Impacts of landscape and climatic factors on snow cover in the Altai Mountains, China

We propose a fundamental geographic distribution for the wolverine ( Gulo gulo (L., 1758)) based on the hypothesis that the occurrence of wolverines is constrained by their obligate association with persistent spring snow cover for successful reproductive denning and by an upper limit of thermoneutrality. To investigate this hypothesis, we developed a composite of MODIS classified satellite images representing persistent snow cover from 24 April to 15 May, which encompasses the end of the wolverine’s reproductive denning period. To investigate the wolverine’s spatial relationship with average maximum August temperatures, we used interpolated temperature maps. We then compared and correlated these climatic factors with spatially referenced data on wolverine den sites and telemetry locations from North America and Fennoscandia, and our contemporary understanding of the wolverine’s circumboreal range. All 562 reproductive dens from Fennoscandia and North America occurred at sites with persistent spring snow cover. Ninety-five percent of summer and 86% of winter telemetry locations were concordant with spring snow coverage. Average maximum August temperature was a less effective predictor of wolverine presence, although wolverines preferred summer temperatures lower than those available. Reductions in spring snow cover associated with climatic warming will likely reduce the extent of wolverine habitat, with an associated loss of connectivity.

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Wintering Population Change of the Cranes according to the Climatic Factors in Cheorwon, Korea: Effect of the Snow Cover Range and Period by Using MODIS Satellite Data.

Korean Journal of Ecology and Environment ◽

10.11614/ksl.2015.48.3.176 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 48 (3) ◽

pp. 176-187 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Seung-Hwa Yoo ◽

◽

Ki-Sup Lee ◽

Hwa-Young Jung ◽

Hwa-Jung Kim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Satellite Data ◽

Population Change ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Wintering Population

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Snow cover mapping using IRS-P6 AWiFS data and the relationships between some climatic factors with snowpack in the northwest of Iran

Journal of Water and Climate Change ◽

10.2166/wcc.2015.009 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 415-429

Author(s):

M. Seyedielmabad ◽

H. R. Moradi

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Unsupervised Classification ◽

Wide Field ◽

Snow Cover Area ◽

Multi Temporal ◽

Moderate Resolution ◽

Field Sensor ◽

Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽

Normalized Difference Snow Index

In this study, we explored the potential of the multispectral and multi-temporal IRS Advanced Wide Field Sensor (AWiFS) data for mapping of the snow cover in the northwest regions of Iran. The AWiFS snow cover maps, based on the unsupervised classification method, were compared with the estimates of snow cover area derived from the moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) images based on the normalized difference snow index. Good concurrence was observed with respect to the snow area between the AWiFS features and the MODIS features; however, the snow spatial distribution of the AWiFS features differed from those of the MODIS based on the nonentity of the temporal accordance between two types of features. Also, we explored the relationships between some climatic and topographic factors with the snowpack in the northwest part of Iran. Relationships between some climatic factors with snowpack specifications were obtained, which showed significant correlation only between the components of daily temperature and snow density. The other results showed that the amounts of snowpack depth have significant correlations with the height of the stations and the height classes in 1% surface and snowpack depths showed significant differences together within the different height classes.

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The Input of the Climatic Factors in the Temperature Regime of Soils of Discontinuous Permafrost of Northern Taiga of Western Siberia

Dokuchaev Soil Bulletin ◽

10.19047/0136-1694-2017-87-39-54 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 39-54

Author(s):

O. Yu. Goncharova ◽

G. V. Matyshak ◽

A. A. Bobrik ◽

D. G. Petrov ◽

M. O. Tarkhov ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Temperature Regime ◽

Western Siberia ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Northern Taiga ◽

Cold Winter ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

Discontinuous Permafrost ◽

Long Time ◽

Soil Temperature Regime

The results of the four-year study of the temperature regime of soils of three common landscapes of northern taiga in Western Siberia, located in the area of discontinuous permafrost, are presented. The soils of lumpy peatlands are characterized by mild permafrost annual regime with very cold summer and moderately cold winter. Temperature regime of the forest soils may be characterized as cold long-time seasonally freezing mild with very cold summer and moderately cold winter. The soils of the investigated region are functioning in conditions of the narrow range of temperatures: at the depth of 20 cm for the soils of all of the landscapes, the temperatures vary within the range of -2.5 to 0°С. This occurs due to their high moisture, low thermal conductivity, specificities of snow cover regime and the freezing effect of permafrost rocks. Annual temperature soil indices are characterized by the weak correlation to the mean annual specificities of air temperature regime. We discovered the direct correlation of annual soil temperature regime and the dynamics of the snow cover (with average and maximal thickness, and thawing date), and with winter N-factor (surface temperature index), and accumulative positive temperatures. Since isolating activity of the vegetation is significantly lower than that of snow (summer N- factors 0.7-0.9), annual fluctuations of summer air temperatures will significantly affect the temperature regime of soils and geo-cryologic situation of the region in general.

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A sensitivity study of factors influencing warm/thin permafrost in the Swiss Alps

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/002214308786570881 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 54 (187) ◽

pp. 696-704 ◽

Cited By ~ 83

Author(s):

Martina Luetschg ◽

Michael Lehning ◽

Wilfried Haeberli

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Ground Surface ◽

Thermal Conditions ◽

Large Change ◽

Threshold Value ◽

Sensitivity Study ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

Winter Snow

AbstractAlpine permafrost distribution is controlled by a great number of climatic, topographic and soil-specific factors, including snow cover, which plays a major role. In this study, a one-dimensional finite-element numerical model was developed to analyze the influence of individual snow-specific and climatic factors on the ground thermal regime. The results indicate that the most important factor is snow depth. Snow depths below the threshold value of 0.6 m lack sufficient insulation to prevent low atmospheric temperatures from cooling the soil. The date of first winter snow insulation and variations in mean annual air temperature (MAAT) are also shown to be important. Delays in early-winter snow insulation and in summer snow disappearance are shown to be of approximately equal significance to the ground thermal conditions. Numerical modelling also indicates that the duration of effective thermal resistance of snow cover governs the slope of the linear dependency between MAAT and mean annual ground surface temperatures (MAGST). Consequently, the most direct effect of a long-term rise in air temperatures on ground temperatures is predicted under a thin snow cover with early snowmelt in spring and/or where a large change in the date of total snowmelt occurs, in response to atmospheric warming.

