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Snow disappearance in Eastern Siberia and its relationship to atmospheric influences
Author(s) -
Iijima Yoshihiro,
Masuda Kooiti,
Ohata Tetsuo
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
international journal of climatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.58
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-0088
pISSN - 0899-8418
DOI - 10.1002/joc.1382
Subject(s) - snow , climatology , environmental science , structural basin , snow line , drainage basin , snowmelt , precipitable water , atmospheric sciences , precipitation , geology , meteorology , snow cover , geography , paleontology , cartography , geomorphology
In the present study, we examine the climatological features and interannual variations in snow disappearance within the Lena River Basin, Eastern Siberia, during a recent 15‐year period (1986–2000), and the relationship of snow disappearance to atmospheric conditions. According to the climatology of the day of the year on which snow disappears, the boundary of snow disappearance within the Lena River Basin migrates rapidly northward from mid‐April until early June, with minimum interannual variation occurring in the middle part of the basin. In addition, the preceding snow disappearance is apparent in the central Lena River Basin. Melting of snow within the Lena River Basin commonly occurs within 30 days of complete snow disappearance under certain atmospheric conditions: daily mean air temperature in excess of − 10 °C, greater than 2 hPa of water vapor pressure, and, hence, more than 170 W m −2 of downward longwave radiation under clear sky conditions. Composite analysis using a reanalysis dataset demonstrates that the increase in air temperature and water vapor that accompanies snow melting is due to wet (and warm) air advection in conjunction with enhanced water vapor convergence over the central Lena River Basin during the 30‐day period prior to snow disappearance. Copyright © 2006 Royal Meteorological Society.