Observed snow depth trends in the European Alps: 1971 to 2019

Matiu M, Crespi A, Bertoldi G, Maria Carmagnola C, Marty C, Morin S, Schöner W, Cat Berro D, Chiogna G, De Gregorio L, Kotlarski S, Majone B, Resch G, Terzago S, Valt M, Beozzo W, Cianfarra P, Gouttevin I, Marcolini G, Notarnicola C, Petitta M, Scherrer SC, Strasser U, Winkler M, Zebisch M, Cicogna A, Cremonini R, Debernardi A, Faletto M, Gaddo M, Giovannini L, Mercalli L, Soubeyroux JM, Sušnik A, Trenti A, Urbani S, Weilguni V (2021)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2021

Journal

Book Volume: 15

Pages Range: 1343-1382

Journal Issue: 3

DOI: 10.5194/tc-15-1343-2021

Abstract

The European Alps stretch over a range of climate zones which affect the spatial distribution of snow. Previous analyses of station observations of snow were confined to regional analyses. Here, we present an Alpine-wide analysis of snow depth from six Alpine countries - Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland - including altogether more than 2000 stations of which more than 800 were used for the trend assessment. Using a principal component analysis and k-means clustering, we identified five main modes of variability and five regions which match the climatic forcing zones: north and high Alpine, north-east, north-west, south-east, and south and high Alpine. Linear trends of monthly mean snow depth between 1971 and 2019 showed decreases in snow depth for most stations from November to May. The average trend among all stations for seasonal (November to May) mean snow depth was -8.4 % per decade, for seasonal maximum snow depth -5.6 % per decade, and for seasonal snow cover duration -5.6 % per decade. Stronger and more significant trends were observed for periods and elevations where the transition from snow to snow-free occurs, which is consistent with an enhanced albedo feedback. Additionally, regional trends differed substantially at the same elevation, which challenges the notion of generalizing results from one region to another or to the whole Alps. This study presents an analysis of station snow depth series with the most comprehensive spatial coverage in the European Alps to date.

Authors with CRIS profile

Involved external institutions

Eidgenössische Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft (WSL) Switzerland (CH) eurac research Italy (IT) University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) / Université de Grenoble France (FR) Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz Austria (AT) Società Meteorologica Italiana Italy (IT) Technische Universität München (TUM) Germany (DE) Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss / Uffizi Federal per Meteorologia e Climatologia Switzerland (CH) Università degli Studi di Trento Italy (IT) Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate / Istituto di Scienze dell'Atmosfera e del Clima (CNR-ISAC) Italy (IT) ARPAV Centro Valanghe di Arabba Italy (IT) University of Genova / Università degli Studi di Genova Italy (IT) Leopold-Franzens-Universität Innsbruck / University of Innsbruck Austria (AT) Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik (ZAMG) Austria (AT) Agenzia regionale per la protezione dell’ambiente del Friuli Venezia Giulia (ARPA) Italy (IT) Regional Agency for the Protection of the Environment / Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale ( ARPA ) Italy (IT) METEO FRANCE France (FR) Slovenian Environment Agency / Agencija Republike Slovenije za okolje (ARSO) Slovenia (SI) Regional environmental protection for Lombardia / Azienda Regionale per la protezione dell'ambiente (ARPA ) Lombardia Italy (IT) Bundesministerium für Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Regionen und Wasserwirtschaft (BML) Austria (AT)

How to cite

APA:

Matiu, M., Crespi, A., Bertoldi, G., Maria Carmagnola, C., Marty, C., Morin, S.,... Weilguni, V. (2021). Observed snow depth trends in the European Alps: 1971 to 2019. Cryosphere, 15(3), 1343-1382. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1343-2021

MLA:

Matiu, Michael, et al. "Observed snow depth trends in the European Alps: 1971 to 2019." Cryosphere 15.3 (2021): 1343-1382.

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