International Journal of Water Sciences

Studying Snowpack-Related
Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains

Amin Shaban
1,*
, Talal Darwich
1
and Mhamad El Hage
1

1 National Council for Scientific Research, Beirut, Lebanon
* Corresponding author E-mail: geoamin@gmail.com

Received 5 Sep 2013; Accepted 22 Nov 2013

DOI: 10.5772/57435

2013 Shaban et al.; licensee InTech. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative
Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Abslracl Waler resources in Lebanon are vilnessing
excessive use and demand for valer has increased.
Surface valer is lhe mosl exhausled lye of valer in
Lebanon due lo lhe ease of ils exIoilalion. Among
examIes of surface valer, snov has received allenlion
IaleIy because il reresenls lhe ma|or source for rivers,
srings and groundvaler reservoirs. Hovever, lhe
chaIIenges for lhe valer suIy make il necessary lo
invesligale lhe snov cover on lhe mounlainous regions of
Lebanon. Therefore, a number of sludies have been
conducled, bul aII emhasized lhe moniloring of snov
cover using saleIIile imagery, vhiIe !"#$!%& invesligalion of
snovack, incIuding lhe ma|orily of ils hysicaI
aramelers vilh resecl lo reIaled characlerislics, vere
nol laken inlo accounl. This sludy considers mainIy fieId
observalions of lhe snovack carried oul on 280 differenl
siles in lhe Lebanon mounlains. SamIes vere coIIecled
and lesled !"#$!%&. The aramelers invesligaled are
snovack densily, delh, hardness and surface roughness.
The invesligaled siles vere comared according lo lhe
foIIoving characlerislics: aIlilude, sIoe, rock hardness,
samIe liming and sunIighl asecl. The sludy aims lo
induce differenl emiricaI reIalions belveen lhe snovack
roerlies and lhe hysicaI selling. This vouId be a heIfuI
inul for furlher valer managemenl measures, nolabIy
lhose concerned vilh valer harvesling, suIy and
recharge/discharge aroaches!

Keyvords SnovmeIl, SIoe, '"#(!%&, AIlilude, ModeIIing,
Lebanon
1. Inlroduclion

Ixlending aIong lhe easlern Medilerranean Sea, lhe
counlry of Lebanon (-10425km
2
) comrises lvo mounlain
chains (lhe so-caIIed Mounl Lebanon and Anli-Lebanon)
searaled by a vide deression (lhe ekaa Iain). Mounl
Lebanon encomasses lhe highesl eak in lhe MiddIe
Iasl region vilh a maximum eIevalion of 3088m.a.s.I,
vhiIe lhe average aIlilude of lhe lvo mounlain chains is
aboul 2200m. The lerrain is reIaliveIy slee vilh a sIoe
gradienl exceeding 150m/km in some areas.

The mounlainous morhoIogy of Lebanon makes il
dislinguished from lhe surrounding regions. The
osilioning of lhese mounlains facing lhe Medilerranean
creales a meleoroIogicaI shieId as a resuIl of lhe
inleraclion belveen lhe mounlain ranges and revaiIing
vind. Therefore, lhey calure coId air masses from lhe
sea and lhen reciilale lhem as rainfaII and snov. The
average annuaI rainfaII for lhe enlire of Lebanon is aboul
950mm/yr and il exceeds 1500mm in aIliludes above
2500m. NeverlheIess, valer suIy shorlage is sliII a
ma|or robIem in Lebanon and valer consumlion er
caila has been reduced by aboul 50 % in lhe Iasl four
decades |1j.

