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Dryad

Data from: Recent decreases in snow water storage in western North America

Data files

Mar 27, 2023 version files 6.95 MB

Abstract

We present long-term average and annual Snow Storage Index values over mountainous western North America, intended to represent the snow water storage capacity (and associated change) across the region. The Snow Storage Index represents the temporal phase difference between daily precipitation and surface water inputs – the sum of rainfall and snowmelt into the terrestrial systems – weighted by relative magnitudes. Different from snow water equivalent or snow fraction, the Snow Storage Index represents the degree to which the snowpack delays the timing and magnitude of surface water inputs relative to preciptiation, a fundamental component of how snow water storage influences the hydrologic cycle.  Our analysis of a 64-year modeled dataset and 34-year observation dataset shows that the Snow Storage Index has decreased significantly across mountainous, western North America, due primarily to substantially earlier snowmelt and rainfall in spring months, with additional declines in winter precipitation. The Snow Storage Index and associated trends offer a new perspective on hydrologic sensitivity to climate change which have broad implications for water resources and ecosystems.