Snowmelt control on spring hydrology declines as the vernal window lengthens

25Citations
Citations of this article
45Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.

This article is free to access.

Abstract

The vernal window, or the winter-to-spring transition, is a key period for seasonally snow-covered, forested ecosystems. The events that open and close the vernal window shape the unique characteristics of spring hydrology that, in turn, influence both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem processes. Few studies have examined how climate change will alter the vernal window and thereby impact basic hydrology during this transitional period. We project that over the 21st century the vernal window will lengthen by +15 to +28 d in northeastern North America. Loss of snow cover under a high climate forcing scenario eliminates the vernal window across 59% of the study domain, removing snow's influence on spring runoff in those areas. Spring runoff timing where the vernal window lengthens but does not disappear becomes similar to the southern, snow-free region where precipitation drives winter runoff, indicating a fundamental change in the hydrologic character of northeastern forests.

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Grogan, D. S., Burakowski, E. A., & Contosta, A. R. (2020). Snowmelt control on spring hydrology declines as the vernal window lengthens. Environmental Research Letters, 15(11). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abbd00

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free