Orals: Thu, 1 May | Room L3
Over the past century, global irrigation extent has expanded nearly fivefold, increasing from approximately 63Mha in the early 1900s to over 306Mha today. This growth has been particularly pronounced in Asia, which accounts for roughly 85% of current global irrigation withdrawals. Irrigation, as one of the most impactful land management practices, substantially influences regional climate by altering precipitation patterns and cooling surface air temperatures. These meteorological changes raise important questions about how irrigation-driven weather modifications might affect glaciers in High Mountain Asia (HMA). This study investigates the impact of irrigation expansion on glaciers in HMA using simulations from the Irrigation Model Intercomparison Project (IRRMIP). IRRMIP provides historical climate simulations (1901-2014) under two contrasting scenarios: (1) the Irr-scenario, representing real-world irrigation trends, and (2) the NoIrr-scenario, modeling a world with irrigation extent fixed at early 20th-century levels. These scenarios are then used as inputs for the Open Global Glacier Model (OGGM) to assess the effects of irrigation expansion-induced climate changes on glaciers. Our results reveal that irrigation expansion had an important impact on glacier changes in HMA. Without irrigation expansion, glaciers would have lost considerably greater volume loss over the 1985-2014 period compared to the real-world case with irrigation expansion. This outcome discovers the buffering effect of irrigation on glaciers in HMA, partially offsetting climate-induced glacier loss and underscores the interconnection between human land management and cryospheric systems.
How to cite: Ponds, M., Aguayo Gutierrez, R., Yao, Y., Thiery, W., and Zekollari, H.: The effect of irrigation on glacier evolution in High-Mountain Asia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-203, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-203, 2025.
Glaciers adapt slowly to changing climatic conditions, leading to a time lag between climate change and the resulting impacts, such as sea-level rise, water supply changes, and ecological impacts. While previous projections of all glaciers around the globe have mainly focused on the 21st century, longer timescales are essential to fully understand the glacier response to climate policies and associated warming.
Using eight glacier evolution models, we simulate global glacier evolution over multi-centennial timescales, allowing glaciers to equilibrate with climate under various constant global temperature scenarios. We estimate that glaciers globally will lose about 40% of their mass, relative to 2020, corresponding to a global mean sea-level rise of more than 10 centimeters even if temperatures stabilized at present-day conditions. The effect of climate policies is very pronounced: under the +1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, more than twice as much global glacier mass remains at equilibration compared to the mass projected under the warming level resulting from current policies (+2.7°C by 2100 above pre-industrial).
Long-term global glacier mass loss is highly sensitive to global mean temperature, with each additional 0.1°C warming leading to a ca. 2% additional increase in global glacier mass loss. These long-term losses largely exceed those projected over the 21st century, implying that the most substantial impacts of today's climate policies on glacier mass will unfold after 2100. Notably, regions previously found to experience limited mass loss in the 21st century, such as Arctic Canada, Russian Arctic, and Subantarctic & Antarctic Islands, are projected to lose substantial mass on longer timescales.
Our findings underscore the necessity of extending the focus of glacier studies beyond the 21st century to fully comprehend the long-term implications of today’s climate policies.
How to cite: Zekollari, H., Schuster, L., Maussion, F., Hock, R., Marzeion, B., Rounce, D. R., and GlacierMIP3 participants, T.: Current climate policies will affect multi-century global glacier change, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-242, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-242, 2025.
Drought is a temporary precipitation anomaly that affects other hydrological variables and can impact large areas, causing devastating effects on agriculture, environment, and water supplies. Climate change is increasing the frequency of droughts, and their intensity is expected to rise in the future.
In snow-dominated catchments, monitoring and analyzing meteorological (precipitation) and hydrological droughts (associated with snow cover area) is crucial due to their importance in water resources. These regions are particularly sensitive to climate change and serve as excellent observatories for both current and past climate change effects.
In this study, we compare historical droughts related to precipitation and snow cover area in three semi-arid and three humid catchments. We also assess the impact of future climate change scenarios on droughts in these systems. The semi-arid catchments are located in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), the Southern Rocky Mountains (Colorado), and the Andes (Chile), while the humid catchments are located in the Alps (Italy), the Caucasus Mountains (Georgia), and the Himalayas (Nepal).
Historical climate variables were obtained from the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset, and snow cover area was modeled using these climate data along with snow cover area data from the MODIS satellite. Gap filling, extension of the historical period, and simulation of future snow cover area under climate change scenarios were achieved using an improved cellular automata algorithm, which utilizes precipitation, temperature, and elevation as driving variables. Future local climate change scenarios were generated using the stochastic weather generator LARS-WG, which incorporates climate projections from the CMIP6 ensemble, as used in the latest IPCC Sixth Assessment Report. Drought analysis was conducted in terms of frequency, duration, intensity, and magnitude of drought periods using runs theory and various thresholds of the corresponding standardized drought index for precipitation and snow cover area.
This research has been partially supported by the project SIERRA-CC (PID2022-137623OA-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, UE); the project SIGLO-PRO (PID2021-128021OB-I00/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE), the project STAGES-IPCC (TED2021-130744B-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR).
How to cite: Collados-Lara, A.-J., Hidalgo-Hidalgo, J.-D., Pulido-Velazquez, D., Jiménez-Espinosa, R., and Fassnacht, S.: Impact of historical and future climate change scenarios on meteorological and snow cover droughts in semi-arid and humid snow-dominated catchments, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6844, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6844, 2025.
Trojena is a ski resort under construction in the Midian mountains in Saudi Arabia (1500m-2600m). In this warm and arid region, snowfalls are very rare. The average snow cover duration as observed with MODIS is less than 2 days per year during the 2000-2022 period, casting doubts on the possibility to develop a ski resort as advertised by the project managers. Low temperatures at high elevation might allow the production of artificial snow in winter. To examine this possibility, we downscaled ERA5 meteorological data to 100 m resolution over the Trojena area with MicroMet. We used these high resolution meteorological dataset to simulate the natural snowpack between 1995 and 2014 at the uppermost and lowermost points (respectively 2389 and 2151 m a.s.l.) in the future ski domain using the Crocus snowpack model with the default parameters used in France. We evaluated the simulations using Landsat observations of the snow cover. With this model configuration, the snow cover duration with Crocus is slightly overestimated. Then, we ran the Crocus-Resort model to simulate artificial and managed snow (production of artificial snow and grooming processes) with the default parameters used for French resorts. We evaluated the potential number of skiable days and associated water consumption over this period assuming that the domain was fully equipped to produce artificial snow. In this scenario, the number of skiable days would be approximately 60 and a water consumption around 380 kg.m⁻². Finally, we examined the effect of future climate change by applying the projected temperature increases according to the IPCC scenario SSP2-4.5 on the 2040-2060 horizon. The number of skiable days decreased in this scenario, especially at the bottom of the resort where there would be no skiable days every other year. As a result, the possibility of skiing on snow in Trojena is strongly compromised in the near future. The water consumption decreases in this scenario due to the incapacity of producing snow with the increase of temperature.
How to cite: Sourp, L. and Gascoin, S.: Snow in the desert: sustainability of the Trojena ski resort in Saudi Arabia, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10001, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10001, 2025.
