Articles tagged with Snow
Scientists track unprecedented rate of Greenland's ice melting and continued Antarctic loss in a new study. The research used data from NASA's GRACE Follow-On satellites to monitor changes in Earth's gravity and water reserves, revealing striking results.
Researchers found that horse herds can significantly slow the loss of permafrost soils, preserving 80% of them until 2100. The approach, inspired by a Russian experiment, uses large herbivores to manipulate snow cover and reduce freezing temperatures.
Researchers have developed a method to accurately measure the volume of snow produced through cloud seeding using radar and other tools. The study found that cloud seeding produced about 282 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water in the form of snow, with snow falling from clouds for approximately 67 minutes.
University of Wyoming researchers contributed to the first quantifiable observation of cloud seeding using radar and gauges, which demonstrated significant snowfall increase in a western U.S. region. The study, dubbed SNOWIE, used modern technology to track seeding plumes and isolate snow added through cloud seeding.
Researchers used radar and tools to accurately measure the volume of snow produced through cloud seeding. The study found that three cloud seeding events in Idaho's Payette Basin produced a total of about 282 Olympic-sized swimming pools worth of water.
A recent study by the Institute of Atmospheric Physics found that advanced leaf-out timing enhances annual surface warming in the Northern Hemisphere. The study revealed that early sprouting and opening leaves intensify water vapor release, leading to snow and cloud cover anomalies in northern high latitudes.
A new study proposes a methodology for identifying effective hedging strategies based on weather derivatives to protect ski tourism operators' profits despite climate change. The research uses historical snowfall and temperature data to design useful weather derivatives payoff contracts.
Researchers found an 85% greater snow depth in burned areas compared to non-burned areas. Severe wildfires can lead to increased flood potential, loss of nutrients, and erosion for downstream communities.
Engineers from the University of Kansas are flying a specially equipped Cessna over the Black Hills to measure snow depths and predict streamflow. The goal is to incorporate these measurements into hydrological models to better predict how melting snow affects regional streams and rivers.
New Stanford research finds that winter floods driven by rainfall can be 2.5 times larger than those driven by snowmelt. As global warming increases precipitation falling as rain, flood sizes increase exponentially, posing a significant threat to infrastructure in Western US.
Research using satellite data reveals significant increases in subnival vegetation cover across four height brackets in the Himalayan region. The study found a stronger trend in increased vegetation cover between 5,000-5,500m above sea level, with conditions at Mount Everest's top height range showing signs of plant growth.
Researchers propose a new theory that iron particles fall from the molten outer core and accumulate on the inner core, creating piles up to 200 miles thick. This phenomenon could help explain seismic wave anomalies and provide insights into the Earth's interior composition and behavior.
Satellite data shows Greenland's glaciers have retreated about 3 miles between 1985 and 2018, with the rate of ice calving beginning to accelerate in 2000. This imbalance is causing the glacier to lose mass faster than snow can replace it.
A University of Washington atmospheric scientist will lead a NASA field campaign to fly through major snowstorms along the East Coast, observing snow as it forms in clouds to help with satellite monitoring. The goal is to understand how snow distributes unevenly across the storm and improve forecasts.
Cold waves triggered by Arctic sea ice loss are memorized in Eurasia, amplifying cooling in subsequent winters. The memory effect contributes to generating atmospheric circulation and advancing winter's arrival.
A study found that biomass burning in Amazonia can enhance tropical glaciers in the Andes, with aerosols like black carbon increasing melting by 3-4% or 6%. The impact depends on dust content in snow, highlighting climate pressure from global food demand
Research by McGill University scientists found that nanosized metal particles from the Athabasca oil sands accelerate ice nucleation, leading to more frequent and intense extreme weather events. The pollution is also significantly higher near the oil sands than in a Canadian city.
A study found a significant reduction in Arctic surface albedo, primarily driven by decreased snow cover fraction accounting for 70% of the decline. Reduced sea-ice extent also contributed to the decrease, while soot deposits did not play a primary role.
A thin layer of liquid water, much thinner than expected, is found to reduce friction on ice, with complex viscoelastic properties. This film's unusual behavior contradicts existing theories and offers new insights into ice gliding and winter sports.
A study found that local people in Nepal's Himalayan regions have mixed views on snow leopard conservation, with some valuing the species' cultural significance and others fearing its impact on livestock. Conservation efforts that benefit both humans and snow leopards are crucial for their coexistence.
