High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin
Abstract Continued climate warming is reducing seasonal snowpacks in the western United States, where >50% of historical water supplies were snowmelt‐derived. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, declining snow water equivalent (SWE) and altered surface water input (SWI, rainfall and snowmelt avail...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Earth's Future |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003092 |
| _version_ | 1797895041058865152 |
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| author | John C. Hammond Graham A. Sexstone Annie L. Putman Theodore B. Barnhart David M. Rey Jessica M. Driscoll Glen E. Liston Kristen L. Rasmussen Daniel McGrath Steven R. Fassnacht Stephanie K. Kampf |
| author_facet | John C. Hammond Graham A. Sexstone Annie L. Putman Theodore B. Barnhart David M. Rey Jessica M. Driscoll Glen E. Liston Kristen L. Rasmussen Daniel McGrath Steven R. Fassnacht Stephanie K. Kampf |
| author_sort | John C. Hammond |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Continued climate warming is reducing seasonal snowpacks in the western United States, where >50% of historical water supplies were snowmelt‐derived. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, declining snow water equivalent (SWE) and altered surface water input (SWI, rainfall and snowmelt available to enter the soil) timing and magnitude affect streamflow generation and water availability. To adapt effectively to future conditions, we need to understand current spatiotemporal distributions of SWE and SWI and how they may change in future decades. We developed 100‐m SnowModel simulations for water years 2001–2013 and two scenarios: control (CTL) and pseudo‐global‐warming (PGW). The PGW fraction of precipitation falling as snow was lower relative to CTL, except for November–April at high elevations. PGW peak SWE was lower for low (−45%) and mid elevations (−14%), while the date of peak SWE was uniformly earlier in the year for all elevations (17–23 days). Currently unmonitored high elevation snow represented a greater fraction of total PGW SWE. PGW peak daily SWI was higher for all elevations (30%–42%), while the dates of SWI peaks and centroids were earlier in the year for all elevations under PGW. PGW displayed elevated winter SWI, lower summer SWI, and changes in spring SWI timing were elevation‐dependent. Although PGW peak SWI was elevated and earlier compared to CTL, SWI was more evenly distributed throughout the year for PGW. These simulated shifts in the timing and magnitude of SWE and SWI have broad implications for water management in dry, snow‐dominated regions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:19:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddadddd45a6a41c384051e7301dfdcc3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2328-4277 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T07:19:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth's Future |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddadddd45a6a41c384051e7301dfdcc32023-02-24T17:18:32ZengWileyEarth's Future2328-42772023-02-01112n/an/a10.1029/2022EF003092High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River BasinJohn C. Hammond0Graham A. Sexstone1Annie L. Putman2Theodore B. Barnhart3David M. Rey4Jessica M. Driscoll5Glen E. Liston6Kristen L. Rasmussen7Daniel McGrath8Steven R. Fassnacht9Stephanie K. Kampf10Maryland‐Delaware‐D.C. Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey MD Baltimore USAColorado Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Lakewood CO USAUtah Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey Salt Lake City UT USAWyoming‐Montana Water Science Center U.S. Geological Survey MT Helena USAWater Mission Area Observing Systems Division U.S. Geological Survey CO Lakewood USARocky Mountain Region U.S. Geological Survey CO Lakewood USACooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Atmospheric Science Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Geosciences Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USACooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USADepartment of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability Colorado State University Fort Collins CO USAAbstract Continued climate warming is reducing seasonal snowpacks in the western United States, where >50% of historical water supplies were snowmelt‐derived. In the Upper Colorado River Basin, declining snow water equivalent (SWE) and altered surface water input (SWI, rainfall and snowmelt available to enter the soil) timing and magnitude affect streamflow generation and water availability. To adapt effectively to future conditions, we need to understand current spatiotemporal distributions of SWE and SWI and how they may change in future decades. We developed 100‐m SnowModel simulations for water years 2001–2013 and two scenarios: control (CTL) and pseudo‐global‐warming (PGW). The PGW fraction of precipitation falling as snow was lower relative to CTL, except for November–April at high elevations. PGW peak SWE was lower for low (−45%) and mid elevations (−14%), while the date of peak SWE was uniformly earlier in the year for all elevations (17–23 days). Currently unmonitored high elevation snow represented a greater fraction of total PGW SWE. PGW peak daily SWI was higher for all elevations (30%–42%), while the dates of SWI peaks and centroids were earlier in the year for all elevations under PGW. PGW displayed elevated winter SWI, lower summer SWI, and changes in spring SWI timing were elevation‐dependent. Although PGW peak SWI was elevated and earlier compared to CTL, SWI was more evenly distributed throughout the year for PGW. These simulated shifts in the timing and magnitude of SWE and SWI have broad implications for water management in dry, snow‐dominated regions.https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003092snow water equivalentsnowmeltclimate changeUpper Colorado River Basinstreamflow generationsurface water input |
| spellingShingle | John C. Hammond Graham A. Sexstone Annie L. Putman Theodore B. Barnhart David M. Rey Jessica M. Driscoll Glen E. Liston Kristen L. Rasmussen Daniel McGrath Steven R. Fassnacht Stephanie K. Kampf High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin Earth's Future snow water equivalent snowmelt climate change Upper Colorado River Basin streamflow generation surface water input |
| title | High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| title_full | High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| title_fullStr | High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| title_short | High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin |
| title_sort | high resolution snowmodel simulations reveal future elevation dependent snow loss and earlier flashier surface water input for the upper colorado river basin |
| topic | snow water equivalent snowmelt climate change Upper Colorado River Basin streamflow generation surface water input |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2022EF003092 |
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