During the last decades, most glaciers have been retreating and losing mass in all high-mountain regions, where permafrost has also undergone warming, degradation, and ice loss. In this context, rock glaciers, a visual indication of the presence of mountain permafrost, have gained attention because they host shallow groundwater resources. Hence, rock glaciers could represent a contributor for future water supply, especially in arid and semi-arid mountain areas and/or during dry periods. However, a growing body of literature, mostly composed of local scale studies, has reported high concentrations of solutes, including trace elements, in rock glacier-fed waters, with negative implications on water quality. Therefore, the potential for rock glaciers to function as safe sources for drinking water supply may be questioned, although the main drivers of solute export from rock glaciers are still little understood. Here, we investigated how geographical and geological settings, together with cryospheric conditions, influence the water chemistry of intact (containing internal ice) and relict (without internal ice) rock glaciers, and assessed the potential implications for water quality. To do this, we assembled an unprecedented dataset on 201 rock glacier springs from mountain ranges across Europe, North and South America, and we applied a combination of machine learning, multivariate and univariate analyses, as well as geochemical modelling. Several intact rock glacier springs had higher concentrations of sulphate and trace elements (e.g., Ni, Al, U) than relict ones. Accordingly, one third of springs issuing from intact rock glaciers had a water quality that did not meet the requirements of drinking water standards, with respect to only 5 % of relict rock glacier springs. The ice presence combined with specific lithologies (e.g., paragneisses) enhanced solute concentrations in rock glacier springs, due to intense oxidation of sulphide minerals that was also responsible for the elevated trace element concentrations. Since rock glaciers are emerging as key mountain water resources as well as potential threats to water quality, we call for an international effort to investigate the hydrochemistry of rock glacier springs across the globe, especially in understudied mountain ranges (e.g., Himalayas, Caucasus) and where these springs are used for drinking purposes.
Brighenti, S., Colombo, N., et al. Factors controlling the water quality of rock glacier springs in European and American mountain ranges. Science of the Total Environment 953, 175706 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.175706
NC and SB equally contributed to this work. NC and MF were supported by the project NODES, which has received funding from the MUR – M4C2 1.5 of PNRR funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU (Grant agreement no. ECS00000036).
How to cite: Colombo, N., Brighenti, S., Wagner, T., Pettauer, M., Guyennon, N., Krainer, K., Tolotti, M., Rogora, M., Paro, L., M. Steingruber, S., Del Siro, C., Scapozza, C., R. Sileo, N., D. Villarroel, C., Hayashi, M., Munroe, J., Trombotto Liaudat, D., Cerasino, L., Tirler, W., Comiti, F., Freppaz, M., Salerno, F., Litaor, M. I., Cremonese, E., Morra di Cella, U., and Winkler, G.: Intact rock glaciers as weathering reactors: influence on spring water quality, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-3731, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-3731, 2025.
Personal care products (PCPs) have become ubiquitous in daily life, resulting in their continuous release into the environment on a global scale. PCPs are organic compounds commonly found in products such as cosmetics, detergents, and deodorants. The growing interest in these substances is primarily driven by their potential to track shifts in human behaviors and consumption patterns. Key characteristics of these compounds include large-scale industrial production, high daily usage volumes, persistence after application, and semi-volatility.
Among these products, fragrances are widely used in cosmetics, shampoos, soaps, and detergents, while UV-filters are key components of sunscreen lotions, outdoor polymers, and paints. Some of these compounds have been included on the EU's watchlist due to their potential harmful effects. Additionally, several countries in the Southern Hemisphere have already implemented regulations to limit the use of PCPs, driven by concerns over their negative impacts on coral reefs and marine ecosystems.
Fragrances, owing to their semi-volatile nature, can easily enter the atmosphere and be transported over long distances, even reaching remote regions such as Antarctica. In these areas, they can be deposited through both dry and wet deposition processes and undergo cycles of fractionation, evaporation, and re-deposition. Local sources of PCPs, such as scientific research stations and tourism activities, contribute to their presence in these environments. Notably, PCPs have already been detected in the sewage of the Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) in Antarctica.
This study examined the spatial distribution and temporal variations PCPs in Antarctic surface snow collected during the 2021-2022 season, between November 2021 and February 2022, along the Ross Sea coast, with a particular focus on how seasonality may influence deposition processes. Comparison of the average PCPs concentrations revealed higher values in late summer, with a concentration pattern showing salicylates as the dominant compounds, followed by UV-filters, while musks contributed the least to the total concentration. Salicylates predominated at all sampling sites, including the snow pit dug on McCarthy Ridge. This result may be attributed to potential selectivity in atmospheric transport, likely influenced by the prevailing synoptic air-mass circulation during austral summer.
Additionally, the study was able to differentiate between local and long-range sources by analyzing the concentration trends observed in samples from remote regions and the sewage of the Mario Zucchelli Station. These findings provide a broader understanding of the dynamics involved in long-range atmospheric transport, which require further investigation.
How to cite: Genuzio, G.: Seasonal variability of Personal Care Products in Antarctic snow, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10146, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10146, 2025.
Technical interventions on glaciers have emerged as innovative approaches to mitigate the impacts of climate change on vital cryospheric systems. Mountain glaciers play a crucial role in regulating freshwater availability, providing ecosystem services, and supporting economic activities. However, these glaciers are retreating at alarming rates due to rising global temperatures. Geoengineering strategies aim to counteract these losses by preserving glacier mass, reducing ice melt, and managing runoff to protect downstream ecosystems and communities. Key approaches include albedo enhancement using reflective materials to decrease solar absorption and glacier insulation with physical coverings, such as those used on Austrian glacial skiing areas.
While these interventions provide clear benefits for economically utilized glaciers, such as extending ski seasons, they also present significant environmental impacts. Glaciers host diverse microbial communities, which are highly sensitive to external influences. Studies show that covering glacial surfaces reduces bacterial activity by up to 70% and disrupts microbial community structures, with autotrophic organisms struggling to thrive under light-reduced conditions. Additionally, geotextiles made from polypropylene (PP), commonly used for glacier insulation, release microplastic fibers that are dispersed by meltwater and wind. In supraglacial environments, accumulative fiber lengths of up to 3 kilometers per m² of ice have been detected. These fibers are subsequently found downstream, attached to or incorporated into invertebrates, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems.
The Action Plan Microplastics released by the Environmental Agency of Austria emphasizes the urgent need for environmentally friendly alternatives to mitigate such risks in sensitive glacial ecosystems. Recent testing of cellulose-based materials on an alpine glacier has demonstrated comparable performance to PP in reducing ice melt without contributing to chemical leaching or fiber release. Moreover, cellulose-based materials can be integrated into circular processes, enabling upcycling into new fashion products and reducing waste. Collaboration with policymakers and manufacturers to promote a shift toward sustainable materials could enable the continued use of technical interventions on glaciers where needed while minimizing their environmental impact.
How to cite: Sattler, B., Weisleitner, K., Schwenter, P., and Cuzzeri, A.: Rethinking Glacier Insulation in the Alpine Space: Microplastic Concerns and Sustainable Materials, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20707, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20707, 2025.
Atmospheric transport is a major pathway for microplastics (MP) to reach remote regions, and it plays a significant role in the global distribution of MP. Processes of wet and dry deposition of atmospheric MP are not well understood, but fallouts from atmospheric MP have been previously measured in remote locations. Iceland holds a very strategic location for studying long-range transport of MP, as it is scarcely populated and is located within major oceanic currents and large-scale weather patterns, far from continental Europe and North America.
This study aims to estimate flux rates of atmospheric deposition of MP in Icelandic lakes and to improve the understanding of the atmospheric transport and deposition of MP towards the Arctic. We collected surface sediment from remote crater-like lakes (elevated, with small catchment areas and no apparent main in- or outflows) to minimize contributions from runoff and avoid local sources of MP. A total of six lakes were targeted, located in various locations around Iceland to cover a large scale of mean annual precipitation, ranging from 1000 to 5000 mm. We sampled from the central parts of ice-covered lakes, using a short coring device to preserve the water-sediment interface and prevent loss of easily suspended particles. Only the interface water and upper first centimetre of sediment were collected for the MP study, and additional short cores were retrieved to assess sediment-accumulation rates, and estimate MP flux rates for each lake. MP were extracted using a heavy liquid separation method, followed by organic matter elimination with an enzymatic purification protocol, and identified using micro-FTIR spectroscopy analyses.
