Article
Environmental Sciences
Xi Cao, Renguang Wu, Ying Sun, Zhibiao Wang, Yifeng Dai, Lei Song, Xiaoqing Lan, Xiping Zhang
Summary: This study reveals a connection between North America spring snow cover and summer-fall tropical cyclone genesis over the western North Pacific, mediated by sea surface temperature anomalies in the tropical and subtropical Pacific. The increased snow cover leads to atmospheric cooling and changes in wind patterns, affecting the occurrence of tropical cyclones. Understanding these complex interactions is crucial for climate research.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ruping Mo, Hai Lin, Frederic Vitart
Summary: Based on analyses of observation-based data and numerical weather prediction model output, this study reveals that a warm-season atmospheric river moved from Southeast Asia across the North Pacific in June 2021, contributing heat and moisture to a heatwave event in western North America. The movement of this system resulted in substantial spillover of moisture and sensible heat, forming a positive feedback mechanism that potentially led to the expansion of the heatwave event.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Desmond A. Mackell, Michael L. Casazza, Cory T. Overton, J. Patrick Donnelly, David Olson, Fiona McDuie, Joshua T. Ackerman, John M. Eadie
Summary: Identifying migration routes and fall stopover sites of Cinnamon Teal can provide important spatial information for management and conservation efforts, highlighting the adaptability of these waterbirds to dynamic resource conditions. The study found that Cinnamon Teal preferred flooded habitats such as wetlands, wet agriculture, and urban ponds, with scarce habitats like wastewater ponds and tidal marshes highly selected in specific ecoregions. Dry non-habitats and dry agriculture were consistently avoided across all ecoregions, emphasizing the importance of wetland availability for migrating waterfowl in the western United States.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anran Zhuge, Benkui Tan
Summary: The ZNPO pattern is a newly identified teleconnection pattern that oscillates mass in the troposphere between the eastern and western North Pacific, affecting severe weather and hydroclimate events in North Pacific and North America during winter. It is primarily driven by baroclinic energy conversion and feedback forcing by transient eddies, acting as a major source of kinetic energy to maintain the pattern.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dillon Elsbury, Amy H. Butler, John R. Albers, Melissa L. Breeden, Andrew O'Neil Langford
Summary: Stratosphere-to-troposphere transport (STT) is a significant source of ozone for the troposphere, particularly in western North America. The variability and location of the Pacific jet stream and the amount of ozone in the lower stratosphere are important factors controlling STT in this region, which may change with increasing greenhouse gas concentrations.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Brianna M. Winkel, Clayton K. Nielsen, Elizabeth M. Hillard, Ronald W. Sutherland, Michelle A. LaRue
Summary: This study modeled potential cougar habitats and dispersal corridors in eastern North America using expert opinions and various habitat quality indicators. The results showed that potential habitats were predominantly forests and shrublands, and dispersal corridors were present throughout the study area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Melissa L. Breeden, Amy H. Butler, John R. Albers, Michael Sprenger, Andrew O'Neil Langford
Summary: This study demonstrates that the transition of the North Pacific jet from winter to summer enhances STT-PBL, resulting in more frequent deep stratospheric intrusions, especially over western North America. La Nina conditions in late winter lead to an earlier jet transition and enhanced STT-PBL, while an opposite response is found during El Nino conditions. These findings suggest that knowledge of ENSO state and the North Pacific jet structure in late winter could help predict the strength of STT-PBL in the following months.
ATMOSPHERIC CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2021)
Article
Geology
V Elongo, H. Falck, K. L. Rasmussen, L. J. Robbins, R. A. Creaser, Y. Luo, D. G. Pearson, C. Sarkar, E. Adlakha, M. C. Palmer, J. M. Scott, K. Hickey, K. Konhauser, P. Lecumberri-Sanchez
Summary: The highly irregular and localized distribution of tungsten deposits worldwide poses a supply challenge for key industries. This study investigates the factors controlling tungsten distribution and finds that tungsten is specifically associated with crustal materials derived from the mantle during specific geological periods. Weathering and erosion processes of supercontinents favored the pre-enrichment of tungsten in sediments, and orogenic heating produced reduced melts that efficiently scavenged tungsten and formed the largest deposits in North America.
