High Resolution SnowModel Simulations Reveal Future Elevation‐Dependent Snow Loss and Earlier, Flashier Surface Water Input for the Upper Colorado River Basin

Earth s Future, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 11(2)

Published: Jan. 17, 2023

Abstract Continued climate warming is reducing seasonal snowpacks in the western United States, where >50% of historical water supplies were snowmelt‐derived. In Upper Colorado River Basin, declining snow equivalent (SWE) and altered surface input (SWI, rainfall snowmelt available to enter soil) timing magnitude affect streamflow generation availability. To adapt effectively future conditions, we need understand current spatiotemporal distributions SWE SWI how they may change decades. We developed 100‐m SnowModel simulations for years 2001–2013 two scenarios: control (CTL) pseudo‐global‐warming (PGW). The PGW fraction precipitation falling as was lower relative CTL, except November–April at high elevations. peak low (−45%) mid elevations (−14%), while date uniformly earlier year all (17–23 days). Currently unmonitored elevation represented a greater total SWE. daily higher (30%–42%), dates peaks centroids under PGW. displayed elevated winter SWI, summer changes spring elevation‐dependent. Although compared more evenly distributed throughout These simulated shifts have broad implications management dry, snow‐dominated regions.

Language: Английский

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Understanding Fire Regimes for a Better Anthropocene

Annual Review of Environment and Resources, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 48(1), P. 207 - 235

Published: Aug. 31, 2023

Fire is an integral part of the Earth System and humans have skillfully used fire for millennia. Yet human activities are scaling up reinforcing each other in ways that reshaping patterns across planet. We review these changes using concept regime, which describes timing, location, type fires. then explore consequences regime on biological, chemical, physical processes sustain life Earth. Anthropogenic drivers such as climate change, land use, invasive species shifting regimes creating environments unlike any humanity has previously experienced. Although exposure to extreme wildfire events increasing, we highlight how knowledge can be mobilized achieve a wide range goals, from reducing carbon emissions promoting biodiversity well-being. A perspective critical navigating toward sustainable future—a better Anthropocene.

Language: Английский

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Leveraging a time-series event separation method to disentangle time-varying hydrologic controls on streamflow – application to wildfire-affected catchments

Hydrology and earth system sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 29(1), P. 27 - 43

Published: Jan. 3, 2025

Abstract. Increasing watershed disturbance regimes, such as from wildfire, are a growing concern for natural resource managers. However, the influence of disturbances on event-scale rainfall–runoff patterns has proved challenging to disentangle other hydrologic controls. To better isolate effects, this study evaluates several time-varying controls patterns, including water year type, seasonality, and antecedent precipitation. accomplish this, we developed Rainfall–Runoff Event Detection Identification (RREDI) toolkit, an automated time-series event separation attribution algorithm that overcomes limitations existing techniques. The RREDI toolkit was used generate dataset 5042 events nine western US watersheds. By analyzing large dataset, type season were identified significant whereas moisture pinpointed limited control. Specific effects wildfire runoff response then demonstrated two burned watersheds by first grouping based controls, wet versus dry types. role should be considered in future analysis increasing changing wildfires streamflow. could readily applied investigate patterns.

Language: Английский

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Increasing wildfire impacts on snowpack in the western U.S.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 119(39)

Published: Sept. 19, 2022

Wildfire area has been increasing in most ecoregions across the western United States, including snow-dominated regions. These fires modify snow accumulation, ablation, and duration, but sign magnitude of these impacts can vary substantially between This study compares spatiotemporal patterns States wildfires zones. Results demonstrate significant increases wildfire from 1984 to 2020 throughout West, Sierra Nevada, Cascades, Basin Range, Northern Southern Rockies. In late zone, where mean annual snow-free date is May or later, 70% experienced since 1984. The distribution burned shifted earlier melt zones later-melt several ecoregions, Rockies, zone during exceeded total over previous 36 y combined. Snow measurements at a large Rockies fire revealed that burning caused lower peak snow-water equivalent as well an 18–24 d estimated advance dates. Latitude, proxy for solar radiation, dominant driver date, advances timing through more-positive net shortwave radiation balance. loss reduce both ecosystem water availability streamflow generation region relies heavily on mountain snowpack supply.