As a matter of concern, every sediment sample from every lake contained microplastic particles, with significant variations between lakes. Estimated MP fluxes range from 1 MP/m²/d in Langanes, a peninsula in NE Iceland to 348 MP/m²/d in Skersli, a shield volcano in the highlands, central Iceland. Polymer types PP and PE largely dominate the pollution, and the average MP size decreased with the distance from the coastline. These results emphasize the ubiquity of MP pollution, even in a remote sub-Arctic region, and highlight that MP accumulation in lake sediments is driven by a complex interaction between precipitation, wind patterns and local topography.
How to cite: Blache, M., Saarni, S., Koenders, E., and Mischke, S.: Atmospheric Deposition Of Microplastics Recorded In Icelandic Lake Sediments: Estimating Microplastic Fluxes Using Short Sediment Cores, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11478, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11478, 2025.
Microplastics (MP) have infiltrated the most pristine environments on Earth, including Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier by volume. Although Stefánsson et al. (2021) confirmed MP presence on Vatnajökull, limited sampling locations prevent a comprehensive assessment of MP pollution burden on the glacier. In addition, no standardized protocols exist for collecting and analyzing ice cores for MP contamination. Our work focuses on creating a universal protocol of ice core sampling for MP analysis in glaciers and expanding our sampling locations on Vatnajökull glacier. A 2024 expedition to Vatnajökull focused on assessing MP levels in ice cores collected with standard cold-weather gear containing plastic polymers (e.g., polyester, a polymer with a significant pollution burden in remote areas (Fox et al., 2024)). These results were compared to ice cores collected with fully plastic-free outer layers. Our results demonstrate the importance of wearing plastic-free outer layers to reduce sample contamination when taking ice cores in pristine glacial environments. These results will be implemented in future expeditions to Vatnajökull where a holistic profile of MP contamination around the glacier will be constructed.
How to cite: Fox, S., Stefánsson, H., and Peternell, M.: Sampling and Quantification of Microplastic Pollution on Vatnajökull Glacier, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5954, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5954, 2025.
The Himalayan glaciers, crucial reservoirs of freshwater and delicate ecosystems, are confronting an alarming threat from microplastic pollution. Defined as plastic particles smaller than 5 mm, microplastics have been detected in these glaciers, raising significant concerns regarding their potential impacts on environmental integrity, human health, and aquatic biodiversity. Despite the growing awareness of microplastic pollution globally, there is a notable lack of information regarding snow microplastics in the Himalayan region. In this study, we collected surface snow samples from the western and central Himalayan glaciers during the pre-monsoon season of 2023 to quantify the presence and abundance of microplastics. Samples were obtained near two scientific research stations (Chorabari and Lahaul & Spiti) and from 13 field sites extending up to 20 km from these stations. We employed Agilent 8700 Laser Direct Infrared Chemical Imaging System (LDIR) to identify polymer compositions and analysed air mass back trajectories to ascertain the potential origins of the sampled air masses. Our findings revealed a diverse array of microplastics, including polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene, basically low-density plastic present in both glacier regions which are predominated by fragments with sized smaller than 100µm in both regions. The distribution and accumulation of microplastics were influenced by hydrological factors, such as glacier melting and runoff, as well as anthropogenic activities, including tourism and trekking. This research adds to the growing body of evidence on microplastic pollution in remote and high-altitude ecosystems, offering critical insights for policymakers, environmental managers, and researchers. The implications of this study are profound, enhancing our understanding of the regional distribution and impacts of microplastic pollution and informing the development of effective strategies to mitigate plastic waste and promote sustainable development. Human Health. This research contributes to a more nuanced perspective on the microplastic cycle and its profound implications for vulnerable ecosystems like the Himalayan Glacier, paving the way for future inquiries into this pressing and pervasive environmental challenge.
How to cite: sundriyal, S., Kang, S., zhang, Y., and Shukla, T.: Microplastics in Himalayan Glaciers: A Comprehensive Study of recent findings on characteristics and potential source, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8037, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8037, 2025.
The Himalayan region is experiencing a higher rise in temperature than the global mean, leading to glacier retreat. This retreat is contributing to the rapid formation and expansion of numerous moraine-dammed lakes. Simultaneously, the Himalayan region is witnessing a surge in development activities, including road and tunnel construction, hydropower projects, rapid urbanization, and a booming tourism industry. These changes increase the region's susceptibility to glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) by altering the natural ecosystem. However, infrastructure development activities can require significant time, during which retreating glaciers may create new lakes, creating new challenges for risk management. Consequently, regions that appear safe today may become vulnerable in the future. In this context, our study focuses on the Alaknanda basin, an area with a high concentration of glaciers and extensive developmental activity.
In this study, we have identified potential lake sites in the Alaknanda basin and assessed their impact on the infrastructure. We used the Himalayan Glacier Thickness Mapper (HIGTHIM) tool to estimate future glacial lakes. It uses the laminar flow method, which estimates ice thickness by balancing factors such as ice surface slope, glacier geometry, and basal shear stress. This method identifies potential subglacial depressions that may become exposed during glacier retreat, thus predicting the area and volume of future glacial lakes.
We identified 28 potential lake sites with a total area of 471.81 ha and a potential to store 113.4 million m3 of water. A highly susceptible lake in the Vishnuganga sub-basin, with an area of 38 ha and a volume of 14.5 million m3, is assessed to understand the impact of GLOF on the downstream region. This study evaluates a possible GLOF caused by a moraine-dam failure using the hydrodynamic model HEC-RAS. This model uses SRTM DEM to understand the channel geometry and downstream topography. The simulation predicts an average flood depth of 10 m and a flood velocity of 5 ms-1 within the settlement, located 10 km from the lake. This settlement experiences flooding within 53 minutes with a peak discharge of 6200 m3s-1 in a high-risk scenario.
Considering the uncertainties in future moraine formations, a sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying the moraine breaching parameters to model different risk scenarios. In addition, the study incorporates hazard, vulnerability, and risk mapping of the downstream flood-affected area to assess potential GLOF impacts comprehensively. These findings highlight the critical role of GLOF prediction in safeguarding downstream communities and guiding future planning efforts. Considering the ongoing and future development activities in this region, it is essential to integrate GLOF risk assessments into development strategies to minimize the potential impact on vulnerable communities and infrastructure.
How to cite: Jadhav, J., Kulkarni, A., and Prasad, V.: Assessing the risks from a potential Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in the Alaknanda Basin, Central Himalaya, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-511, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-511, 2025.
Emperor penguins are an iconic Antarctic species threatened by climate change. The birds are highly reliant on stable fast ice for successful breeding, and some studies project possible quasi-extinction for over 90% of colonies by 2100 due to future sea ice loss. Recent record-low Antarctic sea ice conditions highlight the threat to the species. In order to better model the future response of emperor penguins to climate change, and increasing extreme ice events in sea ice and at the margins of the ice sheet, it is essential to better understand how colonies have responded to past conditions. In this study we identify the location of the Sanae, Astrid, and Mertz colonies in all available Landsat 4-9, ASTER, and Sentinel-2 imagery, spanning the years 1984-2024. We manually record the location of the colonies through and between years, while also recording major calving events, early fast ice break-out, and distance to the fast ice edge. Colonies typically return to approximately the same sheltered sites annually throughout the 35-40 year period, but we observe variations due to major calving events. Following major calving events at Mertz and Sanae that disrupt breeding sites, colonies relocate to different sites where they may be more vulnerable to earlier fast ice break-out, or need to travel longer distances for foraging. In subsequent years the colonies eventually return to sites close to their original location. Additionally, we observe early fast ice break-out events that are likely to impact breeding success at Mertz and Sanae colonies, including as early as September at Mertz in 2016. Such events are related both to regional sea ice conditions and variations in colony location. Notably, we observe all three colonies to move onto the neighbouring ice shelf in some years (and at Mertz, onto icebergs too), including when stable fast ice is available. Observation of these behaviours contributes to broader understanding of emperor penguins’ adaptability and will aid future efforts to model the response of the species to ice loss.
