Article
Ecology
Lena Romtveit, Olav Strand, Anders Mossing, Leif Kastdalen, Arne W. Hjeltnes, Dag K. Bjerketvedt, Arvid Odland, Jan Heggenes
Summary: This study used GPS tracking and remote sensing data to study the foraging behavior of wild mountain reindeer in winter. The research found that wild reindeer show a strong preference for snow-free patches for foraging, especially in the evenings.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Atle Mysterud, Hildegunn Viljugrein, Roy Andersen, Geir Rune Rauset, Malin Rokseth Reiten, Christer M. Rolandsen, Olav Strand
Summary: Climate changes can cause sudden changes in the epidemiological characteristics of infectious wildlife diseases, leading to outbreaks. The impact of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) on large vertebrate populations is poorly documented, in part due to limited surveillance of remote wildlife populations. In this study, the likely impact of digital necrobacillosis on wild alpine reindeer in a national park in Norway was quantified. The outbreak of digital necrobacillosis in 2019 resulted in a decrease in summer survival rate of juveniles, but its overall impact on population dynamics was moderate.
Article
Ecology
Ilona Kater, Robert Baxter
Summary: This study conducted vegetation surveys and snow condition analysis in forest stands in Northern Sweden to examine the impact of stand maturity and snow conditions on the availability of forage for reindeer during winter. The results showed that stand maturity, understory vegetation height, and lichen height significantly affected the biomass of edible species for reindeer. The presence of ice lenses in the snow column was highest in clear-cut forests, resulting in reduced forage availability compared to mature stands.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Antti-Juhani Pekkarinen, Sirpa Rasmus, Jouko Kumpula, Olli Tahvonen
Summary: This study examines the economic effects of variation in winter conditions on reindeer husbandry by combining a state-of-the-art economic-ecological model with annual reindeer management reports from Finland. The study finds that difficult winters decrease the net revenues of reindeer husbandry but also protect lichen pastures, thereby increasing future net revenues. However, the overall variability of winter conditions decreases the net income of herders, particularly when lichen biomass is low. The study suggests that climate change-induced variability of winter conditions will decrease net revenues in reindeer husbandry, even without the most extreme effects of climate change.
ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fan Yang, Xiangyin Ni, Xin Zeng, Han Li, Bo Tan, Ziyi Liang, Bowen Liu, Zhenfeng Xu, Jian Zhang
Summary: The study found that snowpack reduction had significant effects on the concentrations of dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen, nitrate concentration, and microbial biomass in different snow periods; although snowpack reduction did not significantly affect soil microbial biomass, it had a stronger impact on nitrate concentration and microbial respiration rate, especially in organic soil.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND CONSERVATION
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Tamara A. Hiltunen, Audun Stien, Maria Vaisanen, Erik Ropstad, Jouni O. Aspi, Jeffery M. Welker
Summary: The study found that Svalbard reindeer adjusted their late winter diets over a 17-year period, increasing the proportion of graminoids and decreasing the contribution of mosses. This dietary shift was associated with increases in graminoid abundance, population density, warmer summer temperatures, and increased snow-on-rain frequency in winter.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jens Roland, Alessandro Filazzola, Stephen F. Matter
Summary: The study found that early-winter snow cover significantly impacts the population size of alpine butterflies, explaining up to 80% of annual population changes. Snow cover conditions in each meadow are the best predictor of annual changes in butterfly populations, despite being estimated for a relatively short period of time.
Article
Ecology
Ashild Onvik Pedersen, Larissa T. Beumer, Ronny Aanes, Brage B. Hansen
Summary: This study examines the winter-foraging strategies of high-arctic wild Svalbard reindeer using ten years of data, finding that the effects of winter severity on habitat use are density-dependent and that snowpack depth and hardness have a stronger influence on foraging behavior.
Review
Geography, Physical
Shubham Awasthi, Divyesh Varade
Summary: This paper reviews the application of remote sensing techniques in the study of alpine snow, highlighting its importance and potential advantages. It also discusses the geophysical characteristics of snow and the limitations of remote sensing technology in estimating these properties, providing prospects for the retrieval of snow geophysical parameters in the future.
GISCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Georg H. Niedrist, Miguel Canedo-Arguelles, Sophie Cauvy-Fraunie
Summary: Human-induced salinization, particularly from deicing road salt in Alpine rivers, can significantly impact aquatic biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, especially leading to peak salinity levels in late winter/early spring. Small rivers highly connected to urban infrastructures are more prone to considerable salinity peaks during late winter/early spring, which may have potential consequences on ecosystem functioning and require management practices to prevent degradation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Raphael S. von Buren, Erika Hiltbrunner
Summary: This study aims to determine the cold range limits of two alpine graminoid species in the European Alps. The findings show that the distribution of these species is strongly influenced by winter soil temperature, rather than season length, growing degree hours, and soil chemistry.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Roberto Salzano, Riccardo Cerrato, Federico Scoto, Andrea Spolaor, Emiliana Valentini, Marco Salvadore, Giulio Esposito, Serena Sapio, Andrea Taramelli, Rosamaria Salvatori
Summary: The frequency and intensity of extreme warm events in the Arctic have been increasing in recent years. This study assessed the impact of a winter rain-on-snow event in the snow season of 2022 using a multi-scale and multi-platform approach that combined ground-based observations with satellite remote sensing. The results provide insights into the dynamics of snow during extreme events and the effects on the snow accumulation period.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Davide Fugazza, Veronica Manara, Antonella Senese, Guglielmina Diolaiuti, Maurizio Maugeri
Summary: Snow cover in the Alps is important for tourism and hydroelectric energy production. This study analyzed snow cover metrics from 2000 to 2019, finding differences in duration and patterns across subregions. Elevation was a key factor driving variability, with a significant negative trend observed above 3000 m a.s.l. due to various factors such as glacierized areas.
Article
Water Resources
Yin Zhang, Gulimire Hanati, Sulitan Danierhan, Keke Hu
Summary: This study uses a geographic weighted regression model to downscale the low-resolution global precipitation measurement (GPM) data, improving its application efficiency in simulating snowmelt runoff in high-altitude areas lacking monitoring stations. The results show that the downscaled GPM dataset performs well in simulating runoff, although slightly less accurate than the observed data. The study demonstrates the potential of using the downscaled GPM dataset as an effective alternative in areas without observed data.
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY-REGIONAL STUDIES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Fatima Karbou, Gaelle Veyssiere, Cecile Coleou, Anne Dufour, Isabelle Gouttevin, Philippe Durand, Simon Gascoin, Manuel Grizonnet
Summary: This study aimed to monitor wet snow conditions, examine its variation over time, and study its distribution by considering terrain characteristics. It compared Sentinel-1 wet snow extent with independent snow and weather estimates, showing good agreements but also differences, especially in forested and glaciated areas where snow is underestimated. The study highlighted the importance of Sentinel-1 image time series for monitoring wet snow and identifying melt-out days in the French alpine areas.