Premium
Future Changes in Early Spring Wind Speed and Surface Warming Acceleration in Snow‐Covered Areas
Author(s) -
Nosaka M.,
Kawase H.,
Murata A.,
Sasaki H.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: atmospheres
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2169-8996
pISSN - 2169-897X
DOI - 10.1029/2020jd034089
Subject(s) - environmental science , snow , climatology , wind speed , atmospheric sciences , global warming , terrain , snow cover , atmospheric circulation , climate change , meteorology , geology , geography , oceanography , cartography
Abstract We use a convection‐permitting regional climate model to investigate the effect of reduced snow cover on near‐surface wind speeds over complex Japanese terrain under a global warming scenario. At synoptic scales, global warming weakens the winter monsoon, which in turn weakens near‐surface winds around Japan. Reductions in snow cover, which are driven by global warming, drive localized acceleration of rising surface temperatures and prevent the formation of a stable atmospheric boundary layer. Collapse of the stable layer drives an increase in near‐surface wind speed and air temperature. This effect is stronger at low elevations and in basins, but does not occur at high elevations where there is no stable layer under current climate conditions, despite increased ground warming because of reduced snow cover under global warming conditions. A strong, stable, near‐surface atmospheric layer under current climate conditions can therefore influence future changes in wind speed and surface air temperature in snow‐covered areas.