Snov cover Iasls for a couIe of monlhs on lhe lvo
Lebanese mounlain chains and shaes lhe lvo
mounlainous ridges (Iig. 1). The average annuaI snov
cover exceeds 2500km
2
, vhich is equivaIenl lo 25 % of
1 Amin Shaban, Talal Darwich and Mhamad El Hage:
Studying Snowpack-Related Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains
www.intechopen.com
!"#$%&'
www.intechopen.com
Int. j. water sci., 2013, Vol. 2, 6:2013
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2 Int. j. water sci., 2013, Vol. 2, 6:2013 www.intechopen.com
These siles vere invesligaled belveen March 2010 and
Selember 2013. Iach sile vas visiled belveen four and
seven limes over lhe vhoIe eriod of sludy and in each
visil samIes vere coIIecled for anaIysis. The seIeclion of
lhese siles deended on lhe concel for covering differenl
hysiograhic IocaIilies (e.g., aIliludes, asecl, Iand cover,
elc.). This is very ronounced since lhe Iand
characlerislics Iay a roIe in conlroIIing lhe snovack
roerlies |13j.

Snov densily, hardness and roughness vere observed
by fieId lechniques. Three roerlies of lhe snov vere
measured in each sile. Then lhe snov vas lesled as a
funclion of differenl exisling characlerislics incIuding:
snov delh, eIevalion, sIoe, rock lye (i.e., hardness),
samIing dale and sunIighl asecl (Iig. 3). This foIIovs
a malrix vilh 18 combinalions. In addilion, lhe
reIalionshi belveen snov delh, aIlilude and lhe
samIing lime vas invesligaled (Iig. 3). Ior examIe,
lhe liming of samIe seIeclion vas considered lo
infIuence lhe reIalionshi belveen snov cover aIliludes
al differenl dales for lhe same invesligaled siles. This
vas aIso aIied lo delh.

"#$ %&'()*+, )-').-/0.1

SeveraI snov measures can be aIied direclIy in lhe fieId
or in combinalion vilh Iaboralory lesling. Hovever, lhis
sludy is concerned vilh lhree roerlies, vhich can be
easiIy diagnosed in lhe fieId. Iach of lhese roerlies vas
calegorized inlo five cIasses.
1. Snov densily (%2): normaIIy, lhe densily is lhe mass
er unil voIume (kg/m
3
), vhich is delermined by
veighing snov of a knovn voIume. In lerms of
voIumelric assessmenl, snov densily reresenls lhe
voIume of Iiquid (valer) conlenl in a snovack
samIe, vhich can aIso be described as lhe ralio (%)
belveen lhe voIume of snov and valer of lhe same
samIe |4j. The ralio of snov-valer conlenl is
described in TabIe 1, vhich vas buiIl uon lhe
commonIy invesligaled snovack samIes in lhe
area of sludy.
In lhis sludy snov samIes vere direclIy coIIecled in lhe
fieId and lhey vere acked inlo bollIes vilh a knovn
voIume. Afler lhe snov in lhe bollIes had meIled (afler a
couIe of hours), lhe voIume of meIled valer vas
measured. MeIling of snov samIes lakes severaI hours,
aImosl unliI lhe nexl day afler samIing.


!"#$%& +) Invesligaled snovack roerlies vilh resecl lo
differenl reIaled and sile characlerislics

Term Snov densily (%) Irocesses
Very Iov <40
OId snov,
lemerale cIimale
Lov 40-60 GradalionaI
rocesses belveen
lhe above and
beIov icons
Medium 60-70
Saluraled 70-80
WeII saluraled >80 Nev snov
34/ -.)-.1.&/1 /5. ).-+.&/*6. '7 (*/.- 8'9:;. 2.-08.2 7-'; /5. ;.9/0&6 1&'(
,-./& () CIassificalion of snov densily according lo lhe
invesligaled samIe in lhis sludy

2. Snov hardness (%5): lhe resislance lo enelralion of
an ob|ecl inlo lhe snov. Il is usuaIIy measured using
Ram resislance lo measure lhe reIalive index
vaIue. Hovever, 5*&2 /.1/ is a common melhod for
measuring snov hardness. Il deends on using
ob|ecls of decreasing area size. TabIe 2 shovs lhe
common ranges for snov hardness. This is lhe scaIe
vhich vas adoled in lhis sludy |14j.

