A mechanism for regional variations in snowpack melt under rising temperature

As the planet warms, mountain snowpack is expected to melt progressively earlier each spring. However, analysis of measurements in western United States shows that change date when disappears not uniform: for 1?°C warming, 30 days some regions, whereas there almost no others. Here we present an idealized physical model simulates timing under changing temperature and use it show this observed disparity sensitivity disappearance warming results from a mechanism related sinusoidal shape annual cycle temperature. Applying globally, uniform will most rapidly coastal Arctic, States, Central Europe South America, with much smaller changes northern interiors North America Eurasia. Warming causes during local An suggests depends largely on mean its seasonal cycle; largest sensitivities are seen America.