Simulation of the snowmelt runoff hydrograph by using of remote sensing and geographic information systems (Sariz creek watershed case study)

The significant part of annual runoff volume of some basins, which are at high altitudes and have a great snow potential, is constituted by melting of the accumulated snow in spring months. Modeling of accumulation and melting of snow is important in view of operating of water resources as efficient and sustainable as possible in basins, which are recharged by snow melting. In this thesis, the simulation of hydrographs of Sarız Creek watershed was studied in Seyhan Basin, for 2004 and 2005 snow melting seasons (March-April). In the thesis, Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) hydrological modeling program, which is used widely in determination of snowmelt runoff volume, was applied together with remote sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technologies. SRM program requires some daily climatological variables which are temperature, precipitation and snow covered area. Daily snow covered area values were determined by analyzing of MODIS satellite images with GIS. Parameter values which are used in SRM were obtained by using of observed data. In the simulation studies, two cases were assumed. While values of all parameters were used directly as determined in Case 1, calibrated values of some parameters in Case 1 were used in Case 2. The simulated hydrographs were compared with observed hydrographs. While they are generally compatibility, some deviations were observed, too. Some recommendations are mentioned so that modeling studies can be better and more reliable in the future applications.