.0
in f rain fell the first hour and 0.5 in the second hour, determine the direct runoff
hydrographs before and after urbanization.

Problem 4 (25pt)

Find the half-hour unit hydrograph using the excess rainfall hyetograph and direct runoff
hydrograph given in the table below. What is the area of the watershed? Calculate the S-
hydrograph and the 1.5 hour unit hydrograph.

Time Excess rainfall Direct runof

(1/2 h) (cm) (m3/s)
1 2.7 12
2 4.9 54
3 4.6 150
4 259
5 301
6 222
7 111
8 52
9 40
10 24
11 9
Table 1 - Curve Number Values for different land-uses