European Snow Cover and Its Influence on Spring and Summer Temperatures

1998 ◽  
Vol 164 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Úna NÍ Chaoimh ◽  
Una NI Chaoimh
Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 728
Author(s):  
Xuejiao Wu ◽  
Yongping Shen ◽  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Yinping Long

With snow cover changing worldwide in several worrisome ways, it is imperative to determine both the variability in snow cover in greater detail and its relationship with ongoing climate change. Here, we used the satellite-based snow cover extent (SCE) dataset of National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to detect SCE variability and its linkages to climate over the 1967–2018 periods across the Northern Hemisphere (NH). Interannually, the time series of SCE across the NH reveal a substantial decline in both spring and summer (−0.54 and −0.71 million km2/decade, respectively), and this decreasing trend corresponded with rising spring and summer temperatures over high-latitude NH regions. Among the four seasons, the temperature rise over the NH was the highest in winter (0.39 °C/decade, p < 0.01). More precipitation in winter was closely related to an increase of winter SCE in mid-latitude areas of NH. Summer precipitation over the NH increased at a significant rate (1.1 mm/decade, p < 0.01), which likely contribute to the accelerated reduction of summer’s SCE across the NH. However, seasonal sensitivity of SCE to temperature changes differed between the Eurasian and North American continents. Thus, this study provides a better understanding of seasonal SCE variability and climatic changes that occurred at regional and hemispheric spatial scales in the past 52 years.


2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-246 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. P. Copeland ◽  
K. S. McKelvey ◽  
K. B. Aubry ◽  
A. Landa ◽  
J. Persson ◽  
...  

We propose a fundamental geographic distribution for the wolverine ( Gulo gulo (L., 1758)) based on the hypothesis that the occurrence of wolverines is constrained by their obligate association with persistent spring snow cover for successful reproductive denning and by an upper limit of thermoneutrality. To investigate this hypothesis, we developed a composite of MODIS classified satellite images representing persistent snow cover from 24 April to 15 May, which encompasses the end of the wolverine’s reproductive denning period. To investigate the wolverine’s spatial relationship with average maximum August temperatures, we used interpolated temperature maps. We then compared and correlated these climatic factors with spatially referenced data on wolverine den sites and telemetry locations from North America and Fennoscandia, and our contemporary understanding of the wolverine’s circumboreal range. All 562 reproductive dens from Fennoscandia and North America occurred at sites with persistent spring snow cover. Ninety-five percent of summer and 86% of winter telemetry locations were concordant with spring snow coverage. Average maximum August temperature was a less effective predictor of wolverine presence, although wolverines preferred summer temperatures lower than those available. Reductions in spring snow cover associated with climatic warming will likely reduce the extent of wolverine habitat, with an associated loss of connectivity.


1968 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 1443-1453 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Henderson

Patterned ground is present and active on the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, though in the main it is restricted to higher exposed areas of the southern half of that peninsula. The patterned ground forms resemble types previously considered confined, if at low elevations, to more northerly latitudes. Also, a permafrost base had been assumed necessary for construction of certain of the structures, but there presently is no permafrost anywhere on the Avalon Peninsula. Formation of the patterned ground was caused largely by low summer temperatures, general thinness or absence of snow cover in winter, and a strongly maritime climate. Those factors, where combined with sparse vegetation and a hard till underlying the frost-churned soils, can produce most typical patterned ground forms.Presence of such well-developed features on the Avalon Peninsula indicates that fossil frost structures elsewhere should not everywhere be assumed to indicate much more severe climate, perhaps with permafrost, in the past. They may merely indicate an earlier, intensely maritime-type climate with a moderate winter, but a low mean, annual temperature.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanne H. Rydsaa ◽  
Frode Stordal ◽  
Anders Bryn ◽  
Lena M. Tallaksen

Abstract. Shrub expansion in high latitudes is a widely observed response to climate change. Extensive evidence has shown that shrub expansion can lead to positive feedbacks to the regional climate. In this study we evaluate the sensitivity to a potential expansion in shrub and tree cover in the northern Fennoscandia region. Two perturbation experiments are performed in which we prescribe a gradual increase of vegetation height in the alpine shrub and tree cover according to empirically established climatic zones within the study region. The first experiment is based on present day climate, and the second is based on a future 1 K increase in temperature. To evaluate the sensitivity of the atmospheric response to inter-annual variations, simulations were conducted for two different years, one with warmer and one with colder spring and summer conditions. We have applied the Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF) with the Noah-UA land surface module in evaluating biophysical effects of increased shrub cover on the near surface atmosphere on a fine resolution (5.4 km x 5.4 km). We find that shrub cover increase leads to a general increase in near surface temperatures with the peak influence occurring during the snow melting season. It has the largest effect in spring, by advancing the onset of the melting season, and more moderate effect on summer temperature. We find that the net SW absorbed by the surface is sensitive to the shrub and tree heights, which act to strengthen the albedo decrease. Counteracting effects include increased snow cover and enhanced evapotranspiration causing increased cloud cover and precipitation. We find that the strength of the feedback effects resulting from increased shrub cover is more sensitive to snow cover variations than summer temperatures. Taller vegetation has a stronger influence on both spring and summer temperatures. Our results show that the positive feedback to high latitudes warming induced by increased shrub and tree cover is a robust feature across inter-annual differences in meteorological conditions, and will likely play an important role in the future.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
V.B. Kalmanova

