Snow cover mapping for runoff simulations based on Landsat-MSS data in an alpine basin

For the Martinec-Rango Snowmelt Runoff Model (SRM) a precise determination of the daily changes of the snow cover is the basic input variable. A method was developed for digital snow cover classification with Landsat-MSS data inc~uding an extra-polation for partly clouded scenes and areas with not available remote sensing data. The runoff simulations were tested in a large basin of the Swiss Alps (Rhine-Felsberg, 3249 km 2 , 571-3614 m a.s.l.) regarding the heterogeneous topographic and climatic conditions.