Abstract

Seasonal snow cover is vital for mountain hydrological systems, influencing spring floods, late summer flows, and aquifer recharge. As climate change progresses, understanding snow dynamics becomes increasingly essential for water resource management and future mitigation planning. The research explores how emerging rock boulders affect the melting patterns of Subarctic alpine snowpack using thermal infrared time-lapse imagery, drone-based photogrammetry, and terrestrial laser scanning. These methods evaluate the spatial and temporal variability of snow surface temperature and topography. Findings reveal that boulders accelerate snowmelt in their vicinity during the ablation season, with snow surface thermal characteristics shaped by local terrain and meteorological conditions. The fastest rates of ablation occur during periods of mild weather with no precipitation. The multimethod approach highlights the necessity of comprehensive techniques to understand snowpack ablation in heterogeneous environments, as meltwater from snow around boulders can significantly influence local hydrological processes.