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Both natural and anthropogenic factors have led to the decrease of snowcaps on the Western US mountains, a recent study concludes. Study authors simulated snowpack conditions by using a climate model in two configurations: one with contributions only from natural variability; and a second with contributions from both natural variability and anthropogenic activities. Researchers found the latter configuration matched the actual observations of the Western US snowpack between 1982 and 2010. According to the model predictions, if things are left as they are, over the next 30 years the amount of snow on the mountains could further decrease by 30 percent.
Authors:
John C. Fyfe, Chris Derksen, Lawrence Mudryk, Gregory M. Flato, Benjamin D. Santer, Neil C. Swart, Noah P. Molotch, Xuebin Zhang, Hui Wan, Vivek K. Arora, John Scinocca & Yanjun Jiao
Corresponding author:
John Fyfe, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Toronto, ON, Email: John.Fyfe@canada.ca
Original paper published in Nature Communications on April 18, 2017.
