Effect of redcution in snow cover due to global warming on East Asian climate

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25750117
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Geography
• Research Institution: Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (2014-2015); National Institute of Polar Research (2013)
• Principal Investigator: ABE Manabu 国立研究開発法人海洋研究開発機構, 統合的気候変動予測研究分野, 技術副主任 (50377983)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 地球温暖化 / 積雪変化 / 地球システムモデル

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Snow cover changes in high latitude regions due to global warming enhance a local warming through the reduction of surface albedo. This can affect atmospheric circulation. To investigate an effect of the snow cover changes on East Asia climate, snow-albedo feedback in northern Eurasia simulated by Earth system model (ESM) has been analyzed, and sensitivity experiments by climate model have been conducted.
In the future projections by the ESM, snow amount in northern Eurasia tends to decrease in fall, winter, and spring. However, in Siberia during winter, snow amount increases. Particularly decrease in snow during spring is dominant rather than that in fall and winter, and enhance local warming substantially through reduction of surface albedo. In addtion to the snow cover changes, our analysis suggests future change in vegetation may be a factor in the reduction of local surface albedo.

Free Research Field

気候システム