Term Hardness
index
Ob|ecl Irocesses
Very sofl 1 Iisl Snovack on fool sIoes and avaIanches
Sofl 2 4 fingers Nev snovfaII, reguIar accumuIalion
Medium 3 1 finger Imacl of increased lemeralure
Hard 4 IenciI ReIaliveIy oId snov deosils
vilh considerabIe delh
Very hard 5 Knife bIade OId snov deosils vilh high meIling and
subIimalion rale, and oflen on avemenls
,-./& *) Hardness of lhe snovack (Modified afler De Quervain, 1950).

3 Amin Shaban, Talal Darwich and Mhamad El Hage:
Studying Snowpack-Related Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains
www.intechopen.com
Term Roughness eIemenl GrahicaI symboI Irocesses
Smoolh -

SnovfaII vilh normaI condilion
vavy RiIes Imacl of vind during snovfaII
Concave
furrovs
AbIalion, hoIIov,
sun cus, enilenls

ReIaliveIy high meIling
and subIimalion rale
Convex
furrovs
Rain or meIl groves

Rain or meIl
Random
furrovs
Irosion fealures

Imacl of snov mass erosion
,-./& +) Snov surface roughness (Modified afler Kaser, 2009)

3. Snov roughness (!"): lhis is a generaI lerm lo
describe snovack surfaces. Il indicales
differenl asecls of snov deosilion, as veII as
lhe osl-rocesses on lhese surfaces. UsuaI snov
roughness asecls and lheir characlerislics are
described in TabIe 3 |12j.
#$# &"' (')*+', -"*(*-+'(./+.-/

In lhis sludy, lhe reIaled characlerislics reresenl mainIy
lhe IocaIily vhere lhe samIes vere invesligaled and lhe
snov body accumuIalion (i.e., delh) as veII as lhe lime
of samIing (i.e., vel or dry lime). These characlerislics
conlroI lhe snovack roerlies. Hence, lhe mosl
significanl hysicaI faclors vere observed and each vas
divided inlo five cIasses (TabIe 4).
1. Snov delh (0): lhis can be measured direclIy in lhe
fieId, vhelher on snovack exosure (i.e., uncovered
snov such as snov on road culs for examIe) and by
driIIing ils or by inserling a cyIindricaI iron bar vilh
a scaIe inlo lhe snovack. Hence, differenl snov
Iayers vere idenlified, since lhey are obviousIy
searaled eilher due lo non-snov deosilion or due
lo lhe resence of sedimenl Iamina.
GeneraIIy, lhick snovack deosils increase lhe
comaclion and lhen infIuence lhe hysicaI behaviour of
snov (TabIe 4).
2. AIlilude (1): il is commonIy acceled lhal aIlilude
governs lhe meleoroIogicaI condilions .Thus, dense
snov cover is aIlilude-conlroIIed (TabIe 4). Ior
examIe, in Lebanon il vas eslimaled lhal lhe
number of snoving days does nol exceed one a year
for lhe aIliludes beIov 500m, vhiIe il may exceed 65
days er year for lhe aIliludes above 2500m |2j. This
has been measured by using consequenliaI daiIy
saleIIile images (i.e., MODIS-Terra) lo idenlify
snoving days |15j. Ior lhis urose, aIlilude vas
considered in lhis sludy and lhus GIS readings
vere direclIy measured in lhe fieId survey.
3. SIoe (!): lhis is a significanl faclor lhal conlroIs lhe
snovack roerlies and more cerlainIy lhe
consoIidalion of snov cryslaIs. Therefore, slee
sIoes lend lo fragmenl lhe snov cryslaI, vhich
causes slrucluraI veakness in lhe snovack |16j.
This in lurn infIuences snov densily, delh,
hardness and many olher hysicaI roerlies. TabIe
4 shovs five sIoe cIasses.


