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Snow Cover—Observations, Processes, Changes, and Impacts on Northern Hydrology

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Arctic Hydrology, Permafrost and Ecosystems

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Abstract

This chapter presents an overview of Arctic terrestrial snow cover and hydrology starting with the factors contributing to variability and change in large-scale snow cover extent and snow water equivalent (SWE), then moves to the local scale for a discussion of the processes and interactions responsible for the spatial distribution and physical properties of Arctic snow cover, most notably the roles of blowing snow and vegetation interactions. Snowmelt and runoff processes are subsequently covered with particular attention on liquid water infiltration through the snowpack and soil layers. The chapter concludes with an overview of Arctic snow observing systems, estimates of current and projected trends in Arctic snow cover extent and SWE, and potential hydrologic implications of the projected changes in snow cover. A key message from the Chapter is that the response of Arctic snow cover and snow hydrology to a changing climate is complex due to the numerous linkages and feedbacks within the coupled snow–soil–vegetation system.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Arctic annual maximum season snow water storage estimated from the GlobSnow version 2 product (Takala et al. 2011) and the Liston and Hiemstra (2011) 10-km Arctic snow cover reconstruction.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Climate Research Division, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Ross Brown

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, ON, Canada

    Philip Marsh

  3. Environmental Science Program, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, BC, Canada

    Stephen Déry

  4. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Division, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Daqing Yang

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Correspondence to Ross Brown .

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  1. Watershed Hydrology and Ecology Research Division, Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Daqing Yang

  2. Water and Environmental Research Center, Institute of Northern Engineering, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK, USA

    Douglas L. Kane

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Brown, R., Marsh, P., Déry, S., Yang, D. (2021). Snow Cover—Observations, Processes, Changes, and Impacts on Northern Hydrology. In: Yang, D., Kane, D.L. (eds) Arctic Hydrology, Permafrost and Ecosystems. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-50930-9_3

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