Colorado Plateau
Dust-on-Snow: Adapting to
The New Normal
NWS Coordination MeetingGrand Junction
November 22, 2013
Chris LandryCODOS
Colorado Dust-on-Snow Program
Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
Silverton, CO
Event D6-WY2013 In Progress - April 8, 2013 - Silverton
Dust Event D8-WY2013 in Progress – 12:00 noon, April 16, 2013
Senator Beck Basin, SASP – April 22, 2013
47 gm/m2 (419 lbs/acre)
D8
D7
D6
Dust Storm of 60+ Hours Duration
May 9, 2013 – Hoosier Pass CODOS site
May 10, 2013 - Berthoud Summit CODOS site
D8
D6
Dust-on-Snow Events are Extensive but Not Always Apparent
2004/2005
2005/2006
2006/2007
2007/2008
2008/2009
2009/2010
2010/2011
2011/2012
2012/2013
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
3
6 7
2
75
7
3
61
2 1
5
5
4
4
9 4
Dust-on-Snow EventsSenator Beck Basin Study Area - WY 2005 through WY
2013 (n = 81)
Wet Dust Events Dry Dust Events
CODOS Event Log – by Season
Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
2 3 4
0
5
20
29
17
1
Dust-on-Snow EventsSenator Beck Basin Study Area - WY 2005 through WY
2013 (n = 81)
Dust Events
CODOS Event Log – by Month
J. Brahney, A.P. Ballantyne, C. Sievers, J.C. Neff. Increasing Ca2+ deposition in the western US: the role of mineral aerosols. Aeolian Research (2013), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.aeolia.2013.04.003
The apparent trend is confirmed … dust deposition is increasing
http://snowstudies.org/dust/_SurfaceRoughness/index.html
Is Dust-Induced Surface RoughnessIncreasing Sublimation and/or Evaporation, and Reducing Runoff Yields?
Yield Effects?
• Dust-on-snow, when exposed, lowers snow albedo and increases melt energy budget
• Dust deposition has increased more than 200% in Colorado since the 90’s
• Water Year 2013 produced two extreme events (D6 April 8th and D8 April 15-17th)
• Dust-on-snow is causing erratic, “flashy” runoff; spring weather still matters
• The State Water Plan should address dust-on-snow impacts on Colorado runoff; snowmelt timing and/or rates are significantly departing from ‘median’ hydrograph
• Dust-on-snow is also affecting snowmelt runoff yields; needs more research
The New Normal …
May 5, 2013 – looking west from Senator Beck Basin
• Colorado Plateau is the primary dust source area; soil disturbance and drought are key
• CSAS’s CODOS program is a stakeholder-driven effort to monitor and adapt to dust; Federal agencies are pursuing improved runoff forecasting and source area science