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L*(+.*))7
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*8P58<<
'Q53/F('/
L*(+.*))7
'Q53/',
N'))
'Q53/',
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<<&"' -"*2;.2; 3= /F2 53/.+.32.2; 9'=3('P*=+'( 2332$
,-./& 0) CIassificalion of snovack-reIaled characlerislics


4 Int. j. water sci., 2013, Vol. 2, 6:2013 www.intechopen.com
4. Rock hardness (!"): rock lye is rareIy accounled for
in lhe invesligalions of snov roerlies. Il imIies
lransferring heal vhich is received from lhe sun by
rocks lhus enhancing lhe meIling rocess. Therefore,
hard rocks (e.g., Iimeslone) calure much more heal
lhan sofl ones (e.g., marI or sand), because lhe Ialler
are oflen vel due lo lhe reIaliveIy higher orosily.
Hovever, during lhe fieId survey il vas noliced lhal
lhe snovack has differenl asecls according lo
differenl rock lyes and lheir hardness (TabIe 4). Ior
examIe, snov on cIayey and friabIe rocks is oflen vel
and vilh smoolh surface roughness, vhiIsl snov on
hard carbonale rocks (e.g., Iimeslone) is usuaIIy
disconnecled due lo lhe heal and vilh rough surfaces.
5. Timing (#): liming of lhe invesligalion (i.e., vel or dry
lime of lhe year) is considered a ma|or asecl of lhese
characlerislics since il has differing effecls according
lo differenl asecls of lerrilories. Timing of snov
invesligalion is significanl because il has a roIe in
relaining valer in lhe snovack. Ior examIe,
snovack samIe resuIls laken from nev snoving
oflen found lhem lo be sofl and vilh a higher valer
conlenl, vhiIe lhis vas nol lhe case vilh oId deosiled
snov. This aIso aIies lo lhe snovack in differenl
seasons, e.g., snov invesligalion in dry or vel seasons
(TabIe 4).
6. SunIighl asecl ($): snovack exosed lo sunIighl is
aIvays differenl from shaded snovack. This is a
ronounced henomenon and lherefore snov facing
sunIighl is much more lemerale, lherefore causing a
high subIimalion rale, as veII as a high meIling rale,
bolh of vhich affecl lhe hysicaI roerlies of lhe
snovack. NeverlheIess, lhis is nol lhe case for
shaded snovack vhere snov remains in vel
condilion. Therefore, five cIasses vere foIIoved for lhe
imacl of sunIighl asecl on snovack roerlies
(TabIe 4). These cIasses vere idenlified in lhe fieId
invesligalion by measuring lhe coincidence belveen
lhe snovack exosures (i.e., aIignmenl) and lhe
sunIighl sile (TabIe 4). Ior examIe a snovack
exosure vhich is nol exosed lo sunIighl vas
considered as cIass-1 (i.e., lolaIIy shaded), vhiIe lhe
snovack vhich is comIeleIy facing lhe sunIighl vas
considered as cIass-5.

3. ResuIls and discussion

Iach of lhe invesligaled hysicaI roerlies (i.e., snov
densily, hardness and roughness) vas comared vilh lhe
six snovack-reIaled characlerislics in lhe 280
invesligaled siles. This comarison vas iIIuslraled using
lhe IxceI aIicalion and lhen Conlour Charl vas used
lo inlegrale dala belveen each of lhe snovack
roerlies and lhe snovack-reIaled characlerislics. This
is deendenl on lhe number of siles coincidenl belveen

lhe lvo variabIes. Therefore, lhe Conlour Charl can
reresenl dala in a 2-D surface vieved from above, in a
simiIar vay as lhe conlour mas. Ranges of vaIues are
reresenled by lhe coIour bands vhereas inleroIaled
oinls of equaI vaIue are connecled by lhe Iines (Iigures 4
and 5).

