Articles tagged with Snow
A new NASA study shows that increased dust in the Colorado River basin is causing snowmelt to occur earlier, reducing runoff and available water downstream. This results in a 35-billion cubic feet annual loss of water, enough to supply Los Angeles for 18 months.
A new NASA-funded study reveals that increased desert dust caused by human activities is cutting Colorado River flow, resulting in reduced water availability. The study shows peak spring runoff now comes three weeks earlier than before, with annual runoff lower by more than 5 percent.
Research published in PNAS reveals that windborne dust on high peaks in the Colorado River Basin reduces snow cover duration and increases runoff, leading to a 5% annual loss of water. This decrease in runoff affects water management, as peak flows occur earlier and are more compressed.
Researchers find that increasing Antarctic sea ice extent is due to stabilization of the upper ocean by increased precipitation, which reduces melting from both above and below. Climate models predict faster melting in the future, leading to a potential decrease in sea ice extent.
A team of scientists at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory found that the anomalous winter was caused by two colliding weather events: El Niño and a strong negative phase in the North Atlantic Oscillation. This event led to more snowfall on the East Coast and northwest Europe, contrary to climate change predictions.
Research found that aircraft can seed mid-level clouds, causing narrow bands of snow or rain to develop. The study also discovered that water droplets at subfreezing temperatures are key to forming these holes in the clouds.
Scientists found pathogens thrive in marine snow aggregates, which can skew water sampling procedures and predict disease transmission to humans. The study applies island biogeography theories to microscopic drifting aggregates.
Research on the Devon Island ice cap shows a steady decline in ice volume and area since 1985, primarily due to warmer summers. The ice cap's thinning also exposes dark soil, increasing melt rates and posing concerns for shipping and sea level rise.
The National Weather Service has adopted a new method for predicting snowfall density, allowing for more accurate forecasts and differentiation between powdery and wet snow. The method uses only two variables: temperature and wind speeds at mountain crest level.
Researchers developed a new approach to track mercury's movement through Arctic ecosystems using a 'fingerprint' method. The study confirmed mass-independent fractionation occurs during sunlight-driven reactions in snow, allowing for the estimation of mercury loss and retention.
A study found that black carbon aerosols from India are a major contributor to the decline in snow and ice cover on the Himalayan glaciers. The research suggests that greenhouse gases alone are insufficient to explain the melting, with black carbon contributing at least 30% of the impact.
Assistant professor Jessica Lundquist uses low-cost temperature sensors and tennis balls to study mountain precipitation and its impact on lower-elevation communities. The system provides accurate temperature readings for up to 11 months in remote locations, helping improve computer models and storm flooding forecasts.
Researchers detected low concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on Aconcagua Mountain, indicating that mountain ranges can trap persistent organic pollutants. The findings suggest a need to investigate the role of mountains in spreading pollutants and associated risks.
Researchers studying snowflake shape and chemical reactions on their surface may uncover clues about ground-level ozone loss in the Arctic. The unique shapes of snow crystals, influenced by temperature and humidity, can affect the rate of chemical reactions that reduce ozone levels at ground level.
A team of researchers has created a technique using traditional GPS satellite signals to measure snow depth and soil/vegetation moisture. This new method has the potential to benefit climate modelers, atmospheric researchers, farmers, and water resource managers by providing accurate and relatively inexpensive data.
New study locates source of L'Aquila earthquake, finding it increases seismic hazard in region. Researchers also find waning sea ice bodes stormier, rainier Arctic with increased precipitation. Additionally, scientists develop new method to measure snow depth using GPS technology.
The Arctic is experiencing dramatic biological responses to global warming, with many iconic species facing extinction due to loss of polar ice habitat. However, some species are adapting, such as reindeer that benefit from melting snow, while others, like caribou, are declining in numbers.
Research teams need more focused investigation into Arctic effects of global warming, particularly in early spring and winter.
Researchers highlight the need to study the indirect effects of climate change on plants, animals, and humans in the Arctic. The authors emphasize the importance of understanding the ecology of Arctic winters, conservation of ecosystems, and the impact of extreme events.
The Phoenix Mars Mission provided new details about Mars' water history, including patterns in the ground near the landing site and surprising findings of perchlorate. Researchers discovered ice at varying depths and observed daily weather changes, revealing clues to Martian soil chemistry.
