Subj : ES Picture of the Day 12  2022
To   : All
From : Dan Richter
Date : Sat Nov 12 2022 11:01:06

 EPOD - a service of USRA

The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes
and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and
archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory
captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The
community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and
relevant links.


 Factors Determining Snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains

   November 11, 2022

    TomMC_EPOD.ColoradoRockiesSnowpack (004)

    TomMC_EPOD.60.ColoradoRiverConditionsJuly2022 (003)

   Photographer:  Thomas McGuire

   Summary Author:  Thomas McGuire

   Some 40 million people in the Southwestern United States depend, in a
   large part, on the  Colorado River for agricultural and municipal
   water. About 90% of Colorado River water originates from melting
   snowpacks in the Rocky Mountains, such as shown on the photo above at
    Independence Pass, Colorado (taken in July 1977).

   2021-2022 was a relatively decent year for snowfall in the Rockies, yet
   both major reservoirs,  Lake Powell and  Lake Mead, are at
   dangerous and historic low water levels. And they’re expected to
   continue to go down in the coming year.

   With warming of the  climate in the Southwest, the tree line has
   been creeping up mountain slopes. Trees lose water by  transpiration
   from leaves and needles. Snow surfaces lose water by the process known
   as  sublimation. Because trees absorb more sunlight than highly
   reflective snow, an early snowmelt exposes the dark soil, which absorbs
   more solar energy. Additionally, dust blown from the  dry soil onto
   the snow makes the snow surface darker, absorbing even more sunlight
   and further contributing to earlier snowmelt -- see chart above. This
   confluence of factors is a challenge for the  inhabitants of the
   Southwest. Fortunately, there are many alternatives allowing the
   residents to adapt to the “new normal.”


   Independence Pass, Colorado Coordinates: 39.1086, -106.5640


Related EPODs

    Factors Determining Snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains  Storm
   Deposits Snow Near Roque de los Muchachos Observatory  Archive -
   Saas Valley Area of Switzerland  Glass Bottle in the Atacama Desert
    Preparing for Winter in Northern Illinois  Archive - South
   Atlantic Hurricane

Climatology Links

     *  Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact
     *  JetStream - An Online School for Weather
     *  Climate History
     *  National Centers for Environmental Information
     *  Global Climate Animations
     *  NOAA Climate Analysis Branch
     *  Vital Climate Graphics

-
   Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities
   Space Research Association.

https://epod.usra.edu
 
--- up 36 weeks, 5 days, 21 minutes
 * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)

.