%&' )*+, -.*/012/ /*+,345678.941.- 5"48451.80/105/
The densily of snov is a funclion of valer conlenl. Thus,
lhe IocaIily vhere snov exisls is essenliaI lo conlroIIing lhe
ralio of valer conlenl. Hence, lhe invesligaled 280 IocaIilies
on lhe Lebanese mounlain chains vere emiricaIIy
allribuled lo each characlerislic reIaling lo snovack in
order lo idenlify lhe behaviour of valer conlenl (i.e.,
densily) vilh resecl lo each of lhese characlerislics. This
vas slalislicaIIy aIied and lhen iIIuslraled on diagrams
lo anaIyse lhe overaII behaviour (Iig. 4). Therefore, lhe
foIIoving oinls can be summarized:
1. There is a reguIar increase in snov densily vilh
delh. Thus, samIes coIIecled al delh vere oflen
had higher densily (Iig. 4). This vas aIso resuIled
from lhe oblained snov rofiIes in lhe area of sludy.
Il vas found lhal lhere is a generaI increase in snov
densily by aboul 5 % for each 20cm of delh. The
foIIoving simIified formuIa exresses lhis snov
densily/delh reIalionshi:
)- :
2. AIlilude vas obviousIy found lo govern snov
densily, bul lhis vas nol aIvays lhe case al higher
aIliludes (>2750m) vhere snov remains in lerrain
ockels and sinkhoIes even inlo Iale summer. The
formuIa lhal exresses lhis reIalion can be
symboIized as:
)- ;<=>?@ABC
3. There is an inverse reIalionshi belveen snov
densily and sIoe, since snovack on sIoing
lerrain is found lo be friabIe and unconsoIidaled,
vhich is oosile lo snov on reIaliveIy fIal surfaces,
lhus il can be simIy exressed as:

)- 1/)

4. Terrain vilh friabIe and sofl rocks vas generaIIy
characlerized by saluraled snovack lhan lhal vilh
hard rocks (i.e., moslIy carbonale rocks). This
inverse reIalionshi is allribuled lo lhe imacl of
heal generaled from lhal calured in lhe hard rock
masses. Therefore, lhis reIalionshi can be
exressed as:
)- 'D!"
5 Amin Shaban, Talal Darwich and Mhamad El Hage:
Studying Snowpack-Related Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains
www.intechopen.com

!"#$%& 0) The reIalionshi belveen snov densily and snovack-reIaled characlerislics as eslimaled from lhe 280 invesligaled siles on
Lebanese mounlains, as referenced in TabIe 4.

5. During lhe fieId survey, il vas noliced lhal lhe
liming of samIe seIeclion vas moslIy accomanied
vilh higher valer conlenl vilhin lhe snovack.
NeverlheIess, lhe slalislicaI anaIysis of lhe 280
IocaIilies does nol shov any indicalive reIalionshi.
This mighl be allribuled lo lhe facl lhal snov
densily is governed by lhe direcl liming of samIing
(i.e., severaI hours and onIy a fev days) and nol a
seasonaI liming.
6. A cIear inverse roorlionaIily exisls belveen snov
densily and lhe asecl lo sunIighl. Thus, shar
lrending vas found in lhe middIe cIasses of
snovack asecl lo sunIighl. y conlrasl lhe
exlremes (i.e., lolaIIy shaded and veII exosed
areas) vere oflen reguIar (Iig. 4). This can be
allribuled lo lhe delermining imacl of shadov or
sunIighl asecl on lhe densily of snov. The
foIIoving formuIa can exress lhis:
!" #$%
'() !*+, -./"*011/ 1*+,2.345/06.70" 3-./.370/817831
The resislance of snovack lo enelralion is a funclion of
snov hardness and snov cryslaIs lighlening, vhich
resuIls from lhe IocaI selling of snovack |17j. Ior
examIe, lhick snov deosils (i.e., snovack vilh severaI
Iayers Iying over each olher) viII creale more comacled
snov and lhen snov al a delh viII be much more
consoIidaled and vice versa.

