Article
Environmental Sciences
J. Lopez-Moreno, J. W. Pomeroy, E. Moran-Tejeda, J. Revuelto, F. M. Navarro-Serrano, I Vidaller, E. Alonso-Gonzalez
Summary: Rain-on-snow events can trigger severe floods in mountain regions, but the sensitivity of these events to climate warming varies greatly between different sites and within each basin. Factors such as the dominant phase of precipitation, duration of snow cover, and average temperature of each basin explain the variability in the sensitivity of rain-on-snow events to climate warming. Predictions show that while the overall frequency of rain-on-snow events may decrease, their hydrological importance is expected to remain, with peak streamflows increasing due to more rapid melting and warmer snowpacks in the future.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Gang Deng, Zhiguang Tang, Guojie Hu, Jingwen Wang, Guoqing Sang, Jia Li
Summary: 1. The snowline altitude (SLA) in the Tianshan Mountains shows strong seasonal fluctuations, with the highest altitude in early August and the lowest in late December.
2. SLA increases with steeper slope gradients and is generally lower in the northerly aspects compared to the southerly aspects.
3. There is a general increasing trend in SLA over the Tianshan Mountains in recent years, with varying trends in different months.
4. Solar radiation is the dominant climatic factor affecting SLA changes in the Tianshan Mountains, and temperature shows a stronger correlation with SLA dynamics compared to precipitation.
Article
Water Resources
Xuejiao Wu, Wei Zhang, Hongyi Li, Yinping Long, Xiaoduo Pan, Yongping Shen
Summary: The study simulated snowmelt runoff dynamics in the Kayiertesi River catchment in the Altai Mountains using high-resolution meteorological data and a hydrological model, showing the model's reliability for predicting snowmelt runoff. The research provides a sound basis for studying hydrological processes in cold regions and could be used to prevent snowmelt-induced flooding.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paulo Ceppi, Peer Nowack
Summary: Global warming influences Earth's cloud cover, which plays a crucial role in the uncertainty of Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity (ECS). Through analyzing how clouds respond to environmental changes, global cloud feedback is constrained to 0.43 +/- 0.35 W·m-2·K-1, indicating a robust amplifying effect of clouds on global warming. This approach is expected to provide tighter constraints on climate change projections and its various socioeconomic and ecological impacts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tong Heng, Xinlin He, Lili Yang, Jiawen Yu, Yulin Yang, Miaoling Li
Summary: The analysis of the climatic warming in the Tianshan mountains showed a greater nighttime warming rate and a decrease in snow cover percentage. The asymmetrical warming trend has an impact on snow cover activity, which is expected to accelerate in the future.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Manuela I. I. Brunner, Jonas Gotte, Christopher Schlemper, Anne F. F. Van Loon
Summary: This study assesses changes in the importance of different hydrological drought generation processes in the European Alps. The findings show that the changes in drought processes are stronger in high-elevation catchments, where there are clear changes in drought seasonality. The study also suggests that changes in drought severity and generation processes are related, with snowmelt-deficit droughts having larger deficits than cold temperature-induced droughts.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jeffrey S. Munroe, Alexander L. Handwerger
Summary: Water draining from rock glaciers in the Uinta Mountains of Utah (USA) was analyzed and compared with samples of groundwater and water from the primary stream in a representative 5000 ha drainage. Rock glacier water resembles snowmelt in the early summer but evolves to higher values of d-excess and greatly elevated Ca and Mg content as the melt season progresses. This pattern is consistent with models describing a transition from snowmelt to melting of seasonal ice to melting of perennial ice in the rock glacier interior in late summer and fall. Water derived from this internal ice appears to have been the source of similar to 25 % of the streamflow in this study area during September of 2021. This result emphasizes the significant role that rock glaciers can play in the hydrology of high-elevation watersheds, particularly in summers following a winter with below-average snowpack.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Donghui Xu, Valeriy Y. Ivanov, Xiuyuan Li, Tara J. Troy
Summary: The earth's hydroclimate is changing, impacting water resource distribution and socioeconomic consequences. Simulations show significant shifts in peak annual runoff dates by the end of this century, with more pronounced changes in timing influenced by future greenhouse gas concentrations.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Zachary J. Suriano, Daniel J. Leathers, Thomas L. Mote, Gina R. Henderson, Thomas W. Estilow, Lori J. Wachowicz, David A. Robinson
Summary: At a continental scale, changes in snow ablation events inform regional hydroclimate, affecting streamflow, soil moisture, and groundwater supplies. The study shows a significant decrease in snow ablation frequency over time, with some regions experiencing up to a 75% decline in events, mainly due to reductions in snow cover.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
D. Saint-Martin, O. Geoffroy, A. Voldoire, J. Cattiaux, F. Brient, F. Chauvin, M. Chevallier, J. Colin, B. Decharme, C. Delire, H. Douville, J-F Gueremy, E. Joetzjer, A. Ribes, R. Roehrig, L. Terray, S. Valcke
Summary: The study investigates the increase in equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) in CNRM-CM6-1 and CNRM-CM6-1-HR compared to CNRM-CM5.1 using coupled ocean-atmosphere model climate change simulations. It finds that the change is primarily due to changes in the atmospheric component, particularly the cloud radiative responses with significant contributions from tropical longwave response and extratropical and tropical shortwave feedback changes.
JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN MODELING EARTH SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Donglin Guo, Nick Pepin, Kun Yang, Jianqi Sun, Duo Li
Summary: The study found that elevation-dependent warming on the Tibetan Plateau has become more severe over time, as regional warming has caused significant decreases in snow depth at higher elevations, leading to the development of EDW.
Article
Engineering, Civil
Marie Arnoux, Philip Brunner, Bettina Schaefli, Rebecca Mott, Fabien Cochand, Daniel Hunkeler
Summary: Alpine environments are highly vulnerable to climatic warming, with future water resources management and streamflow behavior in these areas strongly influenced by groundwater storage, geology, and the distribution of unconsolidated quaternary deposits. The buffering capacity of groundwater, particularly in quaternary deposits, plays a critical role in the seasonal storage of water and can impact future summer low flows. Catchments with high groundwater contribution relative to precipitation are likely to experience slower decreases in discharge in response to climate change, highlighting the importance of considering geological factors in water resource management in alpine regions.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Xinyue Zhong, Tingjun Zhang, Shichang Kang, Jian Wang
Summary: This study evaluates snow depth simulations from CMIP6 models in high-latitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere using observational data. The simulated snow depths show low accuracy and a bias towards higher values compared to the observations. While the models indicate an increase in precipitation, the observed snow depth trends during the cold season actually decrease. The findings highlight the need for caution when using and interpreting simulated changes in snow depth.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jiansheng Hao, Xueqin Zhang, Peng Cui, Lanhai Li, Yan Wang, Guotao Zhang, Chaoyue Li
Summary: Based on the analysis of meteorological and snowpack data, this study reveals the changes in snow avalanche frequency and characteristics due to climate change in the central Tianshan Mountains. The findings show that the active period of wet snow avalanches has shifted earlier in the snow season with climate warming. These results have important implications for snow avalanche risk management, resource allocation, and adaptation to climate change.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DISASTER RISK SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Oceanography
M. A. Webster, A. K. DuVivier, M. M. Holland, D. A. Bailey
Summary: Earth system models are valuable for understanding the Arctic snow-ice system and its responses to a warming climate. The study reveals that CESM2 underestimates snow depth while CESM1-LE produces a highly variable snow cover. The trends in snow depth over the years differ significantly between the two models.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-OCEANS
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Celso Garcia, Bartolome Deya-Tortella, Jorge Lorenzo-Lacruz, Enrique Moran-Tejeda, Pablo Rodriguez-Lozano, Dolores Tirado
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant decrease in water consumption in the tourism sector in the Balearic Islands. The research highlights the differences among municipalities based on the ratio of tourist stays to total population. These findings are important for water managers and policymakers in revising water management plans.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE TOURISM
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Esteban Alonso-Gonzalez, J. Ignacio Lopez-Moreno, M. Cansaran Ertas, Aynur Sensoy, Ali Arda Sorman
Summary: This study compares the performance of five different regional-scale gridded snow products to reproduce snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Upper Euphrates region. ERA-5 and ERA-Land products showed good performance in reproducing snow evolution compared to observation sites, while MERRA-2 showed lower skills.
CUADERNOS DE INVESTIGACION GEOGRAFICA
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Norma Y. Zacamo-Velazquez, Javier Ireta-Moreno, Yolanda Salinas-Moreno, Victor M. Gomez-Rodriguez, Humberto Ramirez-Vega, Raquel Martinez-Loperena
Summary: F. verticillioides isolates from corn samples in La Cienega/Chapala, Mexico showed morphological and pathogenic variability, and their infectious severity was influenced by the inoculation technique. The toothpick inoculation technique resulted in higher disease incidence and severity compared to the spray inoculation technique.
AGRONOMIA MESOAMERICANA
(2023)
Article
Water Resources
Andres Tangarife-Escobar, Paul Koeniger, Juan Ignacio Lopez-Moreno, Santiago Botia, Jorge Luis Ceballos-Lievano
Summary: This study analysed the stable isotope composition of water in the Colombian Andean Mountains. The results show significant spatial and temporal variability influenced by elevation, seasonality, and atmospheric circulation patterns. This study contributes to knowledge of water supply basins and ecosystem boundaries in the northern Andes.
HYDROLOGICAL PROCESSES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Xing Fang, John W. Pomeroy
Summary: This study analyzes the impact of climate change and glacier cover decline on the hydrology of several river basins in the Canadian Rockies. Using a hydrological model, the study finds that the response of the basins to climate change is complex and varies depending on the biophysical characteristics and hydrological processes. The study highlights the importance of considering both precipitation changes and glacier contributions in understanding hydrological responses to climate change.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher B. B. Marsh, Vincent Vionnet, John W. W. Pomeroy
Summary: Estimation of near-surface wind speed and direction is crucial for predicting surface hydrometeorological processes. However, observations of near-surface wind are often limited. In complex terrains like mountain headwaters basins, the use of these sparse wind fields in distributed models is complicated. This study presents a wind-library approach that downscales numerical weather prediction (NWP) model outputs and corrects spatially interpolated observations, improving the accuracy and computational efficiency compared to existing methods.
