Rapid decline in extratropical Andean snow cover driven by the poleward migration of the Southern Hemisphere westerlies.

Autor: Cordero RR; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile., Feron S; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile. s.c.feron@rug.nl.; University of Groningen, Wirdumerdijk 34, Leeuwarden, 8911 CE, Netherlands. s.c.feron@rug.nl., Damiani A; Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, 305-8506, Japan., MacDonell S; Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Áridas (CEAZA), La Serena, Chile., Carrasco J; University of Magallanes, Av. Manuel Bulnes 1855, Punta Arenas, 621-0427, Chile., Pizarro J; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile., Karas C; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile., Jorquera J; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile., Sepulveda E; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile.; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, 1133 James E. Rogers Way, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA., Cabello F; Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Av. Bernardo O'Higgins 3363, Santiago, Chile., Fernandoy F; Universidad Andrés Bello, Quillota 980, Viña del Mar, Chile., Wang C; School of Meteorology, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73072, USA.; Department of Geography and Environmental Sustainability, University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 73019, USA., Khan AL; Western Washington University, 516 High St, Bellingham, WA, 98225, USA.; National Snow and Ice Data Center, Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences,, University of Colorado-Boulder, 449 UCB University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, 80309-0449, USA., Casassa G; University of Magallanes, Av. Manuel Bulnes 1855, Punta Arenas, 621-0427, Chile.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Nov 11; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 26365. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 11.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-78014-0
Abstrakt: Seasonal snow in the extratropical Andes is a primary water source for major rivers supplying water for drinking, agriculture, and hydroelectric power in Central Chile. Here, we used estimates from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) to analyze changes in snow cover extent over the period 2001-2022 in a total of 18 watersheds spanning approximately 1,100 km across the Chilean Andes (27-36°S). We found that the annual snow cover extent is receding in the watersheds analyzed at an average pace of approximately 19% per decade. These alarming trends have impacted meltwater runoff, resulting in historically low river streamflows during the dry season. We examined streamflow records dating back to the early 1980s for 10 major rivers within our study area. Further comparisons with large-scale climate modes suggest that the detected decreasing trends in snow cover extent are likely driven by the poleward migration of the westerly winds associated with a positive trend in the Southern Annular Mode (SAM).
Competing Interests: Declarations Competing interests The authors declare no competing interests.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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