Adapting the CREAMS Model for Finnish Conditions

The CREAMS model, a management model for predicting field-scale runoff and erosion, has been modified and adapted for Finnish conditions: The most important changes are the implementation of a new snow accumulation and snow melt model, a simple soil frost model, the use of an adjustable albedo for evapotranspiration calculations, the implementation of a plant growth model for calculating leaf area index and soil loss ratio, and allowing for a variation in the rainfall erosivity parameters. The modified model has been compared to the original model and observed data from an experimental field in southwestern Finland. In most cases the modified model predicted surface runoff and soil loss better than the original model. Although there remain discrepancies between model simulations and observations, the modified model seems to perform better and allows an easier comparison of management practices.