Article
Forestry
Kevin C. Hannah, Julia E. Put, Julia Shonfield
Summary: Wildfire is a significant factor in shaping the boreal forests of North America, and the Northern Hawk Owl is one of the least studied species in relation to it. Through a survey of 18 recent fires in Alberta, Canada, it was found that the owl is strongly associated with older deciduous-dominated forest areas. The owl responded differently based on the time since the fire, showing an immediate response to low severity fires and a delayed response to high severity fires.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Jonathan D. Beverley, Matthew Collins, F. Hugo Lambert, Robin Chadwick
Summary: Research suggests that future changes to the positive-phase ENSO teleconnection to the North Pacific/North America sector will weaken, largely due to anomalous circulation changes over the North Pacific. The study also indicates that changes in forcing from equatorial central Pacific precipitation anomalies are more significant than changes in the global basic state background circulation.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Valerio Lucarini, Vera Melinda Galfi, Jacopo Riboldi, Gabriele Messori
Summary: Understanding the statistical properties of extreme weather events and their underlying physical processes is crucial for evaluating climate variability, climate change, and associated hazards. Recent studies have shown that large deviation theory (LDT) is useful for investigating persistent extreme events and estimating long return periods. In this study, we utilize LDT and a state-of-the-art Earth system model to analyze the 2021 Western North America summer heatwave. We find that the occurrence of the heatwave can be attributed to climate variability, but its probability is greatly amplified by ongoing climate change. We also examine the spatial coherence and the role of the Rocky Mountains in influencing extreme events in the Western Pacific region of North America.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Haili Wang, Chunzai Wang
Summary: Based on observational data, this study finds that there are large-scale anomalous cyclones and anticyclones in the western North Pacific (WNP), with similar occurrence numbers. The WNP anomalous cyclone is identified as an interannual circulatory anomaly that can persist from autumn to spring during La Niña years and from spring to summer during developing El Niño years. The central equatorial Pacific warming contributes to the WNP anomalous cyclone during developing El Niño years, while the combination of central equatorial Pacific cooling, tropical Indian Ocean cooling, and central WNP warming induces the WNP anomalous cyclone during La Niña years.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Robert Fonner, Jon Honea, Jeffrey C. Jorgensen, Mark Plummer, Michelle McClure
Summary: This article discusses the decision-making process of intervention intensity in habitat restoration planning, and the application of a return on investment framework. Results showed that scenarios considering interventions across multiple intensities outperformed single-intensity scenarios in terms of total benefits and cost effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Huang, Tianjun Zhou, Johnny C. L. Chan, Ruifen Zhan, Ziming Chen, Jiuwei Zhao
Summary: Reliable projections of tropical cyclone activities in the western North Pacific are crucial for climate policy-making in coastal Asia. This study identifies a new source of uncertainty in the projections arising from different tropical cyclone identification schemes. Model uncertainty is of secondary importance, while internal variability noticeably impacts near-term projections.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Daniel J. Befort, Kevin Hodges, Antje Weisheimer
Summary: This study analyzed seasonal forecasting models from five European modeling centers to study tropical cyclones over the western North Pacific and North Atlantic basins. The models were able to capture the observed seasonal cycle of cyclone frequencies, but there were large differences in numbers and spatial track densities. While predictions for the western North Pacific basin were often unreliable, most models provided reliable predictions for the North Atlantic basin and were skillful in predicting interannual cyclone variability in a region covering the Caribbean and North American coastline.
JOURNAL OF CLIMATE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tristram D. L. Irvine-Fynn, Pete Bunting, Joseph M. Cook, Alun Hubbard, Nicholas E. Barrand, Edward Hanna, Andy J. Hardy, Andrew J. Hodson, Tom O. Holt, Matthias Huss, James B. McQuaid, Johan Nilsson, Kathrin Naegeli, Osian Roberts, Jonathan C. Ryan, Andrew J. Tedstone, Martyn Tranter, Christopher J. Williamson
Summary: The study reveals similarities in seasonal patterns of bare-ice reflectance across different datasets, but also unique short-term dynamics in reflectance distribution. It suggests that areal mean reflectance plays a key role in controlling local ablation rates, while the spatial distribution of specific ice types and impurities is of secondary importance. The findings recommend improving albedo parameterizations by assessing the representativeness of time-averaged reflectance data products and using temporally-resolved functions to describe impurity distribution variability at daily time-scales.
Article
Geography, Physical
Jonathan L. Carrivick, Jenna L. Sutherland, Matthias Huss, Heather Purdie, Christopher D. Stringer, Michael Grimes, William H. M. James, Andrew M. Lorrey
Summary: This study provides an overview of glacier ice loss in the Southern Alps of New Zealand, analyzes ice marginal lake development, predicts the future position and size of lakes using modeled glacier ice thickness, and utilizes a glacier evolution model to estimate the timing and rate of future lake formation. The findings highlight the relationship between glacier mass balance and lake growth, and project an increase in ice-marginal lakes in size followed by a decrease as glaciers disconnect from them. The results have implications for glacier evolution models, landscape evolution studies, and future water resources and quality.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Luisa Pruessner, Matthias Huss, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: Ongoing climate change poses a threat to water availability in alpine streams, particularly in dry mountain regions that rely on glacial meltwater. Rock glaciers, which are more resilient to climate change, play a significant role in runoff contribution. Studies show that by the end of the 21st century, runoff from permafrost melting could account for a percentage of catchment runoff and exhibit seasonal variability under different climate scenarios.
PERMAFROST AND PERIGLACIAL PROCESSES
(2022)
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
H. Zekollari, M. Huss, D. Farinotti, S. Lhermitte
Summary: Glaciers play a crucial role in the Earth System, providing water to lower-lying areas and contributing to sea-level rise. Understanding the temporal evolution of glaciers is of great scientific interest, and recent advances in ice-dynamical modeling and observation techniques have improved our ability to simulate glacier evolution.
