MSGID: 1:317/3 637130e0   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    EPOD - a service of USRA   
      
   The Earth Science Picture of the Day (EPOD) highlights the diverse processes   
   and phenomena which shape our planet and our lives. EPOD will collect and   
   archive photos, imagery, graphics, and artwork with short explanatory   
   captions and links exemplifying features within the Earth system. The   
   community is invited to contribute digital imagery, short captions and   
   relevant links.   
      
      
    Factors Determining Snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains   
      
      November 11, 2022   
      
       TomMC_EPOD.ColoradoRockiesSnowpack (004)   
      
       TomMC_EPOD.60.ColoradoRiverConditionsJuly2022 (003)   
      
      Photographer:  Thomas McGuire   
      
      Summary Author:  Thomas McGuire   
      
      Some 40 million people in the Southwestern United States depend, in a   
      large part, on the  Colorado River for agricultural and municipal   
      water. About 90% of Colorado River water originates from melting   
      snowpacks in the Rocky Mountains, such as shown on the photo above at   
       Independence Pass, Colorado (taken in July 1977).   
      
      2021-2022 was a relatively decent year for snowfall in the Rockies, yet   
      both major reservoirs,  Lake Powell and  Lake Mead, are at   
      dangerous and historic low water levels. And they’re expected to   
      continue to go down in the coming year.   
      
      With warming of the  climate in the Southwest, the tree line has   
      been creeping up mountain slopes. Trees lose water by  transpiration   
      from leaves and needles. Snow surfaces lose water by the process known   
      as  sublimation. Because trees absorb more sunlight than highly   
      reflective snow, an early snowmelt exposes the dark soil, which absorbs   
      more solar energy. Additionally, dust blown from the  dry soil onto   
      the snow makes the snow surface darker, absorbing even more sunlight   
      and further contributing to earlier snowmelt -- see chart above. This   
      confluence of factors is a challenge for the  inhabitants of the   
      Southwest. Fortunately, there are many alternatives allowing the   
      residents to adapt to the “new normal.”   
      
      
      Independence Pass, Colorado Coordinates: 39.1086, -106.5640   
      
      
   Related EPODs   
      
       Factors Determining Snowmelt in the Rocky Mountains  Storm   
      Deposits Snow Near Roque de los Muchachos Observatory  Archive -   
      Saas Valley Area of Switzerland  Glass Bottle in the Atacama Desert   
       Preparing for Winter in Northern Illinois  Archive - South   
      Atlantic Hurricane   
      
   Climatology Links   
      
        *  Aerosols: Tiny Particles, Big Impact   
        *  JetStream - An Online School for Weather   
        *  Climate History   
        *  National Centers for Environmental Information   
        *  Global Climate Animations   
        *  NOAA Climate Analysis Branch   
        *  Vital Climate Graphics   
      
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      Earth Science Picture of the Day is a service of the  Universities   
      Space Research Association.   
      
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