How to cite: Macdonald, G., Jamieson, S., Stokes, C., Fretwell, P., Marochov, M., and Jenouvrier, S.: Response of emperor penguins to changing ice conditions at the Astrid, Mertz, and Sanae colonies using satellite remote sensing (1984-2024), EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13841, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13841, 2025.
Climate change is projected to substantially reduce snow availability, posing significant challenges for downstream sectors such as ski resort operations, aquatic ecosystems, and hydropower, which are heavily reliant on seasonal snowmelt and streamflow dynamics. This study presents, for the first time, high-resolution (1x1 km²) daily projections of snow cover and snow water equivalent (SWE) for Switzerland under different global warming levels. These projections are derived from an ensemble of over 25 statistically downscaled EURO-CORDEX models, coupled with an operational snow model. We quantify critical thresholds for snow-dependent metrics, including the regional distribution of ephemeral versus seasonal snowpacks, providing new insights into their temporal and spatial evolution. Additionally, we quantify the influence of multivariate versus univariate bias correction techniques on snow simulations and their downstream effects of SWE and snow cover trends. Our results emphasize the importance of methodological choices in climate impact studies and offer actionable insights for managing future snow-dependent resources in a rapidly warming climate.
How to cite: Beria, H., Kotlarski, S., Jonas, T., and Marty, C.: High-resolution snow projections for Switzerland for the 21st century, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6951, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6951, 2025.
Snow is an important factor controlling vegetation functions in high latitudes/altitudes. However, due to the lack of reliable in-situ measurements, the effects of snow on vegetation phenology remains poorly understood. Here, we examine the effects of snow cover duration (SCD) on the start of growing season (SOS) for different vegetation types. SOS and SCD were extracted from in-situ carbon flux and albedo data, respectively, at 51 eddy covariance flux sites in the northern mid-high latitudes. The effects of SCD on SOS vary substantially among different vegetation types. For grassland, preseason SCD outperforms other factors controlling grassland SOS. However, for forests and cropland, the preseason air temperature is the dominant factor in controlling SOS. Preseason SCD mainly influences the SOS by regulating preseason air and soil temperature rather than soil moisture. The CMIP6 Earth system models (ESMs) fail to capture the effect of SCD on SOS. Thus, Random Forest (RF) models were established to predict future SOS changing trends considering the effect of SCD. For grassland and evergreen needleleaf forest, the projected SOS advance rate is slower when SCD is considered. These findings can help us better understand impacts of snow on vegetation phenology and carbon-climate feedbacks in the warming world.
How to cite: Wang, X., Li, Z., Xiao, J., Zhu, G., and Che, T.: Snow cover duration delays spring green-up in the northern hemisphere the most for grasslands, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10479, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10479, 2025.
Permafrost, widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, plays a vital role in regulating heat and moisture cycles within ecosystems. In the last four decades, due to global warming, permafrost degradation has accelerated significantly in high latitudes and altitudes. However, the impact of permafrost degradation on vegetation remains poorly understood to date. Based on active layer thickness (ALT) monitoring data, meteorological data and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data, we found that most ALT‐ monitored sites in the Northern Hemisphere show an increasing trend in NDVI and ALT. This suggests an overall increase in NDVI from 1980 to 2021 while permafrost degradation has been occurring. Permafrost degradation positively influences NDVI growth, with the intensity of the effects varying across land cover types and permafrost regions. Furthermore, based on Mann‐Kendall trend test, we detected abrupt changes in NDVI and environmental factors, further confirming that there is a strong consistency between the abrupt changes of ALT and NDVI, and the consistency between the abrupt change events of ALT and NDVI is stronger than that of air temperature and precipitation. These findings work toward a better comprehending of permafrost effects on vegetation growth in the context of climate change.
How to cite: Yang, Y., Wang, X., and Wang, T.: Permafrost Degradation Induces the Abrupt Changes of Vegetation NDVI in the Northern Hemisphere, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-10548, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-10548, 2025.
The Earth's spatial heterogeneity and its climate make certain areas more sensitive to climate change. Its effects in these regions become evident earlier than in others. Snow-dominated catchments, where a significant portion of precipitation falls as snow, are particularly sensitive to climate change and serve as excellent observatories for both current and past climate change effects. These areas act as early warning systems for the rest of the world due to their high sensitivity to climate change.
Recent scientific literature highlights significant reductions in snow across various systems in the context of climate change. However, to our knowledge, a global comparison of the effects of climate change on semi-arid and humid snow-dominated mountains has not yet been conducted. Our objective is to analyze the potential differences in sensitivity to climate change between semi-arid and humid regions.
In this study, we compare historical patterns and trends of precipitation, temperature, and snow cover area in three semi-arid and three humid catchments, using data from long-term series (1950-2023). The semi-arid catchments are located in the Sierra Nevada (Spain), the Southern Rocky Mountains (Colorado), and the Andes (Chile), while the humid catchments are located in the Alps (Italy), the Caucasus Mountains (Georgia), and the Himalayas (Nepal).
Climate variables were obtained from the ERA5-Land reanalysis dataset, and snow cover area was modeled using these climate data along with snow cover area data from the MODIS satellite. Gap filling and extension of the historical snow cover area period were achieved using an improved cellular automata algorithm, which utilizes precipitation, temperature, and elevation as driving variables.
Several statistical indicators (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency, Kling-Gupta Efficiency and coefficient of determination) were used to assess the goodness-of-fit of the improved cellular automata algorithm. The results demonstrated a very good agreement with observed snow cover data in both semi-arid and humid catchments, with the exception of the Himalayan catchment, where the fit was deemed acceptable. Regarding historical snow cover trend, the findings of this study indicate a negative snow cover trend both in semi-arid and humid catchments.
This research has been partially supported by the project SIERRA-CC (PID2022-137623OA-I00 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by FEDER, UE); the project SIGLO-PRO (PID2021-128021OB-I00/ AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ FEDER, UE), the project STAGES-IPCC (TED2021-130744B-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/ Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR).
How to cite: Hidalgo Hidalgo, J. D., Collados-Lara, A.-J., Pulido-Velazquez, D., Jiménez-Espinosa, R., and Fassnacht, S.: Assessing the impact of recent climate change on semi-arid and humid snow-dominated catchments by using a cellular automata model, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6981, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6981, 2025.
Water managers would benefit from high-resolution, distributed snow water equivalent (SWE) estimates, but limited observations and high spatial and temporal variability make SWE difficult to estimate in real-time. For example, in-situ snow measurement stations provide current-year SWE data, but under-sample SWE spatial heterogeneity; and SWE Reanalysis products back-calculate distributed daily SWE once snow has melted to provide more accurate SWE estimates than do real-time models, but don’t provide real-time information. Recent studies have shown that many regions and years have annual snow accumulation patterns that are repeatable, so here we seek to leverage these patterns by combining sparse real-time measurements with distributed historical information to map real-time SWE. We develop and test two methods for calculating SWE, and for each method we test three criteria for deciding which station or collection of stations should be used to estimate SWE at each grid cell. We determine which Western U.S. regions have similar standardized SWE anomalies, and then test our methods in the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). For our two methods, we calculate 1 April 1990 – 2021 SWE using parametric and nonparametric distributions with a leave-one-out approach to map the current-year’s position within an in-situ station’s long-term SWE distribution to the corresponding position within historical distributions at nearby SWE Reanalysis grid cells. In each of these methods, we use our three station selection criteria to calculate SWE such that we calculate six SWE products over the UCRB. These criteria are: i) the nearest-neighbor station, ii) the collection of most-correlated stations, and iii) all in-situ stations within the UCRB. We then compare these to the SWE Reanalysis product from each corresponding year and compare the accuracies of our various methods with the accuracy of SnowModel output relative to the SWE Reanaysis product. The most accurate method used the mean SNV from the collection of most-correlated in-situ stations. This produced distributed 1 April SWE with a median R value of 0.80 and a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 0.13 m, compared to SnowModel results with an R of 0.60 and RMSE of 0.18 m. The methods used here could be applied to additional data, such as updated SWE Reanalysis products that might have higher resolution and improved accuracy over the product used here.
