120 likes | 127 Views
This study examines the impact of disturbed desert dust on accelerated snowmelt and its implications for water management in the Western US. Early snowmelt affects water availability, evapotranspiration, and temperatures, making it crucial to understand the role of dust. The study highlights the significant reservoir capacity provided by mountain snowpack and the need to address dust loading in order to inform water managers.
E N D
Where Deserts and Mountains CollideThe Implications of Accelerated Snowmeltby Disturbed Desert Dust Thomas H. Painter Snow Optics Laboratory University of Utah
Snowmelt and Water • 75% of freshwater comes from snow in the Western US • Mountain snowpack provides enormous, critical reservoir capacity • Early snowmelt increases growing season length, evapotranspiration, and temperatures • Rate of snowmelt controls water management and yield
Reflectivity = 72% Absorption = 28% Reflectivity Reflectivity =43% Absorption = 57% Snow Albedo
Impact of Dust: A Perfect Storm Dust is well timed Dust is well placed Dust is, well, darker than snow April 2009 May 2009
Changes in Dust Loading Post-disturbance ~ 1850 AD Pre-disturbance From lake sediments in the Colorado Rockies From Neff et al (2008), Nature Geosciences
Present Photo: McKenzie Skiles, Snow Optics Laboratory
Phoenix 2006 Future Dust Loading
Snow water equivalent (mm) Snowmelt Modeling albedo = 0.72 Before disturbance albedo = 0.43 After disturbance Senator Beck Basin Study Area, Colorado, 2006 Cleaner (before disturbance) Dirtier (after disturbance )
Colorado River Basin May 6, 2009 MODIS-DRFS Daily sunlight absorbed by dust (W/m2)
Water in the Colorado River Basin STAY TUNED