Climate change strongly influences the quantity and temporal characteristics of snowpacks by altering temperature and precipitation patterns. Rising temperatures are often associated with a reduced number of sub-zero (daily mean temperature < 0°C) days in winter, less frequent snowfalls, and lower snow accumulation. Warmer winters and less snow also lead to decreases in the refreezing of water due to the decline in maximum water retention capacities of snowpacks. These changes in both snowfall and snowpack dynamics reduce snow water equivalent (SWE) and spring melt. A positive feedback ensues as less SWE associated with decreases in snow cover area and duration, results in lower albedo, amplifying warming in cold regions. Estimated increases in wintertime precipitation can, however, counteract these trends. Whether snowpacks decrease or increase under global warming depends on the balance between snowfall increase and wintertime melt.
Snow is a fundamental component of the climate system and the hydrological cycle, interacting spatially and temporally with surface thermal energy, atmospheric dynamics, and soil thermal conditions. It significantly influences land surface hydrology in the cold climate environments by storing water during winter and releasing it gradually as snowmelt into rivers over the spring and early summer. In cold regions on Earth, snow plays a crucial role in sustainable development by contributing to water resources supplying over one billion people. These contributions are particularly vital in drylands supporting irrigated crop production, hydropower generation, and sustaining ecosystems. Hence, this collection will target papers whose focus is improving knowledge about snowpack dynamics and their contribution to sustainable water use, with a focus on cold regions under climate change so that strong mitigation and adaptation strategies can be developed.
This Research Topic aims at bringing together pure theoretical and applied scientific research on snow in response to changes in climate. The Research Topic especially encourages submissions on:
• Snow Resource Changes
• Snow Drought
• Snow Accumulation and Melt Processes
• Snow Cover Area and Duration
• Snowpack Hydrological Processes
• Rain-on-Snow Climatology
• Snow Data Assimilation
• Wintertime Snowmelt Floods
Climate change strongly influences the quantity and temporal characteristics of snowpacks by altering temperature and precipitation patterns. Rising temperatures are often associated with a reduced number of sub-zero (daily mean temperature < 0°C) days in winter, less frequent snowfalls, and lower snow accumulation. Warmer winters and less snow also lead to decreases in the refreezing of water due to the decline in maximum water retention capacities of snowpacks. These changes in both snowfall and snowpack dynamics reduce snow water equivalent (SWE) and spring melt. A positive feedback ensues as less SWE associated with decreases in snow cover area and duration, results in lower albedo, amplifying warming in cold regions. Estimated increases in wintertime precipitation can, however, counteract these trends. Whether snowpacks decrease or increase under global warming depends on the balance between snowfall increase and wintertime melt.
Snow is a fundamental component of the climate system and the hydrological cycle, interacting spatially and temporally with surface thermal energy, atmospheric dynamics, and soil thermal conditions. It significantly influences land surface hydrology in the cold climate environments by storing water during winter and releasing it gradually as snowmelt into rivers over the spring and early summer. In cold regions on Earth, snow plays a crucial role in sustainable development by contributing to water resources supplying over one billion people. These contributions are particularly vital in drylands supporting irrigated crop production, hydropower generation, and sustaining ecosystems. Hence, this collection will target papers whose focus is improving knowledge about snowpack dynamics and their contribution to sustainable water use, with a focus on cold regions under climate change so that strong mitigation and adaptation strategies can be developed.
This Research Topic aims at bringing together pure theoretical and applied scientific research on snow in response to changes in climate. The Research Topic especially encourages submissions on:
• Snow Resource Changes
• Snow Drought
• Snow Accumulation and Melt Processes
• Snow Cover Area and Duration
• Snowpack Hydrological Processes
• Rain-on-Snow Climatology
• Snow Data Assimilation
• Wintertime Snowmelt Floods