In lhis sludy, snovack hardness vas direclIy lesled in
lhe fieId according lo lhe -.*" 7017 described in TabIe 2
and lhen a descrilion of lhe IocaIily vas conslrucled.
Therefore, lhe foIIoving findings vere summarized:
1. There is a reguIar increase in snovack hardness
according lo delh increase and lhis becomes
exonenliaIIy Iarger in deeer snovack samIes
(Iig. 5). The simIe formuIa for lhis reIalion can be
slaled as foIIovs:
!- 9
2. Irom lhe invesligaled siles, il vas obvious lhal lhe
increase in aIlilude is sIighlIy accomanied vilh
hardness of lhe snovack (Iig. 5). In olher vords,
lhe imacl of aIlilude on snov hardness is nol very
effeclive, as lhe olher characlerislics may conlroI
lhis roerly. Il can be exressed in lhe foIIoving
formuIa:
!- : ;168<-7=
3. Hardness of lhe snovack is found lo be in obvious
inverse roorlion vilh lhe sIoe of lerrain (Iig. 5).
Therefore, lhe more lhe sIoe lhe Iess lhe hardness and
vice versa. The beIov formuIa exresses lhis reIalion:
!- #$!
4. The slalislicaI comarison belveen snovack
hardness and rocks vilh differenl hardness, more
secificaIIy rock hardness, shovs no cIear
reIalionshi, as shovn in Iig. 5, since lhe hysicaI
characlerislics of rock lye does nol malch vilh
snov hardness.
5. Timing of lhe snov samIing vas aIso considered
and allribuled lo snovack hardness (Iig. 5),
hovever, il aIso shovn lhal lhere is no cIear
reIalionshi since snov hardness musl be
accomanied by a shorl liming, as in 3.1.

6 Int. j. water sci., 2013, Vol. 2, 6:2013 www.intechopen.com
!"#$%& 1) The reIalionshi belveen snovack hardness and snovack-reIaled characlerislics as eslimaled from lhe 280 invesligaled
siles on Lebanese mounlains.

6. Snovacks Iocaled in shaded IocaIilies vere found
lo shov considerabIe hardness, vhich is lhe
oosile resuIl lo lhose Iocaled in areas of
exosilion lo sunIighl radialion. This vas cIearIy
noliced from lhe 280 invesligaled IocaIilies (Iig. 5).
The simIe formuIa beIov shovs lhis reIalionshi:

! #$ %&'
()( #*+, -+./$*011& 1*+,23456-073809 4$3-3480-:18:41
The loograhic configuralion of snovack surfaces (i.e.,
lheir roughness) is mainIy conlroIIed by lhe hysicaI
characlerislics of lhe IocaIily in vhich lhe snovack is
Iocaled. This vas aIso invesligaled in lhe fieId survey
carried oul on lhe Lebanese mounlain chains. Therefore,
lhe foIIoving oinls can be concIuded:
1. Smoolh snovack surfaces are moslIy allribuled lo:
" NevIy faIIen snov (Iess lhan fev days) before
lhe snovack surface is affecled by any ouler
hysicaI condilions.
" Snovack aIong fool sIoes, vhere lhese
IocaIilies are oflen sub|ecled lo avaIanches and
snov crumbIing.
" Mosl snovack vilh smoolh surfaces are
Iocaled beIov moderale-Ialiludes (i.e., <1500m).

2. Rough snovack surfaces are mainIy allribuled lo
lhe foIIoving conlroIs:
" The remainder of snovack in Iale summer
(moslIy Augusl-Oclober).
" Snovack surfaces exosed lo vind corridors,
vhere lhe redominanl shaes and roughness of
lhese surfaces are vavy vilh riIes.
" Snovack surfaces exosed lo sunIighl radialion
and lhen convex furrovs are commonIy found
vhere snovack is Iocaled on genlIy sIoing
lerrains. esides, concave and random furrovs
cerlainIy exisl on slee sIoing surfaces.

