Description
Multiply nonnegative hours by max(0, temperature-threshold) for degreeHours.
Degree-time indices accumulate temperature differences above or below a supplied threshold. Multiplying by a model coefficient creates a conditional estimate whose units depend on the time basis and coefficient.
Multiply nonnegative hours by max(0, temperature-threshold) for degreeHours.
When to use this tool
Use Potential Snowmelt Degreehour Factor when you need one explicit temperature-index or threshold component.
How to use the tool and how it works
- Enter temperature, threshold, hours, meltPerDegreeHour, availableSwe. Use the units and conventions below.
- Run the tool. Correct any format, range, or cross-field input error before interpreting the output.
- Read degreeHours, potentialMelt, boundedMelt. Use the output convention below.
Multiply nonnegative hours by max(0, temperature-threshold) for degreeHours. Multiply by nonnegative meltPerDegreeHour and cap by nonnegative availableSwe.1
| Input field | Meaning and units | Accepted input |
|---|---|---|
| temperature | Temperature | Required. Finite number. |
| threshold | Threshold | Required. Finite number. |
| hours | Hours | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| meltPerDegreeHour | Melt Per Degree Hour | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| availableSwe | Available Swe | Required. Finite number; minimum 0. |
| Output field | Interpretation | Returned shape |
|---|---|---|
| degreeHours | Degree Hours | Required. Finite number. |
| potentialMelt | Potential Melt | Required. Finite number. |
| boundedMelt | Bounded Melt | Required. Finite number. |
{
"input": {
"temperature": 5,
"threshold": 0,
"hours": 6,
"meltPerDegreeHour": 0.1,
"availableSwe": 10
},
"output": {
"degreeHours": 30,
"potentialMelt": 3,
"boundedMelt": 3
}
}Limitations and assumptions
- Temperature differences use one scale and the factor is water-equivalent depth per degree-hour; no energy-balance, refreezing, routing, or calibration is performed.
- Inputs must satisfy both the field types and the cross-field conditions above. Invalid input causes an error; a successful false flag or documented placeholder is a different result.
- Numeric calculations use binary floating point unless exact decimal-integer arithmetic is explicitly stated. No hidden measurement tolerance or decimal rounding is added; nonfinite or out-of-contract results are rejected. Numeric signed-zero results are exported as zero.
Alternative or Complementary methods
Check the threshold, coefficient calibration, and complete energy or environmental model separately.
References
Similar or alternative tools
- Snowmelt Degree Day One Interval
Multiply nonnegative days by max(0, meanTemperature-meltThreshold) for positiveDegreeDays, then by nonnegative degreeDayFactor for melt.
- Rain On Snow Heat Budget Term
Multiply nonnegative rainMassKg by rainTemperatureC and positive waterSpecificHeat for sensibleHeatJ, divide by positive latentHeatFusion for potentialMeltKg, and cap by availableSnowKg.