As wildfires intensify across the West, researchers are studying how scorched trees could lead to a faster snowmelt and end up disrupting water supplies
Graduate student Arielle Koshkin, left, takes notes as snow hydrologist Anne Nolin, right, measures snow reflectivity at the site of the 2021 Caldor Fire Monday, April 4, 2022, near Twin Bridges, Calif.
As climate change fuels the spread of wildfires across the West, researchers want to know how the dual effect might disrupt water supplies. Communities often rely on melting snow in the spring to replenish reservoirs during dryer months. If snow melts earlier than normal, that would likely leave less water flowing in the summer when it’s most needed, Nolin said.
Dust, ash and soot similarly affect snow by causing it to absorb more light in what’s known as the “albedo effect.” But California officials are increasingly worried about carbon, which absorbs even more. Already, a warming climate is leading to earlier snowmelt and leaving places more vulnerable to wildfire, said Noah Molotch, who researches water and snow cycles at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A burned area “exacerbates the impact of drought” by leading to even dryer conditions in hotter months, he said.
Meanwhile, the Caldor Fire that burned the area and more than 200,000 acres last year has left nearby communities scrambling over more immediate water worries.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
Fires then floods: Argentina province under water months after blazesArgentina's northeastern province of Corrientes has been hit by widespread floods, leaving cattle fields under water and inundating roadways, just months after widespread wildfires ripped through the region and burned important wetlands.
Weiterlesen »
Plug Power Snags Walmart Fuel Deal As Green Hydrogen Revs Up Amid Oil Price SpikeThe fuel cell maker says it may supply up to 20 tons per day of hydrogen made from water and renewable electricity to power Walmart forklifts.
Weiterlesen »
Plug Power Snags Walmart Fuel Deal As Green Hydrogen Revs Up Amid Oil Price SpikeThe fuel cell maker says it may supply up to 20 tons per day of hydrogen made from water and renewable electricity to power Walmart forklifts.
Weiterlesen »
Fleeing War, Ukrainians With Cancer Find Refuge in Europe“If you can walk, you should leave.” Cancer patients in Ukraine struggle to get care via WSJ
Weiterlesen »
Flocks of sheep are the firefighting solution we never knew we neededNEW YORK — The answer to managing wildfires may have been hiding in nature all this time.
Weiterlesen »
The 30 Best Summer Dresses to Wear for Casual and Formal OccasionsThese summer styles take the guesswork out of getting dressed when the heat is scorching.
Weiterlesen »