Visualising Our Snow Water Equivalent Solution
Capabilities and Validation
Demonstrating our snow water equivalent (SWE) solution for the hydropower industry.
Quick Page Links
Quick Page Links
- Introduction
- Snow Water Equivalent Solution Interactive Map App
- Melting Snow Solution Interactive Map App
- Solution Graph Visualisation Interactive App
- Download our Snow Water Equivalent Product Quality Assessment
- Video – How to use these maps and graphs
- Static images of our Interactive Map Apps and Solution Graph Visualisation
- Contact our team
Introduction
Changes in the magnitude and timing of snowmelt can significantly alter downstream inflow to hydropower dams. Winter snow accumulation as well as spring snowmelt affect streamflow and water availability for the rest of the year.
Following you will find three web apps that allow you to explore the relationship between snow characteristics and downstream flow at different times throughout the year in a fairly low large-scale depression in the land surface in Switzerland’s Binn Valley (Binntal).
The combined near real-time data from which our team has produced these visualisations, provide seasonal insights as well as specific data points that would be able to support energy producers in making effective decisions in their hydrological output capabilities. Furthermore, our near real-time insights empower the energy industry to speeden up the process to detach from fossil fuels, as well as optimising energy security initiatives and upholding SDG commitments.
The map and graph visualisations on this page are created from downstream flow data kindly provided by Forces Motrices Valaisannes (FMV) and Gommerkraftwerke AG (GKW), as well as Wegaw data based on acquisitions by European Space Agency satellites. This satellite data is then combined with additional data sources through our own unique machine learning algorithms to produce these interactive datasets.
Snow Water Equivalent Solution – Interactive Map App
Snow water equivalent (SWE) is the depth of water that would cover the ground if the snow cover was in a liquid state. This app allows you to see changes in the magnitude and distribution of snow water equivalent (SWE) values over time in a fairly low large-scale depression in the land surface in Switzerland’s Binn Valley (Binntal).
Note how the legend in the top-right corner shows the color scale for SWE values, and updates each time you switch to a new map.
Use the layered square button to switch between maps for different times of the year.
For instance, the map from April 2021 shows lower coverage of melting snow and a greater coverage of non-melting snow. The lightest areas show SWE extent of 80cm whereas the darkest blue areas show SWE extent of 110cm.
For more details and full guidance on how to use this application, please click here.
Please wait a moment whilst our data loads…
Melting Snow Solution – Interactive Map App
‘Melting’ snow refers to snow with a high water content – indicating it is in the process of melting. This app allows you to see changes in the extent of melting vs. non-melting snow over time in a fairly low large-scale depression in the land surface in Switzerland’s Binn Valley (Binntal).
Use the layered squre button to switch between maps for different times of the year.
For instance, the map from April 2021 shows lower coverage of melting snow and a greater coverage of non-melting snow.
For more details and full guidance on how to use this application, please click here.
Please wait a moment whilst our data loads…
Solution Graph Visualisation – Interactive App
With this interactive graph, you can explore dataset comparisons and view results of snow water equivalent and melting snow measurements in centimetres over a period between October 2017 and October 2021 in a fairly low large-scale depression in the land surface in Switzerland’s Binn Valley (Binntal).
Seasonal patterns are clearly noticeable and demonstrate where snow melts, becomes water and flows into rivers that run into various lakes and hydropower plants. By having more accurate forecasting insights into when snow will melt, water managers and power station operators are able to better operate their assets, whilst energy traders can position their pricing models more competitively.
Use the drop-down “Snow Product” menu to switch between graphs for different variables.
Use the date picker to zoom in on a time range you’re interested in.
For instance, the Snow Water Equivalent Snow Product graph you can see mean SWE measurement values in centimetres with a flow of 2m3/sec.
You can also explore the seasonal patterns of the Melting Snow Product allows you to see the melting snow percentage of the total area with a flow of 2m3/sec.
Finally, you can directly compare both the SWE and Melting Snow products in the third option which shows both SWE and Melting Snow measurements with the mean SWE measurement in centimetres and a Melting Snow of the total area.
For more details and full guidance on how to use this application, please click here.
Please wait a moment whilst our data loads…
Video – How to use these maps and graphs
Here our Spatial Data Scientist, Niamh French, takes you through exactly what you’re looking at in these maps and graphs and how you can interact with them and manipulate them yourself to see different datasets.
Key – Map application tools
Below are the interactive tools that you can click on to change the various elements within each map:
Images – Map and graph apps
Wegaw Snow Water Equivalent Map App
Wegaw Wet Snow Map App
Wegaw’s monitoring capabilities of Snow Water Equivalent over a group of fairly low hydrological basins in Valais, Switzerland.
Google Map with Terrain – Valais, Switzerland
Google Map with Topography and Elevation Terrain – Valais, Switzerland
Google Map with Satellite View – Valais, Switzerland
Wegaw Snow Water Equivalent + Melting Snow graph – October 2017-2020
Wegaw Use Case Validation Graph
Wegaw Snow Water Equivalent graph – October 2017-2020
Wegaw Melting Snow graph – October 2017-2020
Video – How to use these maps and graphs
Here our Spatial Data Scientist, Niamh French, takes you through exactly what you’re looking at in these maps and graphs and how you can interact with them and manipulate them yourself to see different datasets.
Key – Map application tools
Below are the interactive tools that you can click on to change the various elements within each map:
Images – Map and graph apps
Download our Hydropower Data Integration Assessment
In our detailed technical report, Wegaw’s SWE solution is described at length and evaluated against independently sourced data values from Canada and Switzerland. Find out, with several examples, how we integrate SWE into seasonal forecasts of inflow and add value for long-term trading of hydropower assets. The results and graphs shown within this report explore a broad and comprehensive assessment whilst showcasing our R&D expertise.
SWE, measurements at Weissfluhjoch, Davos, Switzerland
Validation of the Wegaw snow density model against in-situ measurements using snow scale, snow pillow and manual observations of SWE at Weissfluhjoch, Switzerland, provided by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. In this validation setup Wegaw SWE is obtained by combining ultrasound snow height observations at the station location with the Wegaw snow density model.
SWE, depletion of SWE and discharge in Gletsch, Switzerland
Wegaw SWE observed in the catchment Gletsch, weekly reduction of the snowpack and the resulting observed streamflow.
Please complete the below form in order to gain access to our technical report.
SWE, measurements at Weissfluhjoch, Davos, Switzerland
Validation of the Wegaw snow density model against in-situ measurements using snow scale, snow pillow and manual observations of SWE at Weissfluhjoch, Switzerland, provided by the Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research SLF. In this validation setup Wegaw SWE is obtained by combining ultrasound snow height observations at the station location with the Wegaw snow density model.
SWE, depletion of SWE and discharge in Gletsch, Switzerland
Wegaw SWE observed in the catchment Gletsch, weekly reduction of the snowpack and the resulting observed streamflow.
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