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Where Deserts and Mountains Collide
The Implications of Accelerated Snowmelt
by Disturbed Desert Dust Thomas H. PainterSnow Optics LaboratoryUniversity of Utah
Snowmelt and Water• 75% of freshwater comes
from snow in the Western US
• Mountain snowpack provides enormous, critical reservoir capacity
• Early snowmelt increases growing season length, evapotranspiration, and temperatures
• Rate of snowmelt controls water management and yield
Photo: Chris Landry, Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
Reflectivity = 72%
Absorption = 28%
Reflectivity =43%
Absorption = 57%
Snow Albedo
Reflect
ivit
y
Impact of Dust: A Perfect Storm
Dust is well timed
Dust is well placed
Dust is, well, darker than snow
April 2009 May 2009
Changes in Dust Loading
Post-disturbance
~ 1850 AD
Pre-disturbance
From Neff et al (2008), Nature GeosciencesFrom lake sediments in the Colorado Rockies
Present
Photo: McKenzie Skiles, Snow Optics Laboratory
Phoenix 2006
Future Dust Loading
albedo = 0.72
Before disturbance
albedo = 0.43
After disturbance
Snowmelt Modeling
Senator Beck Basin Study Area, Colorado, 2006
Snow
wate
r equiv
ale
nt
(mm
)
Cleaner (before disturbance)Dirtier (after disturbance )
Informing Water Managers
Colorado River Basin
May 6, 2009
MODIS-DRFS
Daily
sun
light a
bso
rbed b
y d
ust
(W/m
2)
Water in the Colorado River Basin
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