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Scientific article
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The changing roles of temperature and precipitation on snowpack variability in Switzerland as a function of altitude

Contributors

Moran, Enrique; López-Moreno, Juan Ignacio; Beniston, Martin

Published in

Geophysical research letters, p. 1-6

Publication date

2013

Abstract

In this study, we assess the role of altitude in determining the relative performance of temperature and precipitation as predictors of snowpack variability in Switzerland. The results indicate a linear relationship between altitude and the correlation of temperature (precipitation) with snowpack depth and duration. We identify a threshold altitude of approximately 1400 m a.s.l. ( +/- 200 m, depending on the snow index considered), below which temperature is the main explanatory variable and above which precipitation is a better predictor of snowpack variability. The results also highlight that as climate warms, the altitude at which temperature is the main constraint on snow accumulation increases. This has important implications for the future viability of snow-dependent economic sectors in Switzerland, where projections indicate a continuous warming during the course of the 21st century.

UNIGE affiliation entities

UNIGE research groups

Citation (ISO format)

MORAN, Enrique, LÓPEZ-MORENO, Juan Ignacio, BENISTON, Martin. The changing roles of temperature and precipitation on snowpack variability in Switzerland as a function of altitude. In: Geophysical research letters, 2013, p. 1–6. doi: 10.1002/grl.50463

Main files (1)

Article (Published version)

Identifiers

Journal ISSN

0094-8276
686views
389downloads

Technical informations

Creation

31/05/2013 16:58:00

First validation

31/05/2013 16:58:00

Update

14/03/2023 20:17:52

Status update

14/03/2023 20:17:52

Last indexation

30/10/2024 09:36:54
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