In the frame of MEDARE (MEditerranean DAta Rescue) and STRADA (Strategies of Adaptation to climate change) projects, Western Italian Alps precipitation and snow depth time series recorded in stations located between 960 and 2316 m a.s.l. have been analysed in order to investigate variability and trends over the 1925- 2010 period. The results outline a significant decrease of snow depth over seasonal time scale in the period 1951- 2010. The snow depth decrease ranges from -0.19 cm/y up to -1.40 cm/y and the contribution to this negative trend comes mainly from spring months. The climatic conditions that caused this considerable snow depth reduction have been examined. Below 1000 m a.s.l. the snow depth decrease is due to a significant decrease in snow precipitation, as a consequence of significant increase of maximum and minimum temperatures. At higher elevation the negative trend is more marked for the combination of a stronger increase in minimum temperatures and stronger decrease in the number of days with Tmax<0 with respect to low elevation sites.

CONSIDERATIONS ON SNOW AND TEMPERATURES TIME SERIES IN WESTERN ITALIAN ALPS

FRATIANNI, SIMONA;TERZAGO, SILVIA;ACQUAOTTA, FIORELLA
2013-01-01

Abstract

In the frame of MEDARE (MEditerranean DAta Rescue) and STRADA (Strategies of Adaptation to climate change) projects, Western Italian Alps precipitation and snow depth time series recorded in stations located between 960 and 2316 m a.s.l. have been analysed in order to investigate variability and trends over the 1925- 2010 period. The results outline a significant decrease of snow depth over seasonal time scale in the period 1951- 2010. The snow depth decrease ranges from -0.19 cm/y up to -1.40 cm/y and the contribution to this negative trend comes mainly from spring months. The climatic conditions that caused this considerable snow depth reduction have been examined. Below 1000 m a.s.l. the snow depth decrease is due to a significant decrease in snow precipitation, as a consequence of significant increase of maximum and minimum temperatures. At higher elevation the negative trend is more marked for the combination of a stronger increase in minimum temperatures and stronger decrease in the number of days with Tmax<0 with respect to low elevation sites.
2013
Climate Data and Monitoring WCDMP
WMO (World Meteorological Organization)
78
77
86
http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/wcp/wcdmp/series.php
snow depth; winter precipitation and temperatures trends; Alps; climate change.
Fratianni S.; Terzago S.; Acquaotta F.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
ArtWMO_78.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: PDF EDITORIALE
Dimensione 613.31 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
613.31 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/138906
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus ND
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? ND
social impact