How to cite: Besso, H.: Towards the use of quantile mapping and historical patterns in SWE calculations, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-19636, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-19636, 2025.
Snow is a critical component of the mountain cryosphere and plays a significant role in shaping the hydrology of the snow-fed basins during summer months. The snowpack serves as a vital water reservoir, accumulating during the wintertime and gradually releasing water during the melt season, to sustain the downstream water demands. Snow is highly sensitive to climate change, particularly in low- and mid-elevation mountain regions like the European Alps.
We present an analysis of a long-term (30 years) dataset of snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Po River district, Italy, which partially covers the mountain ranges of Alps and Apennines from 1991 to 2021. The dataset is available at a spatial resolution of 500x500m and at a daily time step. It was created using a hybrid modelling approach called “J-Snow” that integrates the physically based GEOtop model and assimilation of in-situ snow height data and Earth Observation snow products like MODIS snow cover data.
The Po River basin is the largest in Italy and is considered to be the second most sensitive river basin in Europe after the Rhone basin. In recent years, the Po River basin experienced several droughts, including a recent one in 2022. Therefore, these kinds of long-term spatial datasets help to monitor and analyse the spatial and temporal changes in the SWE and provide vital insights for addressing the snow drought alerts in the study region.
In this study, we analysed several snow phenology metrics that includes snow persistence, first snow date (FSD), snow disappearance date (SDD), peak SWE volume, peak SWE timing, and regional snow line elevation. Our initial results show that the long-term spatially averaged volume of water and snow-covered area are 3.34 Gm3 and 15471 Km2, respectively.Additionally, elevation-wise analysis of the snow phenology metrics show that most changes occur in the low-elevation bands (0-2000 m a.s.l). Changes in snow-water storage start, snowmelt timing, and its variability can directly affect the water availability in snow-fed basins, with significant implications for both ecosystems and human populations.
How to cite: Rigon, R., Wani, J. M., Roati, G., Dall'Amico, M., Di Paolo, F., Tasin, S., and Gleason, K. E.: Analysing long-term (1991-2021) daily records of Snow Water Equivalent in the Po River District, Italy, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12423, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12423, 2025.
Posters on site: Fri, 2 May, 14:00–15:45 | Hall X4
As researchers we are well-versed at communicating with the scientific community and assessing the “impact” of our work within the context of academic publishing, but generating impact with non-academic groups is something that is becoming increasingly important, especially under continued global heating. Before and after images of the cryosphere, particularly glaciers, is something the public are now used to seeing, but does this imagery produce the response required to affect a response, or even behavioural or policy change? This contribution reflects on the ways in which cryospheric researchers engage with the public and stakeholder groups and the value of that engagement for researchers, participants, and audiences alike. From citizen science to different forms of art-science dissemination, we draw upon examples from our own work and assess the range of possible impacts of those activities. We focus on understanding and communicating glacier retreat and associated water security issues in the rapidly changing Cordillera Blanca of the Peruvian Andes, and critically examine the benefits and challenges of pursuing participatory research and outreach for the generation of impact beyond academia. We also provide insights from our own experiences to encourage researchers to step beyond the norms of communicating cryospheric science.
How to cite: Clason, C. and Rangecroft, S.: Valuing impact beyond academic publishing: communicating cryospheric change, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-11913, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-11913, 2025.
Glacial lake outburst floods (GLOF) pose a significant risk for settlements and infrastructure in glacierised catchments. Various studies have investigated the current distribution and past evolution of the abundance of glacial lakes and their associated flood risk. Overall, a positive trend in both the number of glacial lakes and the incidence of GLOFs seems to be identifiable as climate change leads to glacier retreat and larger lakes. As climate change is expected to lead to continued substantial glacier retreat worldwide, it is very likely new glacial lakes will continue to emerge and pose risks to downstream populations, infrastructure and ecosystems. To mitigate these risks, the analysis of present and of future glacial lake abundance is therefore crucial. This study aims to detect bedrock depressions that could allow the development of future glacial lakes. The detection is based on a new dataset of subglacial bed topographies from ice-thickness estimates derived using velocity-based inverse modelling in the Instructed Glacier Model (IGM). Using a topographical sink detection algorithm on this new bed topography dataset allows the detection of subglacial depressions worldwide. These depressions have a high potential to evolve into glacier lakes in the future. Contextualising the results of this study with present glacier lake distribution reveals the evolution of GLOF risk in the Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) regions with the ongoing retreat of glaciers. As part of a larger project, these first findings lay the basis for estimating the temporal evolution of GLOF hazard in glacierised catchments in a warming climate.
How to cite: Walker, C. and Cook, S. J.: Global catalogue of future glacier lakes using novel bed topography, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4283, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4283, 2025.
Rock glaciers (RGs) are morphologically distinct landforms of alpine permafrost prevalent in Austria and act as shallow groundwater bodies. Previous studies have shown that some RG spring waters exhibit unexpected low pH values, high concentration of total dissolved solids as well as elevated concentrations of heavy metals due to natural acid rock drainage (NARD). It can be observed that NARD increases and intensifies as permafrost boundaries are shifting towards higher altitudes.
This study aims to show (i) the extreme hydrochemical variation among several springs at a single RG due to NARD and (ii) the temporal evolution of NARD over several years at another RG spring. For this purpose, the active Wannenkar RG in Tyrol and the inactive Klafferkessel RG in Styria are investigated. At the Wannenkar RG, over 15 springs have been identified with large variations in pH values and electric conductivity (EC), which may be attributed to different flow paths and thus hydrogeochemical reactions within an intact RG that is experiencing NARD. In contrast, the Klafferkessel RG features only one spring where over a span of less than 10 years a decrease in pH and a doubling of EC is observed. A detailed analysis of these hydrochemical variations aids to understand the underlying processes. This provides a foundation for water management in this sensitive environment due to climate change.
How to cite: Kohler, C., Wagner, T., Pettauer, M., Stamm, F. M., and Winkler, G.: Natural acid rock drainage causing hydrochemical variations in rock glacier springs in the Austrian Alps, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-6754, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-6754, 2025.
Here we present an interdisciplinary approach to providing a holistic understanding of an environmental challenge by synthesizing existing published studies and data about water quality in a glaciated Peruvian river basin, the Rio Santa. In mountain regions such as the Cordillera Blanca, connecting the impacts of a changing cryosphere with downstream environmental challenges such as water quality is crucially important for water resource management. Poor water quality negatively impacts human health and ecosystems, yet longitudinal, uninterrupted data to assess trends across time and space is rarely available. We focus on the Rio Santa as a proof of concept for our approach, where water security is already a significant challenge, and one that will become more acute under future climate change, glacier retreat, water and land use change, and water governance.
Research on environmental issues that require in-situ data, such as water quality, is usually fragmented, short-term, and focused on specific aspects or locations, making it difficult to establish a wider, holistic perspective in data-scarce regions. Our approach utilises published data to build a more comprehensive understanding of water quality over a greater temporal and spatial scale than individual studies can provide. Data and knowledge about environmental problems are generated by various research projects over time, but these projects are often unconnected and exist in disciplinary silos. By synthesizing data from existing published research, and seeking to include both quantitative and qualitative data where available, we can aim to create a broader understanding of water quality for a catchment or region, and provide different types of insights, context and knowledge.
