Editorial Type:
Article
Article Type:
Research Article

Trends in Snow Cover and Related Quantities at Weather Stations in the Conterminous United States

Noah Knowles U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, California

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Print Publication:
01 Oct 2015
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-15-0051.1
Page(s):
7518–7528
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Abstract

Trend tests, linear regression, and canonical correlation analysis were used to quantify changes in National Weather Service Cooperative Observer (COOP) snow depth data and derived quantities, precipitation, snowfall, and temperature over the study period 1950–2010. Despite widespread warming, historical trends in snowfall and snow depth are generally mixed owing to competing influences of trends in precipitation. Trends toward later snow-cover onset in the western half of the conterminous United States and earlier onset in the eastern half and a widespread trend toward earlier final meltoff of snow cover combined to produce trends toward shorter snow seasons in the eastern half of the United States and in the west and longer snow seasons in the Great Plains and southern Rockies. The annual total number of days with snow cover exhibited a widespread decline. Monthly trend patterns show the dominant influence of temperature trends on occurrence of snow cover in the warmer snow-season months and a combination of temperature and precipitation trends in the colder months. A canonical correlation analysis indicated that most trends presented here took hold in the 1970s, consistent with the temporal pattern of global warming during the study period.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: Noah Knowles, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Mail Stop 496, Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: nknowles@usgs.gov

Abstract

Trend tests, linear regression, and canonical correlation analysis were used to quantify changes in National Weather Service Cooperative Observer (COOP) snow depth data and derived quantities, precipitation, snowfall, and temperature over the study period 1950–2010. Despite widespread warming, historical trends in snowfall and snow depth are generally mixed owing to competing influences of trends in precipitation. Trends toward later snow-cover onset in the western half of the conterminous United States and earlier onset in the eastern half and a widespread trend toward earlier final meltoff of snow cover combined to produce trends toward shorter snow seasons in the eastern half of the United States and in the west and longer snow seasons in the Great Plains and southern Rockies. The annual total number of days with snow cover exhibited a widespread decline. Monthly trend patterns show the dominant influence of temperature trends on occurrence of snow cover in the warmer snow-season months and a combination of temperature and precipitation trends in the colder months. A canonical correlation analysis indicated that most trends presented here took hold in the 1970s, consistent with the temporal pattern of global warming during the study period.

Denotes Open Access content.

Corresponding author address: Noah Knowles, U.S. Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road, Mail Stop 496, Menlo Park, CA 94025. E-mail: nknowles@usgs.gov
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