KU Leuven researchers have developed a method to measure snow depth using satellites, enabling the study of inaccessible areas like the Himalayas. The findings reveal significant snow volumes in European and North American mountain ranges.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that 2018's record-breaking snowfall led to a reproductive failure across Arctic ecosystems. This event highlights the devastating effects of climate variability and extreme weather events on Arctic species.
A team of UAF researchers will spend a year on board the Polarstern, studying the intersection of ocean, sea ice, and atmosphere in the Arctic. They aim to understand why the Arctic is warming faster than any other region on the planet.
A CU Boulder-led study finds that thick ice slabs in Greenland are sending meltwater spilling into the ocean, contributing to sea-level rise. The runoff zone could expand by the size of Colorado or Texas under different climate scenarios, raising seas by an extra quarter inch to nearly three inches.
In 2018, China experienced more frequent and severe typhoons, low-temperature freezing and snow disasters, and rainstorms. Despite these extreme events, the area of affected crops, death toll, and direct economic losses were significantly less than in previous years.
A new PSU study estimates that snowfall frequency will decline across the Pacific Northwest by 2100, with low- and mid-elevation sites like the Cascades experiencing the largest declines. Global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions can slow this rate of decline.
Research at Hokkaido University reveals that deeper Arctic snow cover can trigger wave train-like temperature distributions in Eurasia. This phenomenon causes surrounding regions to experience high temperatures due to altered westerly wind patterns.
A TUM research team discovered iron-60 in Antarctic snow, ruling out cosmic radiation and nuclear sources. The isotope's presence suggests the solar system recently passed through an interstellar gas cloud.
Researchers analyzed snow samples from remote areas and European cities, finding high concentrations of microplastics in Arctic snow. These tiny particles, often used in synthetic fabrics and other materials, contribute significantly to air pollution and may pose health risks, including lung cancer.
Consecutive low snow years may become six times more common in the Western United States, leading to ecological and economic challenges. The study projects that year-to-year variability of peak snowpack will decrease, mostly in areas transitioning from snow- to rain-dominated precipitation.
A new study suggests that artificially pumping ocean water onto coastal regions surrounding the West Antarctic ice sheet could stabilize it, but at great cost. The approach would require a minimum of 7,400 gigatons of artificial snowfall over 10 years to achieve a two-to-five-centimeter sea level drop.
A team of scientists suggests pumping ocean water onto glaciers in West Antarctica to prevent long-term sea level rise. The plan involves distributing the water with snow cannons, but poses significant environmental and engineering challenges.
Oregon State University researchers developed a new model to calculate snowpack water content, utilizing snow depth data and climate normals. The model performed better than existing ones against validation datasets, providing a valuable tool for vast areas lacking weather instrumentation.
Scientists have made significant advancements in measuring global ice sheet mass using satellite imaging and remote sensing equipment, allowing for greater detail than ever before. This improves the connection between climate variations and ice mass changes over time.
Researchers have discovered thriving microbial communities in high-elevation ice spires in the Andes Mountains, offering insights into the limits of life on Earth. Snow algae were found to be present in these formations for the first time at an extreme elevation, providing a possible analogue for life on other planets.
The 'Third Pole' region in Asia contains one-seventh of the world's freshwater, but rapid climate changes are affecting glacier melt and snowmelt. NASA's High Mountain Asia Team is conducting a comprehensive survey to understand these changes and their implications for food and water security.
Researchers have identified different forces behind variations in near-surface temperature with elevation, time, and space on the Third Pole. This new understanding will provide a more accurate basis for modeling and predicting glacier movement, forestry, and agriculture in the region.
A University of Queensland researcher has identified a potential solution to improve skier safety on snow-covered slopes by modifying the grooming patterns used at ski resorts. By altering the size and spacing of these patterns, visibility can be improved in cloudy conditions, reducing the risk of accidents.
Researchers found that marine oil snow transfers oil's negative impacts from the water column to seafloor sediments, delivering oxygenated compounds to organisms in the sediments. This process can increase toxicity in deep-sea ecosystems.
Wild snow leopards are under threat from emerging infectious diseases, with four pathogens detected in their blood, including Coxiella burnetii and Leptospira species. This study identifies the need to establish surveillance to monitor potential disease impacts on this vulnerable population.
