Investigating the relationship between topographic components (elevation, slope, slope direction) and snow cover in the Qara Su watershed

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 professor of Geomorphology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Iran.

2 Department of Physical Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Mohaghegh Ardabili University, Ardabil, Iran

10.22034/hyd.2026.71102.1833

Abstract

In this study, the spatiotemporal variations of snow cover extent in the Qareh-Su watershed were investigated over the period 2010-2024 using the MODIS/061/MOD10A1 product and the Normalized Difference Snow Index (NDSI). To analyze the influence of topographic factors, the relationship between snow cover area and elevation, slope, and aspect was evaluated. The results showed that the highest mean snow cover area occurred during the years 2010–2011, with approximately 32 km², while the lowest values were observed in 2023–2024, at about 12 km². Analysis of elevation classes indicated an increase in snow cover area up to elevations of 3181–3984 m, followed by a decrease at the highest elevations (3984–4788 m), which may be attributed to extremely low temperatures, transformation of snow into ice, and wind effects. Regarding slope, the highest mean snow cover area was observed on steep slopes (47–53%), whereas the lowest values occurred on gentle slopes (less than 11%). Furthermore, the results showed that north- and northeast-facing slopes had the highest snow cover extent, while south-facing slopes had the lowest, highlighting the role of solar radiation in snow distribution. Overall, the findings indicate that topography plays a decisive role in the spatial distribution and temporal fluctuations of snow cover in the study area, and that MODIS data provide a suitable tool for long-term snow cover monitoring.

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Journal of Hydrogeomorphology

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 16 May 2026

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History

  • Receive Date: 07 January 2026
  • Revise Date: 13 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 16 May 2026

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