Scientists discovered 'snow roots' in Corydalis conorhiza plants, which extend through layers of snow to take up nitrogen. This unique adaptation allows the plant to feed on nutrients before the growing season begins.
New research reveals a significant decline in Cascades snowpack due to warming climate, with potential implications for drinking water supplies, fisheries, irrigation, and hydropower. The study used multiple methods to analyze decades-long records of water content in the central Puget Sound basin.
The USGS has developed an energy-efficient system to measure snowfall in remote areas of Maine, using a bucket, small windmill, and solar panels. This innovative solution helps predict floods from spring snowmelt and saves lives by providing accurate information.
A recent study by Brown University researchers has found a gully fan system on Mars that formed about 1.25 million years ago, indicating melt water from nearby snow and ice deposits. The discovery extends the time water may have been active on Mars, adding to evidence of a recent ice age.
SnowMan, developed by UB engineers, uses fluid mechanics principles to design roadways less prone to snow drifts. The software provides precise placement of snow fences to mitigate drifting, reducing highway safety risks and winter maintenance costs.
A new study finds that soot on snow warms the snow and air by up to 1.2 degrees Fahrenheit, causing snowmelt weeks earlier in spring. This can lead to reduced water supply, aggravate winter flooding and summer droughts.
Satellites like TOPEX/Poseidon can supplement USGS ground measurements with little to no cost, offering detailed flood data. The Ohio State software uses an algorithm to differentiate between water and snow cover, enabling precise measurements of flooded regions.
New research shows that polar bears can adapt to a changing Arctic by consuming snow goose eggs, which are rich in nutrients. As the Arctic warms, the timing of sea-ice breakup and snow goose nesting is shifting, providing an alternative source of food for subadult males.
A University of Colorado study predicts dramatic changes for Rocky Mountain ski areas due to climate warming, including shortened ski seasons and higher snowlines. To adapt, resorts must expand operations to higher elevations and invest in gondola transportation systems and increased snowmaking efforts.
Rising temperatures can lead to an increase in dry, desert-like conditions, affecting species' survival and natural resources. Climate change scientists warn that individual species indicate wider changes at the biome level, potentially altering ecosystem services for humans.
A new study finds global warming could lead to larger changes in snowmelt in the western US, increasing wildfire risk and creating new water management challenges. The critical surface temperature feedback is twice as strong as projected, potentially accelerating warming.
Researchers have developed a network of unmanned, autonomous robots called SnoMotes to collect data on ice sheets and glaciers in the Arctic. These toy-like robots can navigate treacherous terrain and capture real-time measurements of barometric pressure, temperature, and relative humidity.
Researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology have created specially designed robots called SnoMotes to traverse dangerous ice environments and gather scientific measurements. The SnoMotes work autonomously in teams to cover all necessary ground, providing accurate data for scientists to validate climate models.
Scientists compared Antarctic temperatures and snowfall to climate models, finding a poor match for the entire last century. The discrepancy suggests that current computer models may not work well for remote regions.
New scientific evidence suggests that iron snow forms and falls toward the center of Mercury's core, powering its weak magnetic field. This process could be responsible for the planet's mysterious magnetic field, which is about 100 times weaker than Earth's.
Research by David Inouye shows that warmer springs in the Rockies are causing three common wildflowers to bloom less due to late frost damage. This can have significant impacts on ecosystem dynamics, as these plants provide food for various insects and animals, which may disappear if they vanish.
Scientists at UEA found intense rainfall events increasing in UK's winter and spring seasons, reversing summer trend. Heavy summer rainfall returns after 1990s decrease, impacting flood risk and extreme weather events.
Scientists from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have pinpointed human-caused climate change as the cause of decreasing water flow in the West. The study found that warming temperatures and rising greenhouse gas levels are affecting snowpack, river flows, and ultimately, the water supply.
Scientists have found that snow accumulation in western Antarctica has doubled since the 1850s, with a shift in atmospheric circulation patterns contributing to the increase. In contrast, larch trees are benefiting from warmer climates, with fire return intervals decreasing due to their dependence on fires for seed germination. Researc...
A new study published in the International Journal of Climatology found that urban snow conditions significantly impact skier activity in New England. Researchers discovered that attendees are more likely to visit ski areas based on Boston weather patterns rather than local conditions.
Researchers found that learning different names for things makes it easier to place them into the correct categories. In a series of experiments, participants learned labels for aliens on a computer screen and categorized them into two types, demonstrating that redundant labels facilitate learning of novel categories.
