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Accelerated Snowmelt Protocol to Simulate Climate Change Induced Impacts on Snowpack Dependent Ecosystems

Journal Article · · Bio-Protocol
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [1]
  1. Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States)
  2. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, CO (United States)
  3. Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO (United States)
  4. Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory, Gothic, CO (United States); Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
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Field studies that simulate the effects of climate change are important for a predictive understanding of ecosystem responses to a changing environment. Among many concerns, regional warming can result in advanced timing of spring snowmelt in snowpack dependent ecosystems, which could lead to longer snow-free periods and drier summer soils. Past studies investigating these impacts of climate change have manipulated snowmelt with a variety of techniques that include manual snowpack alteration with a shovel, infrared radiation, black sand and fabric covers. Within these studies however, sufficient documentation of methods is limited, which can make experimental reproduction difficult. Here, we outline a detailed plot-scale protocol that utilizes a permeable black geotextile fabric deployed on top of an isothermal spring snowpack to induce advanced snowmelt. The method offers a reliable and cost-effective approach to induce snowmelt by passively increasing solar radiation absorption at the snow surface. In addition, control configurations with no snowpack manipulation are paired adjacent to the induced snowmelt plot for experimental comparison. Past and ongoing deployments in Colorado subalpine ecosystems indicate that this approach can accelerate snowmelt by 14-23 days, effectively mimicking snowmelt timing at lower elevations. This protocol can be applied to a variety of studies to understand the hydrological, ecological, and geochemical impacts of regional warming in snowpack dependent ecosystems.
Research Organization:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Berkeley, CA (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC02-05CH11231; SC0016451
OSTI ID:
1775373
Journal Information:
Bio-Protocol, Journal Name: Bio-Protocol Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 10; ISSN 2331-8325
Publisher:
Bio-protocol LLCCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

References (4)

Future changes in snowmelt-driven runoff timing over the western US journal January 2008
Advanced snowmelt causes shift towards positive neighbour interactions in a subarctic tundra community journal August 2006
Impacts of extreme winter warming in the sub-Arctic: growing season responses of dwarf shrub heathland journal August 2008
The Effects of Climate Change on Seasonal Snowpack and the Hydrology of the Northeastern and Upper Midwest United States journal September 2016

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Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
biogeochemistry
climate warming
ecosystem
induced early snowmelt
paired field studies
plant phenology