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Investigations on physical properties and ablation processes of snow cover during the spring snowmelt period in the headwater region of the Irtysh River, Chinese Altai Mountains

Environmental Earth Sciences ◽

10.1007/s12665-015-5068-1 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 75 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wei Zhang ◽

Yongping Shen ◽

Ninglian Wang ◽

Jianqiao He ◽

An’an Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Physical Properties ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Altai Mountains ◽

Snowmelt Period ◽

Irtysh River ◽

Spring Snowmelt ◽

The Irtysh River

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The recent record of climate on the range of the George River Caribou Herd, Northern Québec and Labrador, Canada

Rangifer ◽

10.7557/2.16.4.1242 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 16 (4) ◽

pp. 193 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J.D. Jacobs ◽

A.R. Maarouf ◽

E.A. Perkins

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Temperature Decrease ◽

Winter Range ◽

Ecological Relationships ◽

Summer Climate ◽

Winter Conditions ◽

Summer Range ◽

Significant Temperature ◽

George River

Records from permanent meteorological stations in and around the range of the George River Caribou Herd have been analyzed for the 1950-1991 period in order to identify climatic factors potentially influencing the numbers, condition, and distribution of caribou. Winter conditions identified include a significant temperature decrease over the period and some years of extreme snowfall. Spatial variations in snow cover may be responsible for shifts in winter range. Indications are that summer climate has not varied significantly, but spring and summer conditions may not have been particularly favourable for plant productivity in the summer range of females and calves. Climatological observations more representative of the summer range are needed for a better understanding of ecological relationships there.

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Influence of some climatic elements on radon concentration in Saeva Dupka Cave, Bulgaria

International Journal of Speleology ◽

10.5038/1827-806x.49.3.2349 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 49 (3) ◽

pp. 235-248

Author(s):

Peter Nojarov ◽

◽

Petar Stefanov ◽

Karel Turek ◽

◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Water Content ◽

Radon Concentration ◽

Surface Soil ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Tour Guides ◽

Leading Role ◽

Air Temperatures ◽

Significant Health ◽

Climatic Elements

This study reveals the influence of some climatic elements on radon concentration in Saeva Dupka Cave, Bulgaria. The research is based mainly on statistical methods. Radon concentration in the cave is determined by two main mechanisms. The first one is through penetration of radon from soil and rocks around the cave (present all year round, but has leading role during the warm half of the year). The second one is through thermodynamic exchange of air between inside of the cave and outside atmosphere (cold half of the year). Climatic factors that affect radon concentration in the cave are temperatures (air, surface, soil) and amount of water, expressed by precipitation or by volumetric water content in the soil. In the cold half of the year, an important factor is the duration and depth of snow cover. Statistical models and projections show that by the year 2070 CE radon concentration in the cave will increase. This increase will occur primarily in the warm half of the year due to the increase in outside air temperatures that will decrease thermodynamic exchange of air between the cave and the atmosphere. By the middle of the 21st century, it is expected that the studied area will no longer have a permanent snow cover and the temperature will remain the only factor for the increase of radon concentration in the cold half of the year. Water content in the soil and precipitation are important factors for radon concentration in the cave, but they have no significant trend and they are not expected to exert any influence in the next 50 years. The projected increase of radon concentration in Saeva Dupka Cave creates a serious risk for the health of the tour guides working there. That is why it is necessary to develop a plan to protect the health of the cave staff. On the other hand, the projected increase of radon concentration does not pose any significant health risk for the tourists visiting the cave.

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Effect of winter conditions on wild ungulates mortality in the Owl Mountains (Poland)

Folia Forestalia Polonica ◽

10.1515/ffp-2015-0018 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 187-193

Author(s):

Marcin Warchałowski ◽

Piotr Nowakowski ◽

Andrzej Dancewicz

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

Cervus Elaphus ◽

Red Deer ◽

Roe Deer ◽

Climatic Factors ◽

Winter Season ◽

Weather Conditions ◽

Ovis Aries ◽

Weather Factors ◽

Animal Populations

Abstract Relations between climatic factors during the winter season (n days with frost <0oC and −10oC; n days with snow cover: >1 cm, >10 cm and >30 cm; maximum snow cover during season [cm]) and mortality in free-living ungulates (red deer Cervus elaphus Linnaeus, 1758, roe deer Capreolus capreolus Linnaeus, 1758 and mouflon Ovis aries musimon Linnaeus, 1758) in the Owl Mountains (Lower Silesia – Poland) in years 1998–2010 were investigated. Significant effects of all analysed climatic factors on ungulates mortality were documented. Correlations (Pearson) between such weather factors as the depth of snow cover and number of days with frost and recorded mortality in total animal populations analysed ranged from r = 0.33 to r = 0.77. The least adapted to local weather conditions was mouflon introduced to this area ca. 100 years ago from more southern parts of Europe. Roe deer species seems to be environmentally plastic, and are doing quite well in severe winters. Tolerance of red deer to the snow cover is much lower at low temperatures due to the fact that this species, during the period of snow cover, has limited access to the plants covered with snow and difficult access to food base.

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