Characteristics of snow-depth distribution in Japan during heavy snowfall of 2005-2006 winter

• IYOBE Tsutomu

  Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu

• KAWASHIMA Katsuhisa

  Research Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University

• IZUMI Kaoru

  Research Center for Natural Hazards and Disaster Recovery, Niigata University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title

• 平成１８年豪雪における積雪深分布の特徴
• ヘイセイ 18ネン ゴウセツ ニ オケル セキセツシン ブンプ ノ トクチョウ

Abstract

In this paper, we perform a detailed evaluation of the snow-depth distribution in Japan caused by heavy snowfall of 2005-2006 winter. The snow-depth data were investigated according to the values measured all over Japan on February 6, 2006; consequently, 1917 points were collected. Heavy snow areas (depth of over 3 m) were found mainly in the inland mountainous regions bordering the Sea of Japan. The highest snow-depth value was 5 m around Echigo-Sanzan. The snow depth uniformly increased with an increase in the altitude in all the regions bordering the Sea of Japan; however, the ratios of the increases in the snow depth to the altitude were different. The snow depths in Yamagata and Niigata prefectures remained unchanged at over 300 m a.s.l. These results can be attributed to the consolidation of the snowpack as a result of both the high snowfall loading and long duration of snow covering. In the Niigata prefecture, a pattern of peak values was observed at higher altitudes during other heavy snowfall occurrences as well, which implies that such altitudinal distribution of the snow depth was not limited only during the 2005-2006 winter. In the heavy snowfall area located in inland mountainous region, the snow-depth distribution at 315 points (measured by the Japan Meteorological Agency) was estimated to be smaller than the values in our data for a depth of above 1 m; therefore, it might be impossible to exactly understand the snow-depth distribution including the maldistribution of the snowpacks in inland mountainous regions.

Journal

• Journal of the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice

  Journal of the Japanese Society of Snow and Ice 69 (1), 45-52, 2007

  The Japanese Society of Snow and Ice

Keywords

• heavy snowfall of 2005-2006 winter
• snow-depth distribution
• altitudinal distribution
• inland mountainous region

Details

• CRID: 1390001206460225024
• NII Article ID: 10018547666
• NII Book ID: AN00131221
• DOI: 10.5331/seppyo.69.45
• ISSN: 18836267
• ISSN: 03731006
• HANDLE: 10191/9286
• NDL BIB ID: 8676293
• Web Site: https://niigata-u.repo.nii.ac.jp/records/3119
• Web Site: https://ndlsearch.ndl.go.jp/books/R000000004-I8676293
• Text Lang: ja
• Data Source:
  • JaLC
  • IRDB
  • NDL
  • Crossref
  • CiNii Articles
• Abstract License Flag: Disallowed