Work

Fluctuation of the seasonal snowpack in a mountainous area of the heavy-snow district in the warm-temperate zone of Japan

Year: 2005

Type: article

Abstract: The seasonal snowpack and meteorological factors associated with the accumulation and ablation of the snowpack were monitored for 11 years in a mountainous area in the warm-temperate zone of Japan. No notable rise was observed in mean wintertime air temperature, but an increase was seen in the difference between the maximum and minimum air temperatures. Precipitation exhibited annual variability but no notable reduction over the measurement period. The length of the continuous snow-cover period increased slightly over the 11 years, but no trend in variability was observed. The maximum snow depth and maximum water equivalent of snow varied greatly from year to year, depending on the amount of snowfall. In a heavy-snow year, about 1600 mm of water, which is almost the mean annual precipitation for the whole of Japan, was found to be temporarily stored in the snowpack.

Source: Journal of Glaciology

DOI: 10.3189/172756505781829052

Authors: Sumio Matsuura, Koji Matsuyama, Shiho Asano, Takashi Okamoto, Yoshitsugu Takeuchi

Institutions: Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Forestry Agency

Language: English

Topic: Cryospheric studies and observations

Subfield: Atmospheric Science

Field: Earth and Planetary Sciences

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDG: Climate action

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W1998799145