The debate of whether global warming effects snow has long been a contentious issue among the scientific community, with a split opinion among the experts. Supporters of the matter insist it has a direct causal relationship, while those opposed disagree, claiming that global warming’s effects on snow are merely circumstantial or unrelated. This article will take a neutral and objective perspective and explore the potential impact of global warming on snow.
An increasing global temperature is a result of raised levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily from anthropogenic activities like burning of fossil fuels and deforestation. This increased atmospheric temperature has caused a marked change in the planet’s weather dynamics, including impacts on the existence and prevalence of snow; this occurrence is referred to as ‘snow degradation’. In simple terms, global warming has led to a substantial decrease of winter snow cover and a number of other snow-related consequences.
One of the key locations where more noticeable changes have been observed is in the Arctic region. It has seen a rapid decrease in its snow cover since the 1950s with recent studies indicating an 8% reduction that is forecasted to reach as much as 30% by 2100. This will gradually lead to a decrease of freshwater resources as well as an altered habitat for target species within the Arctic regions, both of which rely on regular snowfall. This, in turn, will result in a disruption of the local ecosystem which may cause numerous species extinction in the area.
Furthermore, the shorter snow season accompanied by lower snow depths also brings about many unforeseen consequential effects. The drastic change in climate has also enabled sudden and unexpected avalanches as well as mudslides in some areas due to the absence of a protective layer of snow, resulting in catastrophic risks for many communities. Additionally, an increase of rainfall and flooding of rivers due to melting snow have created the potential for various health issues related to water contamination.
On the positive side of the argument, some studies have demonstrated that reduced snow accumulation could, in some cases, benefit local communities by alleviating occurrences of spring flooding and cold weather-related injuries due to prolonged winter seasons. Though this may be beneficial to some areas, overall it will be overshadowed by the numerous negative consequences of global warming on snow.
The debate whether global warming directly affects snow is still ongoing, however, the evidence to date indicates a positive correlation between the two. It has been proven that global warming has caused substantial reductions in winter snowfalls, which in turn can have a significant knock-on effect on the lives of the animals and people dependent on these ecosystems. It is therefore essential for changes to be made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop solutions to counteract the effects of global warming.