A new NASA study reveals record-breaking snow melting in high-altitude areas of Greenland, with melting occurring 25-30 days longer than average. This trend is expected to impact Earth's energy budget and contribute to sea level rise.
A new NASA study reveals that Antarctic snow is melting farther inland from the coast over time, with increased melting at higher altitudes. This trend is linked to climate change, threatening Antarctica's role as a 'brake system' for glaciers.
A predictive model, sCast, uses October snow cover in Siberia to predict winter temperatures and snowfall in the Northern Hemisphere. The model has been verified to accurately forecast winter conditions over much of eastern United States and Northern Eurasia.
A new research published in Science magazine reveals a significant increase in black carbon in Arctic snow during the late 19th and early 20th centuries due to industrial pollution. The study, led by Drs. Joe McConnell and Ross Edwards, found that soot concentrations rose substantially, leading to changes in Arctic climate forcing.
A University of Colorado study reveals wind-blown dust from desert droughts can shorten mountain snow cover by a month, impacting water supply and agricultural resources. The study found seasonal snow coverage in the San Juan Mountains disappeared 30 days earlier due to heavy dust deposition.
Researchers Philip Mote and Georg Kaser attribute Kilimanjaro's ice decline primarily to solar radiation and sublimation, rather than atmospheric warming. The decrease in snowfall and energy absorption by the ice also contribute to its shrinking size.
Research at University of California - Irvine reveals that dirty snow can explain up to 19% of the Arctic warming attributed to greenhouse gases. Soot-infused snow absorbs sunlight and causes heating.
New research reveals hundreds of Antarctic Peninsula glaciers are flowing faster, with a 12% increase in speed from 1993 to 2003. Climate warming is melting lower glaciers, causing them to slide faster and further contributing to sea level rise.
A NASA-funded project using satellite observations has shown an increase in days of snow melting on Greenland's ice sheet over the past 18 years. The resulting data helps scientists understand the speed of glacier flow and how much water will pour into the surrounding ocean.
Researchers found that high-altitude ice fields, like Mont Blanc and Dôme du Goûter, have remained stable in mass balance over the last 100 years. The accumulation of snow and ice has varied little since the beginning of the 20th century, indicating a lack of significant melting due to climate change.
A NASA-University of Colorado study revealed widespread Antarctic melting in January 2005, with affected regions spanning an area as big as California. The observed melting occurred in multiple distinct regions, including far inland and at high latitudes, and was linked to unusually high air temperatures.
A recent experiment confirmed what NASA satellites are telling us about how changes in clouds can affect climate in the coldest regions on Earth. Researchers found extremely high ice water content in snowstorms and embedded layers of liquid water in very cold multi-layer cloud systems.
Researchers have created miniature lab ice spikes that resemble natural penitentes on glaciers, which could help block sunlight and slow melting. The study's findings suggest that adding a small layer of dirt to glacier surfaces may preserve them, providing a potential solution for global warming.
Researchers from French and international institutions have discovered that global warming has also affected the ice cap on Mount Everest. By analyzing air bubbles trapped in ice cores, they found a marked decrease in gas content in 20th-century ice, indicating recent increases in summer melts.
Researchers are developing new hydrologic forecasting models that use satellite data and atmospheric climate forecasts to predict stream flows. These models aim to provide computerized water forecasts equivalent to modern weather-prediction models, allowing for more accurate and timely decisions on water resource management.
Scientists use NASA satellite data and computer modeling to track Yellowstone bison migration patterns and predict when they will leave public land for private property, reducing conflicts with ranchers. The project provides daily maps of snowpack depth and density to inform park officials' decisions.
A new study by Queen's University biologist Virginia Walker has discovered a way to isolate bacteria that can create better ice cream and artificial snow from soil in more temperate environments. The technique, called ice affinity selection, involves forming an 'ice finger' to select for bacteria that gather on the surface of ice.
Researchers are working to project the impacts of climate change on municipal water supplies by refining global climate models and customizing them for specific basins. This allows local governments and water planners to prepare for changes in tap water availability.
Researchers discovered that releasing reservoir water to recharge natural aquifers can help cities survive droughts with full production from municipal wells. This technique may become crucial for areas experiencing reduced inflow due to changing water uses or climate change, such as the city of Las Vegas, NM, and parts of California.