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Louise Arnal, Alain C. Pietroniro, John W. Pomeroy, Vincent Fortin, David R. Casson, Tricia A. Stadnyk, Prabin Rokaya, Dorothy Durnford, Evan Friesenhan, Martyn P. Clark
Summary: Operational flood forecasting in Canada is currently the responsibility of different provincial entities. However, to address the increasing costs and impacts of floods, a nationally coordinated framework is being established to enable advanced flood prediction capabilities across different entities.
JOURNAL OF FLOOD RISK MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Christopher B. Marsh, Phillip Harder, John W. Pomeroy
Summary: Space-based, global-extent digital elevation models (DEMs) are important for many Earth sciences applications, but the presence of tree canopies in forested areas can lead to biases in digital surface models (DSMs), obscuring topographic features. Using statistical relationships and machine learning, the Forest And Buildings removed Copernicus DEM (FABDEM) has been created to eliminate these biases. The FABDEM was validated against UAV-based lidar data and showed significant improvement over existing deforested DEM products in mountainous areas. The study supports the use of FABDEM as the best-in-class data product for forested mountain catchments.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Victor Fernandez-Garcia, Esteban Alonso-Gonzalez
Summary: Despite the widespread belief that global burned area and severity are increasing due to climate change, our study found a decrease in global burned area and an increase in the fraction of burned area affected by high severity. African grasslands and savannas were the most fire-prone biomes, while taiga and tundra had the highest burn severity. Although climate plays a role in the spatial patterns of burned area and severity, our study did not find climate warming to be the primary driver of current shifts in fire regimes at the global scale.
Article
Astronomy & Astrophysics
Mina Rohanizadegan, Richard M. Petrone, John W. Pomeroy, Branko Kosovic, Domingo Munoz-Esparza, Warren D. Helgason
Summary: This study focuses on improving the accuracy of calculating land-atmosphere fluxes of heat and water vapor in mountain terrain by better resolving thermally driven diurnal winds. A weather research and forecasting model was used to simulate the flow in large-eddy simulation mode over two research basins in the Canadian Rockies. The study found that a local smoothing approach can effectively reduce numerical errors and instability when simulating flow over steep terrain. Additionally, the geometry and volume of valleys are relevant to the breakup of inversion layers, removal of cold-air pools, and strength of thermally driven winds.
EARTH AND SPACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Ixeia Vidaller, Enaut Izagirre, Luis Mariano del Rio, Esteban Alonso-Gonzalez, Francisco Rojas-Heredia, Enrique Serrano, Ana Moreno, Juan Ignacio Lopez-Moreno, Jesus Revuelto
Summary: The Aneto glacier, the largest in the Pyrenees, has been continuously melting in recent decades, with signs of accelerated melting in recent years. From 1981 to 2022, the glacier's surface and thickness have decreased, with a 64.7% reduction in glacierized area and an average thickness loss of 30.5 meters. The current average remaining thickness is 11.9 meters, indicating the critical situation of the glacier and the potential segmentation into two smaller ice bodies.
Article
Geography, Physical
Cesar Deschamps-Berger, Simon Gascoin, David Shean, Hannah Besso, Ambroise Guiot, Juan Ignacio Lopez-Moreno
Summary: The precision of satellite laser altimetry data and the availability of high-resolution elevation datasets provide new opportunities to measure snow depth in mountains. By comparing different digital elevation models, snow depth in the upper Tuolumne basin in California was retrieved for 3 years. Using a digital terrain model from airborne lidar surveys as the snow-off elevation source yielded a snow depth accuracy of about 0.2 m (bias) and precision of about 1 m (random error) across the basin, with improved precision of 0.5 m for low slopes (< 10 degrees).
Article
Geography, Physical
Josep Bonsoms, Juan Ignacio Lopez-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-Gonzalez
Summary: The Mediterranean Basin has experienced significant warming and future water scarcity is predicted. The Pyrenees mountains play an important role in hydrological resources. However, the impact of climate change on snowpack in this region is uncertain.
Article
Geography, Physical
Miguel Bartolome, Gerard Cazenave, Marc Luetscher, Christoph Spoetl, Fernando Gazquez, Anchel Belmonte, Alexandra V. Turchyn, Juan Ignacio Lopez-Moreno, Ana Moreno
Summary: Ice caves, especially those in inaccessible permafrost areas at high altitudes or high latitudes, are one of the least studied parts of the cryosphere. The Devaux cave, located on the French-Spanish border, was characterized in terms of climate dynamics and geomorphological features. The cave consists of two distinct sectors with different air temperature and geomorphological characteristics. The formation of the cave permafrost is attributed to a combination of undercooling by ventilation and diffusive heat transfer from the surrounding permafrost.
