Investigating the Relationships Between Canopy Characteristics and Snow Depth Distribution at Fine Scales: Preliminary Results from the SnowEX TLS Campaign

In temperate, mountainous regions across the world, upwards of 60% of seasonal surface water is stored in the snowpack. In forested areas, characterizing the effect of forest structure on the spatial distribution of snow can provide insight into hydrological modelling efforts, and forest management decisions. Just as snow drifts and scours correspond to underlying topography, wind redistribution can create patterns in snow distribution which reflect the surrounding canopy structure. Using variables derived from terrestrial laser scans collected in Grand Mesa, Colorado, the effect of forest structure and topography on snow depth is analyzed statistically