Based on the snow cover fraction (SCF) data acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Terra spacecraft from 2000–2006, statistical analyses are performed to explore the spatial and temporal distribution and variation of the snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). It is found that the snow persistence over the TP varies in different elevation ranges ge...

Trends in the duration or extent of snow cover are expected to feedback to temperature trends. We analyzed trends in dates of onset and termination of snow cover in relation to temperature over the past 27 years (1980–2006) from over 636 meteorological stations in the Northern Hemisphere. Different trends in snow duration are observed over North America and Eurasia. Over North America, the term...

We investigate the response of a climate system model to two different methods for estimating snow cover fraction. In the control case, snow cover fraction changes gradually with snow depth; in the alternative scenarios (one with prescribed vegetation and one with dynamic vegetation), snow cover fraction initially increases with snow depth almost twice as fast as the control method. In cases wh...

Snow in the mountainous watersheds of the Tarim River Basin is the primary source of water for western China. The Snow Cover Daily L3 Global 500-m Grid (MOD10A1) remote sensing dataset has proven extremely valuable for monitoring the changing snow cover patterns over large spatial areas; however, inherent uncertainty associated with large sensor zenith angles (SZAs) has called its reliability i...

Taking northern Xinjiang, China, as an example, this study first compares the standard MODIS Terra and Aqua snow cover classifications, and then compares the accuracy of the standard MODIS daily and 8-day snow cover products with the new daily and multi-day snow cover combination of MODIS Terra and Aqua observations using in situ measurements. Under clear sky in both products, the agreement of ...

A warm, very wet Paci®c storm caused signi®cant ̄ooding in the Paci®c Northwest during February 1996. Rapid melting of the mountain snow cover contributed to this ̄ooding. An energy balance snowmelt model is used to simulate snowmelt processes during this event in the Central Cascade Mountains of Oregon. Data from paired open and forested experimental sites at locations at and just below the Pa...

Climate change might alter annual snowfall patterns and modify the duration and magnitude of snow cover in temperate regions with resultant impacts on soil microclimate and soil CO2 efflux (Fsoil ). We used a 5-year time series of Fsoil measurements from a mid-elevation forest to assess the effects of naturally changing snow cover. Snow cover varied considerably in duration (105-154 days) and d...

‘Alpine systems are generally considered to be among the most vulnerable to future climate change’ (Hughes 2003), and changes in snow depth and cover in the Australian mountains would likely affect many animals. For instance, the Pygmy Possum depends on snow cover for stable, low temperatures during hibernation (Walter and Broome 1998). In years of shallow snow cover populations of Dusky Antech...

Variations in the strength of the current spring snow albedo feedback (SAF) over Northern Hemisphere land surfaces (NH) explain over one third of the 21 century temperature response to anthropogenic forcings in this region within global circulation model (GCM) projections. Observation based estimates of controls on SAF are needed to constrain the snow and albedo parameterizations in these model...