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Dust dominates high-altitude snow darkening and melt over high-mountain Asia

Author

Listed:
  • Chandan Sarangi

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
    Indian Institute of Technology Madras)

  • Yun Qian

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Karl Rittger

    (University of Colorado)

  • L. Ruby Leung

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Duli Chand

    (Pacific Northwest National Laboratory)

  • Kat J. Bormann

    (California Institute of Technology)

  • Thomas H. Painter

    (University of California, Los Angeles)

Abstract

Westerly driven, long-range transportation of dust particles in elevated aerosol layers (EALs) is a persistent phenomenon during spring and summer over the Indian subcontinent. During the snow accumulation season, EALs transport substantial amounts of dust to the snow-covered slopes of high-mountain Asia (HMA). Here we use multiple satellite-based estimates to demonstrate a robust physical association between the EALs and dust-induced snow darkening over HMA. Results from a fully coupled atmosphere–chemistry–snow model support these observations, revealing across HMA a signature of increasing dust-induced snow darkening with surface elevation that peaks near 4,500 m. Moreover, the influence of dust on snow darkening is greater than that of black carbon above 4,000 m. Our findings suggest a discernible role of dust in the observed spatial heterogeneity of snowmelt and snowline trends over HMA and highlight an increasing contribution of dust to snowmelt as the snowline rises with warming.

Suggested Citation

  • Chandan Sarangi & Yun Qian & Karl Rittger & L. Ruby Leung & Duli Chand & Kat J. Bormann & Thomas H. Painter, 2020. "Dust dominates high-altitude snow darkening and melt over high-mountain Asia," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(11), pages 1045-1051, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:11:d:10.1038_s41558-020-00909-3
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-00909-3
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    Cited by:

    1. Marion Réveillet & Marie Dumont & Simon Gascoin & Matthieu Lafaysse & Pierre Nabat & Aurélien Ribes & Rafife Nheili & Francois Tuzet & Martin Ménégoz & Samuel Morin & Ghislain Picard & Paul Ginoux, 2022. "Black carbon and dust alter the response of mountain snow cover under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Yongxiao Ge & Na Wu & Jilili Abuduwaili & Rashid Kulmatov & Gulnura Issanova & Galymzhan Saparov, 2022. "Identifying Seasonal and Diurnal Variations and the Most Frequently Impacted Zone of Aerosols in the Aral Sea Region," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Dalei Hao & Gautam Bisht & Hailong Wang & Donghui Xu & Huilin Huang & Yun Qian & L. Ruby Leung, 2023. "A cleaner snow future mitigates Northern Hemisphere snowpack loss from warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.

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