Figure 4 Rates of snowmelt at different elevations in the Mamukao River
Basin during spring and winter precipitation(a, c, e, g: Spring; b, d,
f, h: Winter)
The ablation rates of different slope directions in the Mamukao River
Basin exhibited variation (see Fig. 5). During spring, the ablation
rates followed the following order: south slope > west
slope > east slope > north slope, with the
south slope experiencing the highest rate of ablation and the north
slope the lowest. Conversely, in winter, the ablation rates followed
this order: west slope > east slope > south
slope > north slope, with the west slope exhibiting the
highest rate of ablation and the north slope the lowest. The north slope
consistently demonstrated the lowest ablation rate in both winter and
spring, likely due to the relatively flat topography of the Mamukao
River and its location on the shaded side during these seasons,
resulting in reduced solar radiation and consequently lower rates of
ablation compared to the other three slopes. In winter, the south slope
displayed the fastest ablation rate, attributable to the low
precipitation during this season and the increased solar radiation
received. In spring, the east and south slopes, being windward slopes,
experienced precipitation that slowed down the ablation rate, whereas
the west slope, located on the leeward side with lower precipitation,
exhibited the highest ablation rate. Additionally, the northward
movement of the sun during spring resulted in reduced radiation received
by the south slope, further contributing to the west slope’s relatively
greater ablation rate.