Znaczenie lasu oraz morfologii terenu w rozwoju pokrywy śnieżnej w Sudetach Zachodnich na przykładzie sezonu zimowego 2003/2004

GIS method was used to describe changes in factors influencing snow cover depth in relation to land cover category (forested/woodless area) and terrain morphology. In the snow cover increase phase, differences in its depth between forest and woodless area weren't visible. During this phase directional screening/exposure indices were responsible for snow cover differentiation. In maximum water equivalent phase the role of terrain roughness as the factor controlling snow depth was clear. On one hand it depends on land cover type, which is especially visible in characteristic of diverse density and height of forest stand, but on the other hand it depends also on terrain morphology. In the snow cover disappearance phase, stand canopy slows the ablation process down and the snow cover in forest is higher than on the open air area. During the whole winter season, significantly smaller impact of absolute altitude, terrain slope and aspect as factors controlling snow cover depth differentiation in the Western Sudety Mountains was observed.