Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6066
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-6066
07 Jan 2026
 | 07 Jan 2026

Propagating Meteorological Uncertainty in Physically Based Mountain Snow Simulations

David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark

Abstract. Snow estimation in mountainous regions is uncertain because meteorology varies with topography, in situ observations are sparse and biased, and snow models have structural and scale limitations. Probabilistic methods are increasingly recognized as essential for quantifying and propagating these uncertainties in hydrological assessment. This study generates meteorological forcing ensembles designed for mountainous terrain and applies them for probabilistic, physically based snow modeling. Precipitation from global station datasets is corrected for wind induced undercatch using standardized transfer functions. Using the Geospatial Probabilistic Estimation Package (GPEP), we generate station based meteorological ensembles that combine static topographic predictors with dynamic atmospheric predictors from reanalyses. Deterministic fields are estimated with locally weighted regression and random forests, and spatially correlated random fields are used to sample residuals and produce skillful, reliable ensembles. The resulting ensembles drive the SUMMA energy-balance snow model in three contrasting basins: the Chena (Interior Alaska), Bow (Canadian Rockies), and Tuolumne (Sierra Nevada). Undercatch correction improves cold-season precipitation, dynamic predictors enhance regression skill, and random forests outperform locally weighted regression. Ensemble verification yields positive Brier Skill Scores, and ensemble-forced SUMMA simulations reproduce observed snow water equivalent with credible magnitude, timing, and uncertainty estimates. This structured approach advances probabilistic estimation of mountain snow by explicitly representing forcing uncertainty in complex terrain, supporting modeling, data assimilation, and water resource management applications.

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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Oct 2026
| Highlight paper
Propagating meteorological uncertainty in physically based mountain snow modeling
David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark
The Cryosphere, 20, 5895–5940, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5895-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5895-2026, 2026
Short summary Editorial statement
David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-6066', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Mar 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Casson, 25 Mar 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-6066', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Mar 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', David Casson, 25 Mar 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (14 Apr 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (09 Jul 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (27 Jul 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (10 Aug 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (16 Aug 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Sep 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (04 Sep 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (08 Sep 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (05 Oct 2026)

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-6066', Anonymous Referee #1, 09 Mar 2026
    • AC1: 'Reply on RC1', David Casson, 25 Mar 2026
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2025-6066', Anonymous Referee #2, 14 Mar 2026
    • AC2: 'Reply on RC2', David Casson, 25 Mar 2026

Peer review completion

AR – Author's response | RR – Referee report | ED – Editor decision | EF – Editorial file upload
ED: Publish subject to revisions (further review by editor and referees) (14 Apr 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (09 Jul 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (27 Jul 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
RR by Anonymous Referee #2 (10 Aug 2026)
RR by Anonymous Referee #1 (16 Aug 2026)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (03 Sep 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (04 Sep 2026)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (08 Sep 2026) by Carrie Vuyovich
AR by David Casson on behalf of the Authors (05 Oct 2026)

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

15 Oct 2026
| Highlight paper
Propagating meteorological uncertainty in physically based mountain snow modeling
David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark
The Cryosphere, 20, 5895–5940, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5895-2026,https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5895-2026, 2026
Short summary Editorial statement
David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark

Data sets

SUMMA Model and GPEP Input Files for Chena, Bow and Tuolumne David R. Casson https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17740655

Ensemble Meteorological Forcing for Chena, Bow, Tuolumne David R. Casson https://doi.org/10.20383/103.01532

Model code and software

GPEP Snakemake David R. Casson https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17727620

GPEP to SUMMA Snakemake David R. Casson https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17727624

David R. Casson, Guoqiang Tang, Nicolás Vásquez, Andrew W. Wood, and Martyn P. Clark

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Short summary
This study generates meteorological ensembles tailored for mountain snow estimation, accounting for topography, wind-driven undercatch, and large-scale atmospheric patterns. Driving a physics-based snow model with these ensembles allowed uncertainty in weather inputs to carry through to estimates of snow accumulation and melt. Across three mountain basins, this led to realistic and reliable snow estimates useful for data assimilation, water supply and forecasting applications.
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