Language: Английский

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Upper limits for post-wildfire floods and distinction from debris flows

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 10(8)

Published: Feb. 21, 2024

Upper magnitude limits and scaling with basin size for post-wildfire floods are unknown. An envelope curve was estimated defining flood upper as a function of area. We show the importance separating peak flows by versus debris flows. Post-wildfire maxima constant 43 m

Language: Английский

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Opportunities and challenges for precipitation forcing data in post‐wildfire hydrologic modeling applications

Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews Water, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(5)

Published: April 8, 2024

Abstract The frequency and extent of wildfires have increased in recent decades with immediate cascading effects on water availability many regions the world. Precipitation is used as primary input to hydrologic models a critical driver post‐wildfire hazards including debris flows, flash floods, water‐quality effects, reservoir sedimentation. These are valuable tools for understanding response wildfire but require accurate precipitation data at suitable spatial temporal resolutions. Wildfires often occur data‐sparse, headwater catchments complex terrain, particularly sensitive high‐intensity, short‐duration events, which highly variable difficult measure or estimate. Therefore, assessment prediction wildfire‐induced changes watershed hydrology, associated ecosystems communities, complicated by uncertainty data. When direct measurements not available, datasets indirect estimates used. Choosing most appropriate dataset can be different unique trade‐offs terms accuracy, resolution, completeness. Here, we outline challenges opportunities they apply modeling objectives. We highlight need expanded gage deployment wildfire‐prone areas discuss potential future research integration from disparate sources into common framework. This article categorized under: Science Water > Hydrological Processes Methods Environmental Change

Language: Английский

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Trends in prescribed fire weather windows from 2000 to 2022 in California

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 562, P. 121966 - 121966

Published: May 18, 2024

As increasing wildfire activity puts pressure on wildland fire suppression resources both nationally and within the state of California, further development programs infrastructure that emphasize preventative fuels treatments, e.g. prescribed burning, is critical for mitigating impacts at large spatial scales. Among many factors limit use fire, weather fuel moisture conditions are among most critical. We analyzed a 2-km gridded hourly surface dataset over 23-yr period to explore relationship between climatological trends windows. Pairing this with burn prescription parameters provided by experienced regional practitioners, we seek identify timing extent changes in weather-related opportunities two distinct geographic regions California. found an trend Sonoma County, representative coastal Mediterranean region CA, decreasing Plumas montane extends through Northern Sierra Nevada. Seasonally, see more nuances—increased winter counties, as well increased summer Sonoma. Most notably, great variation spatially occurrence suitable windows burning. Fire management resource availability air quality regulations constrain observed greater influence these County vs. Plumas. Resource greatest constraint Summer Fall, during season, Winter. Our findings provide information decision-makers regulators county other government levels effectively support achieve land reduction goals.

Language: Английский

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Delayed wildfires in 2020 promote snowpack melting in the western United States

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(2)

Published: Jan. 3, 2023

Microbial communities are found throughout the biosphere, from human guts to glaciers, soil activated sludge. Understanding statistical properties of such diverse can pave way elucidate common mechanisms ...Multiple ecological forces act together shape composition microbial communities. Phyloecology approaches—which combine phylogenetic relationships between species with community ecology—have potential disentangle but often ...

Language: Английский

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Declines in Peak Snow Water Equivalent and Elevated Snowmelt Rates Following the 2020 Cameron Peak Wildfire in Northern Colorado

Geophysical Research Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 50(6)

Published: March 28, 2023

Abstract Wildfires are increasingly impacting high‐elevation forests in the western United States that accumulate seasonal snowpacks, presenting a major disturbance to critical water reservoir for region. In first winter following 2020 Cameron Peak wildfire Colorado, peak snow equivalent high burn severity forest was 17%–25% less than nearby unburned sites. The loss of canopy and lower surface albedo led an positive net shortwave radiation balance burned area, resulting melt rates were 82%–144% greater sites disappearance occurred 11–13 days earlier. Late‐season storms temporarily buried soot, thus increasing delaying melt‐out by estimated 4 per storm our study area. While these reduce higher imposed impacts, SNOTEL measurements show they occur non‐uniformly across U.S.

Language: Английский

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Implications of fire-induced evapotranspiration shifts for recharge-runoff generation and vegetation conversion in the western United States

Journal of Hydrology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 621, P. 129646 - 129646

Published: May 15, 2023

Language: Английский

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