The vertical influence of temperature and precipitation on snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China

Wu, Senyao and Zhang, Xueliang and Du, Jinkang and Zhou, Xiaobing and Tuo, Ye and Li, Runjie and Duan, Zheng (2019) The vertical influence of temperature and precipitation on snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China. Hydrological Processes, 33 (12). pp. 1686-1697. ISSN 0885-6087

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Abstract

Seasonal snow cover in mountainous regions will affect local climate and hydrology. In this study, we assessed the role of altitude in determining the relative importance of temperature and precipitation in snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains. The results show that: (1) in the study area, temperature has a greater influence on snow cover than precipitation during most of the time period studied and in most altitudes. (2) In the high‐elevation area, there is a threshold altitude of 3900±400 m, below which temperature is negatively while precipitation is positively correlated to snow cover, above which the situation is the opposite. Besides, this threshold altitude decreases from snow accumulated period to snow stable period and then increases from snowmelt period to snow‐free period. (3) Below 2000 m, there is another threshold altitude of 1400±100 m during the snow stable period, below (above) which precipitation (temperature) is the main driver of snow cover.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Hydrological Processes
Additional Information:
This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Wu, S, Zhang, X, Du, J, et al. The vertical influence of temperature and precipitation on snow cover variability in the Central Tianshan Mountains, Northwest China. Hydrological Processes 2019 which has been published in final form at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/action/showCitFormats?doi=10.1002%2Fhyp.13431 This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance With Wiley Terms and Conditions for self-archiving.
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2300/2312
Subjects:
?? high mountainsprecipitationseasonal snowsnow cover variabilitytemperaturethreshold altitudewater science and technology ??
ID Code:
131867
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
08 Mar 2019 10:35
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
07 Nov 2023 01:00