Effects of volcanic eruption and global warming on snowfall patterns in the Pacific Northwest: Survey of climate data from 36 stations
- Valdosta State Univ., GA (United States)
Patterns in short term annual snowfall totals and long term glacial mass-balance of glaciers in the Pacific Northwest are affected by episodic global volcanic eruptions and the cyclic appearances of the El Nino oceanic current. A comprehensive analysis of climatic data such as snowfall, snow depth, maximum and minimum temperatures, and total precipitation was undertaken for 18 stations in Oregon and Washington between 1948-1995, and for snow-water data from 18 other stations from 1980-1995. These data were also compared to demonstrate regional variations within a given year. Snowfall maxima and Temperature minima recorded in this period closely followed major volcanic events, whereas Snowfall minima and Temperature maxima recorded in the same period coincided with periodic El Nino patterns. Snowfall totals in El Nino years were uniformly sparse region wide, whereas snowfall patterns in other years displayed some regional variation. Of special interest is the cross-correlation of snow-water and snowfall depth/totals data for the period 1980-1995, which records the patterns before and after the eruptions of Mt. Pinatubo (1991-92).
- OSTI ID:
- 283314
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9604153-; ISSN 0147-9369; TRN: 96:003085-0005
- Journal Information:
- Georgia Journal of Science, Vol. 54, Issue 1; Conference: 73. Annual meeting of the Georgia Academy of Science, Albany, GA (United States), 26-27 Apr 1996; Other Information: PBD: 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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