We compiled water quality data for the Rio Santa basin from the past two decades, focusing on published variables, such as pH and heavy metal content. We then developed methods to integrate these datasets, providing a more comprehensive understanding of water quality for this catchment. Learnings from this research allow us to expand our understanding from individual studies to build an interdisciplinary and holistic view of water quality across the basin over time. The work also helps to provide a knowledge base for current and future research projects to increase the applicability of data and results, maximising impact and meaning.
How to cite: Rangecroft, S., Clason, C., and Matthews, A.: Synthesizing knowledge to provide a holistic understanding of water quality in the glaciated Rio Santa, Peru, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-12093, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-12093, 2025.
Permafrost degradation poses a significant threat to the organic carbon (C) pool primarily through regulating microorganisms. However, microbial responses and their associations with C loss across vertical profile remain unclear. Here, we used metagenomic sequencing to investigate bacterial communities in 125 samples from five 15 m-depth permafrost cores, spanning from the active layer to the permafrost layer along a degraded gradient on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. We find that α-diversity decreases, while stochastic processes and community stability increase from the active layer to the permafrost layer. Along permafrost degradation, these community attributes follow similar variations within the active layer but remain basically constant within the permafrost layer. The relative abundance and interaction of core taxa play important roles in maintaining community stability in the active and permafrost layers, respectively. Interestingly, degradation strengthens the negative effect of community stability on C storage, with this link being stronger in the active layer than the permafrost layer, further exacerbating C loss. Our findings provide novel insights into the capacity of microbial-mediated permafrost C sequestration and contribute to modeling C dynamic under future warming.
How to cite: Chen, S., Bahadur, A., Wu, T., Wu, Q., and Wei, P.: Divergent responses of bacterial communities to permafrost degradation and their roles in mediating carbon across vertical profile, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2227, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2227, 2025.
Ski resorts, as main climate and economic resources, play key roles to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 (promoting decent work and economic growth) in global ice-snow areas. However, warming is influencing spatial suitability of Chinese ski resorts. The study develops an integrated framework that combines machine learning models (MaxEnt and Random Forest) with multi-model ensemble (MME) CMIP6 climate projections to evaluate ski resort suitability in China under current and future climate scenarios. Results show that current suitable areas are concentrated in Northeast and North China, in which winter temperature (i.e. artificial snow weather conditions) and tourist sources are key indicators. Under low-emission scenarios, suitability slightly increases by 2050 but declines significantly by 2070 under high-emission scenarios (19.90% reduction nationally). Regional differences are significant, with Southern China experiencing the largest decline (55.71%), followed by Northeast (21.23%), North (18.68%), and Northwest (10.42%). The suitability centroid shifts mildly from North China to northwestward with a trend toward higher altitudes and latitudes.
How to cite: Wang, S. and Zhao, R.: Suitability of Chinese snow resorts: present and future, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-2446, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-2446, 2025.
Human-induced greenhouse gas emissions have driven climate change, leading to rising global temperatures and significant disruptions in natural ecosystems. These changes have particularly affected sensitive areas such as the Upper Euphrates Basin in eastern Turkey, and these effects have intensified over the past century. Since the Euphrates River is transboundary water, it is important to monitor the water availability of the river for Syria, Iraq, and Tu ̈rkiye. The basin’s reliance on snow melt for water resources makes it particularly vulnerable to climate change, as rising temperatures shift snow melt timing, reduce snowfall threatening water availability for agriculture, energy production, and ecological balance. This study investigates changes in snow depth and snow cover patterns in the Upper Euphrates Basin from 1985 to 2021, using the Copernicus European Regional Reanalysis for Land (CERRA-Land) dataset. With a high spatial resolution (5.5 km x 5.5 km) and advanced surface modeling, the dataset integrates observational and modeled data, offering a detailed reconstruction of surface and soil variables. We focused on variations in snow depth during the snow season, spanning from November to April. During the study period, specific years, including the early 2000s and mid-2010s, experienced a marked reduction in maximum snow depth. Trend analysis for March and April reveals significant decreases in snow depth, with declines exceeding 30 cm per decade. The most pronounced decreases in snow depth are observed at grid points between 1250 m to 2000 m in the Upper Euphrates Basin. Snow cover decreased remarkably in November, and in the 2012–2021 period, compared to 1985–1994, it remained below 20%, particularly at grid points between 1000– 1500 m altitude. These analyses indicate that the earlier snow melt, the reduction of the snow cover duration, and the decreasing trend in snow depth have considerable impacts on water resources in the countries where the Euphrates basin is located.
How to cite: Demirtaş, E. N. and Önol, B.: Temporal and Spatial Snow Variability in the Mountainous Region of the Upper Euphrates Basin, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4521, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4521, 2025.
The hydrology of rock glaciers is a complex and poorly understood field, marked by uncertainties in water flow dynamics and the uneven distribution of the frozen substrate. One effective method for identifying permafrost - particularly in marginal permafrost regions like the Southern Carpathians - is measuring the temperature of mountain springs at the end of summer. Once seasonal snow has melted, permafrost becomes the primary factor influencing the low temperatures of the springs.
This study examines the spatial and temporal variability of spring water temperatures in the Retezat Mountains to assess the distribution of permafrost and its impact on spring water temperatures. In mid-August 2024, water temperatures were recorded at 62 springs using a Testo 110 instrument with a resolution of 0.10 C resolution. The springs, situated at elevations between 1770 and 2230 meters and were categorized into four groups: (1) springs emerging from rock glaciers, (2) springs from scree slopes and talus slopes, (3) springs from areas with slopes covered with meadows and (4) springs from cirque or valley floors.
Additionally, continuous temperature monitoring was implemented for six springs originating from rock glaciers, using dataloggers, with data collection starting in the summer of 2021. Due to their greater resilience to climate change compared to glaciers, rock glaciers are expected to play an increasingly significant hydrological role in the face of ongoing climate change, acting as vital long-term water reservoirs thanks to their thick insulating debris cover.
How to cite: Berzescu, O., Ioniță, A., Urdea, P., Ardelean, F., and Onaca, A.: Investigating the influence of permafrost on springs water temperature in the Southern Carpathians: A comparative analysis of different source types, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-5903, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-5903, 2025.
Japan features a wide variety of snow environments, with significant differences in snow distribution based on region and elevation. The effects of ongoing climate change are expected to alter snow conditions significantly, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of these changes and their implications.
Meteorological observation sites managed by the Japan Meteorological Agency are predominantly concentrated in low-altitude areas, with only a limited number in high-altitude regions. Consequently, the lack of long-term and spatially extensive observational data has hindered the quantitative understanding of snow conditions in Japan's mountainous regions. To address this gap, the Snow and Ice Research Center (SIRC) of the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience has operated a Snow and Weather Observation Network for over 25 years. This network spans a wide area, from northern to western Japan, monitoring meteorological and snow conditions fluctuations at high elevations. This study utilizes the long-term data collected through the network to analyze trends in snow conditions across Japan's mountainous regions. Particular emphasis is placed on examining the variation characteristics of maximum snow depth and maximum snow water equivalent, including their differences, elevation dependencies, and contrasts between mountainous and flat areas.
Our results indicate that although the trends in maximum snow depth and maximum snow water equivalent are generally consistent, the variability in maximum snow water equivalent is greater than that of maximum snow depth. Additionally, the variation in maximum snow depth shows a distinct dependence on elevation, with different trends observed in mountainous and flat regions. These findings enhance our understanding of the effects of climate change on Japan's snow environments and provide essential insights for improving future projections of snow conditions, as well as for developing strategies to mitigate snow-related disasters.
