Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Differences in Snow Density between the Tibet Plateau and the Arctic
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Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Differences in Snow Density between the Tibet Plateau and the Arctic. / Zhao, Wenyu; Mu, Cuicui; Wu, Xiaodong; Zhong, Xinyue; Peng, Xiaoqing; Liu, Yijing; Sun, Yanhua; Liang, Benben; Zhang, Tingjun.
In: Remote Sensing, Vol. 15, No. 16, 3976, 2023.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Spatio-Temporal Characteristics and Differences in Snow Density between the Tibet Plateau and the Arctic
AU - Zhao, Wenyu
AU - Mu, Cuicui
AU - Wu, Xiaodong
AU - Zhong, Xinyue
AU - Peng, Xiaoqing
AU - Liu, Yijing
AU - Sun, Yanhua
AU - Liang, Benben
AU - Zhang, Tingjun
N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2023 by the authors.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - The Tibet Plateau (TP) and the Arctic are typically cold regions with abundant snow cover, which plays a key role in land surface processes. Knowledge of variations in snow density is essential for understanding hydrology, ecology, and snow cover feedback. Here, we utilized extensive measurements recorded by 697 ground-based snow sites during 1950–2019 to identify the spatio-temporal characteristics of snow density in these two regions. We examined the spatial heterogeneity of snow density for different snow classes, which are from a global seasonal snow cover classification system, with each class determined from air temperature, precipitation, and wind speed climatologies. We also investigated possible mechanisms driving observed snow density differences. The long-term mean snow density in the Arctic was 1.6 times that of the TP. Slight differences were noted in the monthly TP snow densities, with values ranging from 122 ± 29 to 158 ± 52 kg/m3. In the Arctic, however, a clear increasing trend was shown from October to June, particularly with a rate of 30.3 kg/m3 per month from March to June. For the same snow class, the average snow density in the Arctic was higher than that in the TP. The Arctic was characterized mainly by a longer snowfall duration and deeper snow cover, with some areas showing perennial snow cover. In contrast, the TP was dominated by seasonal snow cover that was shallower and warmer, with less (more) snowfall in winter (spring). The results will be helpful for future simulations of snow cover changes and land interactions at high latitudes and altitudes.
AB - The Tibet Plateau (TP) and the Arctic are typically cold regions with abundant snow cover, which plays a key role in land surface processes. Knowledge of variations in snow density is essential for understanding hydrology, ecology, and snow cover feedback. Here, we utilized extensive measurements recorded by 697 ground-based snow sites during 1950–2019 to identify the spatio-temporal characteristics of snow density in these two regions. We examined the spatial heterogeneity of snow density for different snow classes, which are from a global seasonal snow cover classification system, with each class determined from air temperature, precipitation, and wind speed climatologies. We also investigated possible mechanisms driving observed snow density differences. The long-term mean snow density in the Arctic was 1.6 times that of the TP. Slight differences were noted in the monthly TP snow densities, with values ranging from 122 ± 29 to 158 ± 52 kg/m3. In the Arctic, however, a clear increasing trend was shown from October to June, particularly with a rate of 30.3 kg/m3 per month from March to June. For the same snow class, the average snow density in the Arctic was higher than that in the TP. The Arctic was characterized mainly by a longer snowfall duration and deeper snow cover, with some areas showing perennial snow cover. In contrast, the TP was dominated by seasonal snow cover that was shallower and warmer, with less (more) snowfall in winter (spring). The results will be helpful for future simulations of snow cover changes and land interactions at high latitudes and altitudes.
KW - Arctic
KW - snow class
KW - snow density
KW - spatial heterogeneity
KW - Tibet Plateau
U2 - 10.3390/rs15163976
DO - 10.3390/rs15163976
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85168783079
VL - 15
JO - Remote Sensing
JF - Remote Sensing
SN - 2072-4292
IS - 16
M1 - 3976
ER -
ID: 369249876