Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization
The input of mineral dust from arid regions impacts snow optical properties. The induced albedo reduction generally alters the melting dynamics of the snowpack, resulting in earlier snowmelt. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of dust depositions on the melting dynamics of snowpack at a high-elev...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:b862d2ab826c427898a9d07c65e1b445 2023-05-15T18:32:25+02:00 Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization B. Di Mauro R. Garzonio M. Rossini G. Filippa P. Pogliotti M. Galvagno U. Morra di Cella M. Migliavacca G. Baccolo M. Clemenza B. Delmonte V. Maggi M. Dumont F. Tuzet M. Lafaysse S. Morin E. Cremonese R. Colombo 2019-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 https://doaj.org/article/b862d2ab826c427898a9d07c65e1b445 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/1147/2019/tc-13-1147-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/b862d2ab826c427898a9d07c65e1b445 The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 1147-1165 (2019) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2019 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 2022-12-31T14:38:20Z The input of mineral dust from arid regions impacts snow optical properties. The induced albedo reduction generally alters the melting dynamics of the snowpack, resulting in earlier snowmelt. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of dust depositions on the melting dynamics of snowpack at a high-elevation site (2160 m) in the European Alps (Torgnon, Aosta Valley, Italy) during three hydrological years (2013–2016). These years were characterized by several Saharan dust events that deposited significant amounts of mineral dust in the European Alps. We quantify the shortening of the snow season due to dust deposition by comparing observed snow depths and those simulated with the Crocus model accounting, or not, for the impact of impurities. The model was run and tested using meteorological data from an automated weather station. We propose the use of repeated digital images for tracking dust deposition and resurfacing in the snowpack. The good agreement between model prediction and digital images allowed us to propose the use of an RGB index (i.e. snow darkening index – SDI) for monitoring dust on snow using images from a digital camera. We also present a geochemical characterization of dust reaching the Alpine chain during spring in 2014. Elements found in dust were classified as a function of their origin and compared with Saharan sources. A strong enrichment in Fe was observed in snow containing Saharan dust. In our case study, the comparison between modelling results and observations showed that impurities deposited in snow anticipated the disappearance of snow up to 38 d a out of a total 7 months of typical snow duration. This happened for the season 2015–2016 that was characterized by a strong dust deposition event. During the other seasons considered here (2013–2014 and 2014–2015), the snow melt-out date was 18 and 11 d earlier, respectively. We conclude that the effect of the Saharan dust is expected to reduce snow cover duration through the snow-albedo feedback. This process is known to have a series of ... Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 13 4 1147 1165 |
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Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 B. Di Mauro R. Garzonio M. Rossini G. Filippa P. Pogliotti M. Galvagno U. Morra di Cella M. Migliavacca G. Baccolo M. Clemenza B. Delmonte V. Maggi M. Dumont F. Tuzet M. Lafaysse S. Morin E. Cremonese R. Colombo Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
The input of mineral dust from arid regions impacts snow optical properties. The induced albedo reduction generally alters the melting dynamics of the snowpack, resulting in earlier snowmelt. In this paper, we evaluate the impact of dust depositions on the melting dynamics of snowpack at a high-elevation site (2160 m) in the European Alps (Torgnon, Aosta Valley, Italy) during three hydrological years (2013–2016). These years were characterized by several Saharan dust events that deposited significant amounts of mineral dust in the European Alps. We quantify the shortening of the snow season due to dust deposition by comparing observed snow depths and those simulated with the Crocus model accounting, or not, for the impact of impurities. The model was run and tested using meteorological data from an automated weather station. We propose the use of repeated digital images for tracking dust deposition and resurfacing in the snowpack. The good agreement between model prediction and digital images allowed us to propose the use of an RGB index (i.e. snow darkening index – SDI) for monitoring dust on snow using images from a digital camera. We also present a geochemical characterization of dust reaching the Alpine chain during spring in 2014. Elements found in dust were classified as a function of their origin and compared with Saharan sources. A strong enrichment in Fe was observed in snow containing Saharan dust. In our case study, the comparison between modelling results and observations showed that impurities deposited in snow anticipated the disappearance of snow up to 38 d a out of a total 7 months of typical snow duration. This happened for the season 2015–2016 that was characterized by a strong dust deposition event. During the other seasons considered here (2013–2014 and 2014–2015), the snow melt-out date was 18 and 11 d earlier, respectively. We conclude that the effect of the Saharan dust is expected to reduce snow cover duration through the snow-albedo feedback. This process is known to have a series of ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
B. Di Mauro R. Garzonio M. Rossini G. Filippa P. Pogliotti M. Galvagno U. Morra di Cella M. Migliavacca G. Baccolo M. Clemenza B. Delmonte V. Maggi M. Dumont F. Tuzet M. Lafaysse S. Morin E. Cremonese R. Colombo |
author_facet |
B. Di Mauro R. Garzonio M. Rossini G. Filippa P. Pogliotti M. Galvagno U. Morra di Cella M. Migliavacca G. Baccolo M. Clemenza B. Delmonte V. Maggi M. Dumont F. Tuzet M. Lafaysse S. Morin E. Cremonese R. Colombo |
author_sort |
B. Di Mauro |
title |
Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
title_short |
Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
title_full |
Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
title_fullStr |
Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
title_full_unstemmed |
Saharan dust events in the European Alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
title_sort |
saharan dust events in the european alps: role in snowmelt and geochemical characterization |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2019 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 https://doaj.org/article/b862d2ab826c427898a9d07c65e1b445 |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 13, Pp 1147-1165 (2019) |
op_relation |
https://www.the-cryosphere.net/13/1147/2019/tc-13-1147-2019.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/b862d2ab826c427898a9d07c65e1b445 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1147-2019 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1147 |
op_container_end_page |
1165 |
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1766216539596390400 |