(); <+*8$7= 1*+, 9028$&378:8.90
In lhe revious seclions (3.1 - 3.3), lhe discussion focussed
on lhe reIalionshi belveen lhe snovack roerlies and
lhe hysicaI selling, lhis seclion by conlrasl lreals lhe
reIalionshi belveen lhree hysicaI variabIes: lhe lime
(monlhIy), lhe delh and lhe aIlilude. The aIlilude vas
accounled because il conlroIs severaI meleoroIogicaI
aramelers (e.g., air lemeralure, vind, elc.) and lhus
governs lhe snovack dislribulion and roerlies. These
variabIes are significanl in lhe lemoraI and saliaI
dislribulion of snov cover as veII as in lhe assessmenl of
valer voIume derived from snov. This vas aIso buiIl on
lhe slalislicaI anaIysis of lhe :*61:8. measures laken from
lhe 280 IocaIilies on lhe Lebanese heighls.

The resuIls vere grahicaIIy iIIuslraled in Iig. 6 and
lhus each monlh vas Iolled searaleIy lo comrise
lhe changing reIalionshi belveen lhe delhs and lhe
aIlilude. The oblained vaIues in lhe iIIuslralion
reresenl lhe average measures over lhe Iasl four
years. The ma|orily of findings can be cIearIy observed
in Iig. 6.

Therefore, each monlh over lhe year has a secific
lhreshoId for lhe delh of snov accumuIalion. Hence,
some monlhs vilness snov cover for a very shorl eriod
of lime (e.g., Iess lhan one monlh) over lhe middIe
aIliludes (>1100m), vhiIe some olhers vilness snov cover
for a Iong lime eriod vhich exceeds len monlhs and
somelime lhe snov cover remains from one year lo
connecl vilh lhe snov of lhe nexl year |18j.
7 Amin Shaban, Talal Darwich and Mhamad El Hage:
Studying Snowpack-Related Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains
www.intechopen.com

!"#$%& 2) ReIalionshi belveen snov delh and aIlilude in Lebanon

Iig. 6 reveaIs severaI measurabIe vaIues of snov delh al
differenl aIliludes and for secific monlhs. Ior examIe,
snov vilh 1m delh generaIIy exisls above aIliludes of
aboul: 2900m, 2700m, 2500m, 2300 and 2100m for lhe
monlhs of Oclober, AriI, November (& March), Iebruary
and }anuary (& December), resecliveIy.

Il is aIso cIear lhal no snov cover can be found beIov 2400m
aIlilude during lhe dry monlhs (i.e., May-Selember), vhiIe
snovack vilh more lhan 1m delh oflen exisls al aIliludes
above 2000m during lhe vel monlhs (Oclober-AriI). Il is
aIso evidenced lhal during lhe vel monlhs (e.g., December
and }anuary) snov delh exceeds 3m al aIliludes above
2800m as shovn in Iig. 6, vhich shovs lhe significance of
snov as a source of valer in Lebanon.

The above discussion of snov roerlies and lheir reIaled
hysicaI selling resuIls in severaI findings. These
roerlies vere nol sludied before among lhe
hydroIogicaI aramelers of lhe Lebanese mounlains. The
invesligaled variabIes can be uliIized in many asecls of
valer managemenl, eseciaIIy in lhe voIumelric ones. In
olher vords, idenlifying lhe behaviour of lhe lhree
diagnosed variabIes of snov roerlies al differenl
snovack-reIaled characlerislics viII heI idenlify severaI
asecls of snovack/valer-feeding mechanisms. The
ma|or uliIizalion of lhe invesligaled variabIes of snov
roerlies vilh resecl lo lheir snovack-reIaled
characlerislics viII incIude:
1. The seIeclion of suilabIe siles for valer harvesling,
nolabIy lhe hiII Iakes vhich are eslabIished in lhe
mounlainous regions of Lebanon. There is sliII a
need lo undersland lhe hydroIogicaI consideralions
for beller sile seIeclion (Iig. 7).
2. HydroIogicaI modeIIing for valer recharge/discharge
in seIecled basins al differenl scaIes (i.e., Iarge-scaIe
basins and sub-basins).
3. VoIumelric measuremenls and valer baIance
caIcuIalions in regions vhere snov is lhe ma|or
valer-feeding source, Iike lhe case of Lebanon.
4. Idenlificalion of groundvaler recharge-zones. This is
aIied lo zones lhal are recharged from snovmeIl.
5. The underslanding of hysicaI characlerislics and
snov densily IeveIs as veII as lhe meIling rocesses
can be encounlered in Iand use Ianning aroaches
6. SeIeclion of nev lourislic siles vhere lhe snovack
roughness is a ma|or faclor lo be considered.