В статье представлены результаты исследования экологогеохимического состояния снежного покрова как индикатора качества атмосферного воздуха г. Биробиджана. Выявлены основные природные и антропогенные факторы, предопределяющие экологическое состояние городской территории в зимний период (климатические, планировочная структура, стационарные и мобильные источники загрязнения). Определено, что выбросы основных загрязнителей во время отопительного сезона превышает летний в 6,5 раз. Проведены геохимические исследования снежного покрова на 60 экспериментальных площадках, заложенных в различных функциональных зонах города. Выявлено значительное превышение тяжелых металлов над фоновым уровнем: железа до 60, марганца до 50, меди до 40, цинка до 20, никеля до 12, свинца до 10, кобальта до 6 раз. С 2003 по 2018 годы содержание химических элементов в снеге увеличилось в 2 раза за счет мобильных источников загрязнения, ТЭЦ, котельных. Проведена сравнительная характеристика накопления тяжелых металлов в снеге за 2003 и 2018 годы и установлен ранжированный ряд загрязняющих токсичных веществ. Разработана шкала оценки загрязнения депонирующих сред по суммарному показателю концентрации тяжелых металлов, согласно которой в Биробиджане выявлено 5 уровней загрязнения снежного покрова. В целом экологическое состояние урбанизированной территории признано неудовлетворительным (8 площади территории относится к очень высокому, 14 к высокому, 21 к выше среднему, 27 к среднему уровням загрязнения, 30 к относительно чистым районам города). По полученным результатам разработана карта в программе ArcView GIS Экологогеохимическое районирование территории г. Биробиджана по уровню загрязнения снежного покрова с выделением наиболее загрязненных участков (70 от общей площади города является загрязненной). По результатам проведенных исследований предложены конструктивные методы планирования урбанизированной территории с целью улучшения ее экологического состояния: проведение геомониторинга (контроль загрязнения снежного покрова и своевременный его вывоз на специально оборудованные полигоны). Snow cover is taken as an indicator of air quality using Birobidzhan, a middlesize city in the Russian Far East, as a case study. The main natural and manmade determinants influencing the ecological state of the urban area in winter are identified: climate, a planning structure, and the stationary and mobile sources of pollution. During the heating season the emission of major pollutants exceeds the summer level by 6.5 times. The geochemical study of snow cover was performed at 60 experimental sites in different functional urban areas. A significant excess of heavy metals over the regional background level was revealed: iron up to 60 times, manganese up to 50, copper up to 40, zinc up to 20 , nickel up to 12, lead up to 10, cobalt up to 6 times. From 2003 to 2018 the content of chemical elements in snow increased in 2 times due to the mobile sources of pollution, thermal power plants, and boilers. The comparative characteristic of accumulation of heavy metals in snow for 2003 and 2018 is carried out, and the ranked number of polluting toxic substances is established. The scale of pollution assessment in depositing environments was developed using the cumulative indicator of heavy metal concentration. Five levels of snow cover pollution are found in Birobidzhan: low, moderate, above moderate, high and very high. As a whole, the ecological state of the urban area is considered as unsatisfactory (8 of the area with a very high level of pollution, 14 with high, 21 above moderate, 27 a moderate level of pollution, 30 a relatively clean area). According to the results, a map was developed in the ArcView GIS program Ecological and geochemical zoning of Birobidzhan, using the level of the snow cover pollution with the allocation of the most polluted areas (70 of the total area of the city is polluted). According to the results, a constructive method of planning in an urban area is proposed in order to improve its environmental condition: geomonitoring as a control of pollution in snow cover and its prompt removal to specially equipped landfills.


1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 27-33
Author(s):  
V.B. Efimov ◽  
I.A. Kalmykov ◽  
S.E. Yatsevich

2007 ◽  
Vol 66 (12) ◽  
pp. 1133-1141
Author(s):  
S. Ye. Yatsevich ◽  
V. B. Yefimov ◽  
I. A. Kalmykov

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document