4.3 Dominant factors stabilising snowpack distribution
At large scales, temperature and precipitation are the primary factors
that influence the distribution of snowpack. However, at regional
scales, additional factors, such as topography, play a significant role
in contributing to the heterogeneity of snowpack distribution (Jiang et
al. 2020,Li et al. 2023,Saydi et al. 2020). In this study, elevation
played a significant role as the influencing factor for the stable
snowpack during both winter and spring in both basins. The areas with
high elevation predominantly exhibited the presence of a stable
snowpack. This finding aligns with Chu et al.’s study on the spatial
distribution of snow cover on the Tibetan Plateau, which indicated a
positive correlation between elevation and snow cover extent.
Specifically, their study demonstrated that higher elevations
experienced greater snow cover (Chu et al. 2017). Additionally, the
findings of this study indicate that the distribution of a stable
snowpack is influenced not only by elevation but also by factors such as
wind speed, radiation, and the proportion of subsurface area. In the
Mamukao River Basin, wind speed emerges as the primary determinant in
the distribution of a stable snowpack during winter and spring. The
prevalence of high wind speeds in this region increases the likelihood
of ”wind-blown snow” phenomenon, which, in turn, leads to sublimation,
ablation, or redistribution of the snowpack. Consequently, this process
significantly impacts the overall distribution pattern of the stable
snowpack (Fujita et al. 2010). Radiation has implications for the
distribution pattern of stable snow in the region. Specifically, the
Tibetan Plateau experiences the highest solar radiation levels in China
(Qi et al. 2014),The Mamukao River Basin is located in the inland area
of the Western Sichuan Plateau. It experiences low precipitation and
frequent sunny days, which leads to rapid snowmelt due to high
radiation. In the Hanliu River Basin, the stability of snow distribution
patterns is mainly influenced by land cover types and precipitation. The
Hanliu River is situated in the alpine canyon area of the Hengduan
Mountains. The vertical zoning in this area plays a significant role in
determining the type of subsurface, which, to some extent, reflects the
water and heat conditions of the region. Additionally, the rate of snow
melting varies depending on different subsurface conditions (Zhang et
al. 2014); The Mamukao River Basin is primarily characterized by
grassland ecosystems, and the specific type of land has a minimal impact
on the distribution pattern of stable snow. Consequently, the influence
of the Mamukao River Basin on the subsurface is relatively limited,
while it exerts a greater influence on the Hanliu River Basin. (Note:
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