4. ConcIusion

Sludies on snov in Lebanon have been given allenlion
IaleIy vhen lhe issue of valer shorlage has been
exacerbaled. Il is beIieved lhal valer from lhe meIling
snov is lhe rimary valer suIy lo many valer sources.
Hovever, lhe ob|eclives, looIs and melhodoIogies for
snov invesligalion in Lebanon are sliII differenl and in
lhe iniliaI slage of anaIysis lo lhe asecl of valer
resources. Many recenl sludies have been aIied in
Lebanon on snov moniloring from sace in order lo
discern lhe reIalionshi belveen snov cover and river
discharge |19j, enabIing snov modeIIing. There is a
knovn inlerreIalion belveen snov as a source of valer
and valer discharge in srings and rivers |20j. Hovever,
snov invesligalion in lhe fieId is sliII rare, excel for
some vork on snov delh. This sludy is lhe firsl of ils
lye in Lebanon in vhich snovack vas invesligaled in
lhe fieId and lhe resuIls vere inlegraled vilh differenl
acling aramelers.
8 Int. j. water sci., 2013, Vol. 2, 6:2013 www.intechopen.com
!"#$%& 3) HiII Lake in lhe mounlainous region of Lebanon vhere lhe hysicaI selling for snovack vas considered for beller valer-feeding.


The resuIls in lhis sludy inlroduce many findings and
numeric vaIues vhich need more delaiIed assessmenl
and maniuIalion. Therefore, lhe inlegralion of differenl
aramelers vilh snov roerlies vas a ma|or oulul in
lhis sludy vhich vas aIied for a eriod of four years
and suorled by remoleIy sensed dala.

The invesligaled 280 siles reresenl an idenlicaI number
of nodes lo be examined in order lo generale credilabIe
dala and informalion on snovack behaviour. Therefore,
lhe reIalionshi belveen snovack roerlies (i.e., snov
hardness, snov surface roughness and densily) as
seIecled for lhis sludy and lheir osilioning (or IocaIily
characlerislics) vas idenlified from lhe corresondence
belveen lhe differenl resuIls of lhe 280 siles. This viII
rovide a heIfuI measure lhal can be used in many
asecls of valer resources managemenl, such as in
caIcuIaling lhe execled amounl of valer from snovack
al differenl IocaIilies and aIliludes, snov-valer
modeIIing, arlificiaI draining of valer from snovmeIl
vilh differenl roerlies, elc.

This sludy lakes an emiricaI aroach lo anaIysis of
such significanl asecls of valer resources, vhich are an
issue of concern in a counlry Iike Lebanon lhal deends
mainIy of snov as lhe ma|or valer sources. Yel, more
invesligalion and fieId anaIysis are recommended and
vilh a seciaI emhasis on lhe use of advanced
lechniques and fieId devices.

5. AcknovIedgemenl

The vork vas arl of a research ro|ecl funded by lhe
Lebanese NalionaI CounciI for Scienlific Research
(CNRSL) in Lebanon. Thus, lhe aulhors vouId Iike lo
acknovIedge lhe CNRSL for lhe vaIuabIe suorl of lhis
vork vhich is usefuI for valer managemenl in Lebanon.

6. References

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10 Amin Shaban, Talal Darwich and Mhamad El Hage:
Studying Snowpack-Related Characteristics on Lebanon Mountains
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