Researchers from the University of Leeds found that Antarctica's ice sheet has thinned by up to 122 meters in places, with rapid changes occurring in West Antarctica. The team tracked changes in snow and ice cover using satellite altimeter measurements and a regional climate model.
A new study found that forest fires are causing snow to melt earlier in the season, exacerbating a cycle of fire and snowmelt. The research revealed that over 11% of Western forests experience earlier snowmelt due to fires.
Research suggests early melting of winter snowfall is driving the Arctic's earlier spring season, with leaves and flowers emerging up to 20 days sooner than two decades ago. Warmer temperatures and sea ice loss also contribute to this trend.
Researchers at UCLA designed a device that harnesses the charge from falling snow to create electricity. The snow-based triboelectric nanogenerator can work in remote areas without batteries, providing a continuous power supply for applications such as monitoring winter sports or tracking athletes.
A new study reveals that a small number of intense storms around Antarctica control up to 60% of annual snowfall in some places. These extreme events are responsible for the marked differences in snowfall from year to year, with one event accounting for 44% of annual snowfall.
A new study finds that rain is becoming increasingly common over parts of the Greenland ice sheet, triggering sudden melting events. The researchers estimate that nearly a third of total runoff is initiated by rainfall, leading to more widespread future melting.
Researchers at Brown University found that the movement of Greenland's snowline plays a crucial role in controlling the rate of ice melt. The study showed that changes in snowline elevation explained more than half of the annual radiation variability on the ice sheet, highlighting its importance in determining melting rates.
Researchers from seven countries analyzed atmospheric black carbon emissions in the Arctic during winter and summer. The study found that fossil fuel combustion dominated BC emissions in winter and biomass burning in summer, contributing to global warming and climate change.
Research reveals that pika populations decline at lower elevations with high vapor-pressure deficit, while mid-elevation pikas face cold stress. High-elevation pikas thrive with sufficient snow cover, promoting healthy reproduction and population growth.
Research suggests that smaller snowstorms will decrease in number, but the most powerful nor'easters will remain frequent and crippling. The study's findings have significant implications for transportation, economy, and infrastructure along the Eastern Seaboard.
A new mathematical model predicts a 50-99% decline in ringed seal populations by 2100, primarily driven by insufficient snow on the ice. This decline will lead to smaller juvenile populations and reduced survival rates for adults.
University of Texas at Arlington researcher Yu Zhang has earned a $515,565 grant from NOAA to develop a method that combines inputs from the joint polar satellite system with the National Water Model. The goal is to enhance snow product accuracy and predict spring melt and runoff more effectively.
Researchers at the University of Nevada, Reno used satellite imagery to analyze changes in snowpacks in the Great Basin. The study found that topography plays a role in determining snowpack duration and that warmer temperatures are leading to more ephemeral snowpacks.
A University of Utah study found that a single dust storm in 2017 accelerated snowmelt in the Wasatch Mountains by 25 percent. Dust deposition was linked to declining water levels in the Great Salt Lake, which may lead to more frequent and severe snowmelt events.
A new study suggests that cover crops grown in fields during winter can increase temperatures in the northern US and southern Canada by up to 3 degrees Celsius. This occurs due to reduced snow reflectivity, allowing crop stems and leaves to absorb solar heat and warm the surrounding atmosphere.
New research by University of Alberta biologists found that wolves decrease their movement rates and travel shorter distances during snowfall events. The effects were most pronounced at night, when wolves hunt, and behavior returned to normal within a day.
Researchers used the NIST Dragon to simulate ember attacks on thatched-roof buildings, revealing ignition occurred within 90 seconds and flames penetrated completely through the roofing assembly. The study's findings will help Japanese fire services develop effective counter measures and mitigate damage from large outdoor fires.
Researchers found that warmer winters mean more ice on the ground due to increased winter rain, posing challenges for Arctic wildlife and ecosystems. The formation of basal ice can kill plants and starve animals, while rain-on-snow events can lead to avalanches.
Researchers have mapped snow mass changes in the Western US from 1982 to 2016 on a grid of squares 2.5-miles on a side, revealing significant declines in mountainous areas. The annual maximum snow mass over the Western US is decreasing, with some regions showing up to 41% reduction in yearly maximum mass since 1982.
A study by Berkeley Lab found that the Sierra Nevada snowpack could drop by 79% by 2100, leading to a shift in peak timing four weeks earlier. The researchers worked closely with water managers to produce 'actionable science' for resource planning purposes.