Moisture Source for Three Extreme Local Rainfalls in the Southern Intermountain Region

Moisture Source for Three Extreme Local Rainfalls in the Southern Intermountain Region
Author: E. Marshall Hansen
Publisher:
Total Pages: 68
Release: 1975
Genre: Moisture
ISBN:

Three cases of extreme local precipitation within the Intermountain summer season were studied to determine the source of moisture for these events. The rains occurred at Phoenix, Ariz. on June 22, 1972 (133 mm in 2 hours), at Elko, Nev. on August 27, 1970 (105 mm in about 2 hours), and at Morgan, Utah on August 16, 1958 (about 150 rnm in 1 hour). Synoptic data were used to analyze surface and upper levelmoisture changes in time and space. In each case the study showed that a tongue of high moisture at low levels approached the vicinity of or encompassed the storm area prior to onset of the rain. The tongue of moisture was very narrow in reaching toward the Elko and Morgan storms and could be traced, through continuity of changes in pattern with time, back to the Gulf of California. The moisture is believed to be conveyed through the natural channel provided by the Gulf and the paralleling ridges. The low-level moisture followed a path controlled to some extent by major mountain barriers. A general conclusion is that greater emphasis should be given to tropical Pacific moisture in evaluating extreme summer precipitation values for the Intermountain region.

Catchment Modeling and Initial Parameter Estimation for the National Weather Service River Forecast System

Catchment Modeling and Initial Parameter Estimation for the National Weather Service River Forecast System
Author: Eugene L. Peck
Publisher:
Total Pages: 92
Release: 1976
Genre: Hydrological forecasting
ISBN:

The system (NWSRFS) of conceptual hydrologic models and other procedures, used in the operational river forecasting program of the United States National Weather Service, is briefly described. Complete information on the system as it existed in 1972 was published. However, since then the operational system has been expanded and revised frequently. Information on new procedures will be published in the technical literature. A major revision has been made in the soil moisture accounting for the catchment model. The components for soil moisture accounting of the Sacramento Model have replaced those of the modified Stanford Model as used in the original system. The conceptual features and characteristics of the Sacramento Model are discussed. The demonstration in the workshop of this symposium will be limited to the catchment model.