REVIEWS OF GEOPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
W. I. Atlas, K. L. Wilson, C. K. Whitney, J. E. Moody, C. N. Service, M. Reid, M. R. Sloat
Summary: In recent decades, chum salmon on the Central and North Coasts of British Columbia have experienced declining abundance, with only a few populations remaining stable. The Bella Coola enhanced chum population has shown an increasing trend, but with significant variation in run sizes. Given concerns about the long-term health of chum salmon and their supporting ecosystems, commercial fisheries in the region have been closed.
CANADIAN JOURNAL OF FISHERIES AND AQUATIC SCIENCES
(2022)
Editorial Material
Fisheries
Matthew R. Sloat
Article
Geography, Physical
Marco Moeller, Francisco Navarro, Matthias Huss, Ben Marzeion
Summary: The accuracy of bedrock topography data is crucial for predicting the retreat behavior of tidewater glaciers, and for accurately projecting sea level-relevant mass losses. However, existing models often underestimate the ice thickness and water depth near calving fronts, leading to underestimation of mass losses.
JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
David R. Rounce, Regine Hock, Fabien Maussion, Romain Hugonnet, William Kochtitzky, Matthias Huss, Etienne Berthier, Douglas Brinkerhoff, Loris Compagno, Luke Copland, Daniel Farinotti, Brian Menounos, Robert W. McNabb
Summary: Glacier mass loss, resulting from temperature increase, will lead to sea level rise and glacier disappearance. By 2100, glaciers are projected to lose 26% to 41% of their mass, equivalent to 90mm to 154mm sea level rise, and 49% to 83% of glaciers will disappear. Reductions in temperature increase can reduce mass loss. Based on COP26 climate pledges, a global mean temperature increase of 2.7 degrees C is projected, which would contribute to a sea level rise of 115mm and widespread deglaciation in most mid-latitude regions by 2100.
Article
Geography, Physical
Matteo Guidicelli, Matthias Huss, Marco Gabella, Nadine Salzmann
Summary: In this study, we improved the understanding of the spatio-temporal variations in winter glacier mass balance by combining reanalysis data and direct snow accumulation observations with machine learning. By adjusting precipitation data from reanalysis products, we successfully reconstructed the winter mass balance of glaciers without observational data. The machine learning model showed good representation of the spatial and temporal variability of the winter mass balance.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Pau Wiersma, Jerom Aerts, Harry Zekollari, Markus Hrachowitz, Niels Drost, Matthias Huss, Edwin H. Sutanudjaja, Rolf Hut
Summary: This study tests the hypothesis that coupling a global glacier model with a global hydrological model leads to improved runoff predictions. The results show that the coupled model produces higher runoff estimates and better reproduces basin runoff observations in glacierized basins, emphasizing the importance of glacier representation in global hydrological models.
HYDROLOGY AND EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Loris Compagno, Matthias Huss, Harry Zekollari, Evan S. Miles, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: Glaciers are shrinking rapidly worldwide, and potential ice-dammed and supraglacial lakes in High Mountain Asia are expected to increase, which may result in a temporary increase in glacier lake outburst floods.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Erik Schytt Mannerfelt, Amaury Dehecq, Romain Hugonnet, Elias Hodel, Matthias Huss, Andreas Bauder, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: The monitoring of glaciers in Switzerland has a long tradition, yet glacier changes during the 20th century are only known through sparse observations. Here, a high-resolution mapping of historical glacier elevation changes reveals that Swiss glacier volumes halved between 1931 and 2016. The study also highlights the factors contributing to high mass losses and provides a new inventory of glacier outlines with timestamps.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lea Geibel, Matthias Huss, Claudia Kurzboeck, Elias Hodel, Andreas Bauder, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: Glacier monitoring in Switzerland has generated one of the longest and most complete data series globally. A new comprehensive dataset of glacier mass balance in the Swiss Alps is presented, including 63 glaciers and over 60,000 point observations. The dataset has been systematically analyzed and homogenized, with a system developed to estimate uncertainty for each observation.
EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE DATA
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Tim Steffen, Matthias Huss, Rebekka Estermann, Elias Hodel, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: Ongoing climate change and glacier retreat in the Swiss Alps are expected to lead to the emergence of hundreds of potential glacier lakes. These lakes, if they were to form, could hold a significant volume of water, but a portion of them will be transient features that disappear before the end of the century due to sediment infill.
EARTH SURFACE DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Loris Compagno, Matthias Huss, Evan Stewart Miles, Michael James McCarthy, Harry Zekollari, Amaury Dehecq, Francesca Pellicciotti, Daniel Farinotti
Summary: This study introduces a new modeling approach for debris area and thickness evolution, which can be applied from global to single glacier scales, emphasizing the impact of debris on future glacier evolution. The model's consideration of debris cover contributes to understanding future glacier changes, especially in capturing intra-glacier scales, demonstrating its importance.