Breckenridge Destinations supports independent journalism. Click for great deals on vacation lodging in Breckenridge.
Long-term trends are clear
Spring snow cover extent is decreasing dramatically around the world.
By Bob Berwyn
SUMMIT COUNTY — Using their normal cherry picking techniques, global warming deniers have used isolated weather events like last winter’s heavy snowfalls to try and cast doubt on long-term climate predictions.
Some of the graphs that have been floating around on fringe websites like Real Science include this one from the Rutgers University Global Snow Lab. At first glance, it seems pretty convincing — The extent of snow cover during the North American winter increased slightly between 1967 and 2011, from about 16.9 million square kilometers to about 17.2 million square kilometers.
Courtesy Rutgers Global Snow Lab.
But take a look at the following graph, showing a much steeper decline in the spring snowpack — close to what’s predicted by many climate models.
Courtesy Rutgers Global Snow Lab.
So maybe that increasing winter snow cover is on the Eurasian landmass …
Courtesy Rutgers Global Snow Lab.
No increase there … and, in fact, an even steeper decline in the spring snow cover extent, from about 18.5 million square kilometers down to just barely more than 16 million square kilometers in 2011.
Courtesy Rutgers Global Snow Lab.
And finally, this graph makes it fairly clear what the long-term trend in the annual mean northern hemisphere snow cover is.
Courtesy Rutgers Global Snow Lab.
Filed under: climate and weather, Environment, global warming, Summit County news Tagged: | climate change, Environment, global snow cover extent, global warming, Rutgers global snow lab
Arapahoe Basin supports independent journalism. Click to visit The Legend online.
Powder's falling at Monarch!! Have you reserved your spot yet?
Innovative energy underwrites coverage of energy stories.
[...] posted here: Global warming: Spring snow cover dwindles worldwide Filed Under: global warming Tagged With: been-floating, deniers-have, doubt-on-long, [...]