How to cite: Sunako, S., Yamaguchi, S., Ito, Y., Yamashita, K., Arakawa, H., and Nemoto, M.: Understanding snow conditions in Japanese Mountains through a quarter century of insights, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-7858, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-7858, 2025.
Global warming in Central Asia has primarily led to glacier melting and the degradation of snow cover in mountainous regions. Research conducted by the Central Asian Institute of Applied Geosciences using Landsat data (2013–2016) revealed that glacier areas in the Tien Shan river basins have decreased by 10–47% compared to data from the USSR Glacier Catalog (1940–1970). Over approximately 70 years, Kyrgyzstan's glacier area has decreased by 16%, with large glaciers shrinking by 17%, while the area of small glaciers has increased by 2.5 times.
Field studies conducted on nine representative glaciers in Kyrgyzstan between 2011 and 2023 indicate a negative mass balance for glaciers in the mountain regions, with the exception of certain years for the Golubin Glacier (Ala-Archa River basin) and the Abramov Glacier (southern border of the Fergana Valley).
In addition to Landsat data, the dynamics of snow cover have been analyzed using MODIS data processed through the MODSNOW-Tool program. This tool provides valuable insights into snow cover dynamics and accumulation in the Tien Shan Mountains. Seasonal snow reserves and glacier runoff are the primary sources of water for mountain rivers in the Tien Shan. At altitudes above 2.5–3 km, melting in river basins lasts 5–6 months, contributing 80–90% of the annual runoff.
Snow cover data has also been utilized to forecast river flow in Kyrgyzstan. This forecasting methodology was developed under the Central Asia Water (CAWa) project and transferred to Kyrgyzhydromet for implementation in 2015. Over the past decade, it has been actively employed to predict water inflows into reservoirs. An evaluation of the methodology for the Naryn, Karadarya, Chu, and Talas rivers (2021–2023) demonstrated its high efficiency in operational hydrological forecasting.
How to cite: Kalashnikova, O.: Hydrological forecasting based on remote sensing snow cover and glacier data in the river basins of the Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8053, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8053, 2025.
In recent years, microplastic (MP) pollution has become a global concern, even reaching remote and pristine environments like Antarctica. Antarctica is a sensitive environment, critical to global biodiversity conservation and climate regulation, and therefore has attracted interest for scientific research. Despite its remoteness, King George Island, located in the South Shetland Islands, experiences significant ship traffic due to its strategic location. The island hosts ten permanent research stations and the only airport in the region. Increasing human activity, including tourism and research operations, along with atmospheric and oceanic circulation, has contributed to microplastic contamination in both marine ecosystems and terrestrial soils. In sensitive environments such as the ice-free periglacial zones where most human activities in Antarctica are concentrated, soil plays a critical role in terrestrial ecological processes, such as mediating biological and hydrological processes, as well as nutrient and chemical cycling. The presence of MPs in soil can alter its properties, potentially affecting their ability to perform its essential ecosystem functions.
Biodegradable plastics have been proposed as a solution to mitigate the environmental impacts of conventional plastics. However, their degradation is highly variable across different environments, with incomplete degradation leading to the formation of MP that still pose a threat to ecosystems.
This study investigates the degradation of conventional and biodegradable MP on Antarctic soils through an incubation experiment using Cambisol collected from a marine terrace in the Admiralty Bay, King George Island (0-10 cm). The experiment was conducted at 25% moisture and 4°C, with two treatments and four replicates each, where the soil was spiked with conventional and biodegradable MPs. A control treatment, consisting of non-spiked soil, and empty jars as blanks, were also included. CO2 concentration and δ13C-CO2 isotopic signatures were measured using cavity ring-down spectroscopy, additionally phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) analyses allowed us to distinguish between microbial groups. The carbon and nitrogen concentration including corresponding isotopes were assessed using EA-IRMS. MP degradation was evaluated through FTIR carbonyl index analysis and δ13C-CO2 mixing model. We will present the preliminary results from this controlled incubation experiment assessing the impact and dynamics of conventional and biodegradable MP on soil from Antarctica.
How to cite: Silva Gurgel do Amaral, S., Vezzone, M., Heiling, M., Vieira, R., Dercon, G., and Meigikos dos Anjos, R.: Assessing the Degradation of Conventional and Biodegradable Microplastics in Soil from King George Island, maritime Antarctica, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-8316, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-8316, 2025.
Microplastics (MPs) are widespread across the globe, including remote regions such as Antarctica. Until recently, Antarctic MPs have been primarily considered to originate from external sources via ocean currents. However, the intensification of human activities within the Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) has raised concerns that local sources, including research stations, could become significant contributors to MP pollution. Nevertheless, the impacts of local sources remain unclear due to the lack of observation data and snap-shot study results. Frequent temporal monitoring linking potential pollution sources with surrounding environments can help assess and understand the impacts of research stations. This study aimed to quantify and characterize MP pollution from research station activities. To this end, we conducted seasonal or monthly sampling of multiple compartments at or near the King Sejong Station (KSS; located on Barton Peninsula, King George Island)—aquatic (wastewater, seawater, beach sediment, marine sediment), atmospheric (outdoor and indoor air), and terrestrial (soil and snow)—over three years (2023-2025). Here, we present preliminary results, mainly focusing on aquatic compartments. In 2023, influent and effluent discharged from KSS-wastewater treatment plant (WTP) and surface seawater near the KSS-pier in Marian Cove were collected in January, April, July, and October. Additionally, five beach sediments and three marine sediments were collected along a transect from the outer to the inner part of Marian Cove. There was no correlation between the number of residents and MP abundance in wastewater; However, an increasing trend in MP abundance was observed with daily wastewater discharge. Contrary to typical observations, MPs in the effluent (573,100 ± 394,615 n/m3) were more than twice as high as in the influent. This is presumed to result from sludge re-suspension that concentrated MPs, indicating inadequate treatment efficiency in KSS-WTP. We estimate that 5 billion MP pieces may enter Marian Cove annually from KSS-WTP. Surface seawater contained two or three orders of magnitude lower MPs (1,099 ± 1,269 n/m3) compared to WTP effluents but higher levels than those in some mid-latitude coastal regions or other open oceans. MP abundances in beach (205 ± 190 n/m3) and marine sediments (277 ± 107 n/m3) were highest at the site closest to the WTP outlet, with a significant correlation with distance. The detected polymer types were 22 in wastewater, 16 in seawater, and 10 in sediments. Although PP was the predominant polymer, its percentages were 22.9%, 55.8%, 49%, and 31.7%, respectively. These findings indicate that MPs from KSS-WTP are fractionated across media, with less dense polymers remaining longer in seawater and beach sediments. This study provides baseline data on the impact of research station activities, emphasizing the need for improved environmental protocols and systematic monitoring to mitigate MP pollution in Antarctica.
Acknowledgement: This study was supported by Korea Polar Research Institute (KOPRI, PE24170), and was also partially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (No. RS-2024-00356940).
How to cite: Seong, M.-J., Kim, S.-K., Shin, J.-H., Ji, Y.-J., Kim, J.-Y., Kim, J.-H., Choi, S.-H., and Yeom, C.-H.: Contribution of Research Station Activities to Microplastic Pollution in Antarctica: A Case Study of King Sejong Station, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-9708, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-9708, 2025.
