Multi-decadal analysis of past winter temperature, precipitation and snow cover data in the European Alps from reanalyses, climate models and observational datasets

Abstract ∘ C per decade, stronger at lower elevations, and a small reduction in winter precipitation, homogeneous with elevation. The decline in the winter snow depth and snow cover duration ranges from - 7  % to - 15  % per decade and from - 5 to - 7  d per decade, respectively, both showing a larger decrease at low and intermediate elevations. Overall, we show that no modeling strategy outperforms all others within our sample and that upstream choices (horizontal resolution, heterogeneity of the observations used for data assimilation in reanalyses, coupling between surface and atmosphere, level of complexity, configuration of the snow scheme, etc.) have great consequences on the quality of the datasets and their potential use. Despite their limitations, in many cases they can be used to characterize the main features of the mountain snow cover for a range of applications.

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Multi-decadal analysis of past winter temperature, precipitation and snow cover data in the European Alps from reanalyses, climate models and observational datasets ; volume:17 ; number:8 ; year:2023 ; pages:3617-3660 ; extent:44 ; The Cryosphere ; 17, Heft 8 (2023), 3617-3660 (gesamt 44)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Monteiro, Diego ; Morin, Samuel

Further information

• DOI: 10.5194/tc-17-3617-2023
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2023083104273289360147
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 14.08.2025, 10:59 AM CEST