Microplastic particles (MP; plastic pieces with length < 5 mm) have already colonized every ecosystem on Earth, including cryospheric regions. The presence of MPs has been reported in the Artic, Antarctic and glaciers and seasonal snow at high mountain ranges from Europe, Asia and America. Still, their capacity to affect snow metamorphism and albedo, as light-absorbing impurities, remains unexplored. During the snow season of 2023/24 (from early February to early May 2024), 6 in situ experiments were conducted at the Spanish Central Pyrenees employing a set of mini-lysimeters containing surface snow doped with different concentrations of MP. In each experiment, a blank that remained exempt of particle addition was also included. Two types of polymers were used, low-density polyethylene (PE; ~300 µm) and polyurethane (PUR; ~450 µm) black pellets. The mini-lysimeters were exposed to atmospheric conditions for 3-4 hours to quantify changes in snow specific surface area (SSA), liquid water content (LWC), hyperspectral albedo (HA) and ultimately the total melted water after exposition. Results were very variable across the season. Thus, effective melting (> 40%) was observed only during the warmer days under high solar radiation on old snow. Still, changes in SSA, LWC and HA (calculated as percentage of change per hour) occurred almost in every experiment. SSA changes were quite variable, ranging from negative (mid-winter and old snow, with the lowest PUR concentrations used) to 33% h-1 (spring and warmest day, old snow, all PUR concentrations used). Similarly, LWC increased from 0 the coldest day (with all MPs but the highest PE concentration used) to 500% h-1 (early winter and old snow, with the highest concentration used). Changes in HA were modest, ranging from 1.1% h-1 (mid-winter and old snow, low PUR concentrations) to 7.5% h-1 (spring and warmest day, old snow, highest PUR concentration). Up to now, these results are the first evidence of MP’s capacity to act as light absorbing particles, triggering snow metamorphism and eventually snow melting. Forthcoming studies will test other types of MP and concentrations, under a wider range of snow conditions, to allow a more comprehensive spatial-temporal interpretation.
How to cite: Marin-Beltran, I., Brandes, J., Dominguez-Aguilar, P., Pey, J., Revuelto, J., and Lopez-Moreno, N.: On the role of Microplastics as Light Absorbing Particles in seasonal snowpacks: First evidence from the Central Pyrenees, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-13476, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-13476, 2025.
The spatial distribution and evolution of seasonal snow is a first-order control of glacier mass balance, yet most glaciological models represent snow with rather simple approaches. Despite being key drivers of winter accumulation patterns, processes such as wind drift and avalanching are often disregarded. Here, we explore the application of a recent fully distributed snow model based on mass and energy balance and including redistribution processes to glacierized areas. The model FSM2trans is run over six partially glacierized domains of 1-5 km2 in the Swiss Alps for the hydrological years 2021-2024. These simulations are, for the first time, evaluated against glaciological datasets, including spatially distributed in-situ measurements of winter accumulation across the glacier surface and point mass balance timeseries reconstructions at selected ablation stakes. Despite differing spatial and temporal resolution of model and observations, their comparison allows detecting accumulation biases and areas with excessive snow transport in the simulations. These results motivate ongoing efforts to use glaciological observations to finetune FSM2trans for applications in high alpine glacierized terrain. Comparison of first FSM2trans simulations with existing, interpolation-based model estimates of glacier accumulation patterns corroborates the added value of process-based snow modelling for characterizing spatiotemporal accumulation dynamics. Enhanced representation of snow accumulation and depletion over glaciers is expected to provide mass balance estimates at higher spatial and temporal resolution than previously available and will thus also improve surface water inputs from cryospheric components to hydrological models applied to mountain areas.
How to cite: Mazzotti, G., Huss, M., Magnusson, J., Queno, L., Jonas, T., Kneib, M., and Farinotti, D.: From process-based snow modelling to spatially distributed glacier mass balance estimates , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-15823, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-15823, 2025.
Posters virtual: Wed, 30 Apr, 14:00–15:45 | vPoster spot 4
EGU25-4832 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS18
Climate Change and its Impact on the Hydrology of a Glaciated Mountainous RegionWed, 30 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | vP4.1
Climate change significantly impacts the hydrology and water resources of any region especially high mountain areas including cryosphere that consist of glaciers. Numerous studies report that glaciers are retreating and losing volume with time causing serious concerns over freshwater availability in the basins they feed water to. Assessment of these changes and their relationship with various climatic aspects are crucial to understand and tackle such challenges. Long-term trends in temperature and precipitation and their spatio-temporal distribution, for the mountainous state of Uttarakhand in India were assessed, utilizing the India Meteorological Department’s gridded precipitation and temperature datasets for the period 1951-2023. Mann-Kendall trend test was performed at 90% significance level, for each grid, to check monthly trends, which gave critical insights upon shifts in seasonal meteorology. Results reveal notable changes in the monthly distribution of precipitation with many grids reporting a decreasing winter precipitation (Oct-Jan) and many showing an increasing precipitation for May and August. Global warming impact is much visible through changes in minimum temperatures for almost all the grids, reporting a strong positive trend for February, March, August, September and November. Importantly, these changes are more prominent for the high-altitude areas, which highlights elevation dependent climate change pattern. Evidently, the precipitation is shifting from winters to summers and the minimum temperatures are increasing towards the end of ablation season (Aug-Sep), decreasing the chances of receiving solid precipitation or snowfall. Consequently, a decrease in snow cover is expected in the future, which from a hydrological perspective, would lead to a reduction in snowmelt discharge and its contribution to streamflow of the Himalayan perennial rivers. Moreover, the increasing temperature and precipitation during summers can generate huge discharges from glacierized catchments due to increased simultaneous contribution of glacier-melt and rainfall, causing destructive flash floods and debris flow events, as being witnessed in the recent past. Combination of decreased precipitation in winter months and increased temperatures overall, can prove detrimental to glaciers’ health as they will melt more, whereas their replenishment will be lesser, leading to negative mass balances. Climate change is certainly having an adverse effect on the mountain hydrology, especially that of the Himalayan cryosphere. The glaciated catchments are expected to have more glacier-melt and rainfall-runoff contribution and less snow-melt contribution in the near-future. The glaciers, present in the region, are expected to retreat and lose mass more rapidly, considering the meteorological changes in the high elevation areas. Small glaciers might deplete faster, which would lead to problems of freshwater availability in the nearer downstream areas dependent on the melt-runoff water. While there seems no immediate solution to the prevailing scenario of climate change, community-based measures can be adopted to tackle problems of water availability. Water conservation and springshed management in the mountainous regions are some focus areas to work upon, in order to ensure water security under the changing climate.
How to cite: Thapliyal, M., Singh, S., and Patel, L.: Climate Change and its Impact on the Hydrology of a Glaciated Mountainous Region, EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-4832, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-4832, 2025.
EGU25-20632 | ECS | Posters virtual | VPS18
SnowMapPy v1.0: A Python Package for Automated Snow Cover Mapping and Monitoring in Mountain RegionsWed, 30 Apr, 14:00–15:45 (CEST) | vP4.3
SnowMapPy is a Python-based package developed to streamline the collection, preparation, and analysis of MODIS NDSI data, specifically from the Terra and Aqua satellite products. By automating essential steps (data clipping, reprojection, filtering, and time series generation), SnowMapPy improves the efficiency and precision of snow hydrology research. The protocol allows users to work with both local and Google Earth Engine cloud-based datasets, enabling flexible data acquisition and processing tailored to the needs of snow hydrology, water resource management, and climate change studies. Designed for accessibility and flexibility, SnowMapPy supports large-scale, high-resolution snow cover analysis with minimal configuration. The package facilitates customized workflows through its modular structure, making it a valuable tool for researchers aiming to understand snow dynamics and their impact on seasonal water resources.
How to cite: Elyoussfi, H., Boudhar, A., Belaqziz, S., Bousbaa, M., Bechri, H., Sproles, E. A., and Benzhair, F.: SnowMapPy v1.0: A Python Package for Automated Snow Cover Mapping and Monitoring in Mountain Regions , EGU General Assembly 2025, Vienna, Austria, 27 Apr–2 May 2025, EGU25-20632, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu25-20632, 2025.
