TY - Generic T1 - Effects of Past and Future Climate Change on Ski Areas T2 - 75th Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2007 A1 - Mote, P.W. A1 - Casson, J. A1 - Hamlet, A.F. A1 - Reading, D. KW - Snow course, ski areas, temperature, snow depth, climate change AB - We examine USDA snow course data for ski areas during the ski season to determine the degree to which midwinter snow is statistically sensitive to temperature. For most of the 16 Northwest ski areas analyzed here, a reasonably strong negative partial correlation of mid-season snow depth with antecedent temperature indicates that further warming will have an impact on the quantity of snow. The effects of these physical changes on the profitability of a given ski area will depend in part on the adaptive capacity of the ski area. JF - 75th Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 75th Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Kailua-Kona, HI UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2007Mote.pdf ER - TY - Generic T1 - Variability and trends in mountain snowpacks in western North America T2 - 72nd Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2004 A1 - Mote, P.W. A1 - Hamlet, A.F. A1 - Lettenmaier, D.P. KW - Snow course, SNOTEL, snowpack trends, PDO, climate change AB - Snow course and SNOTEL measurements of spring snowpack, corroborated by a physically-based hydrologic model, are examined here for climate-driven fluctuations and trends during the period 1916-2002. Much of the mountain West has experienced declines in spring snowpack, especially since mid-century, and despite increases in winter precipitation in many places. Analysis and modeling shows that climatic trends are the dominant factor, not changes in land use, forest canopy, or other factors. The largest decreases have occurred where winter temperatures are mild, especially in the Cascade Mountains and Northern California. In most mountain ranges, relative declines grow from minimal at ridgetop to substantial at snowline. Taken together, these results emphasize that although the Pacific Decadal Oscillation has played some role in fluctuations in the region's SWE, the West's snow resources are already declining as Earth's climate warms. JF - 72nd Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 72nd Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Richmond, B.C. UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2004.pdf ER - TY - Generic T1 - Declines in Snow Water Equivalent in the Pacific Northwest and Their Climatic Causes T2 - 71st Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2003 A1 - Mote, P.W. KW - Pacific Northwest, declining SWE, precipitation, temperature, snow course AB - Observations of snow water equivalent (SWE) in the Pacific Northwest are examined and compared with variability and trends in temperature and precipitation at nearby climate stations. At most locations, substantial de-clines in SWE have occurred over the past 50 years. Largest percentage losses have occurred at lower elevations (below 1000m), a pattern that is consistent with observed increases in temperature during winter and early spring. In many locations the reductions in SWE occurred in spite of likely increases in precipitation. JF - 71st Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 71st Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Scottsdale, Arizona UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2003Mote.pdf ER - TY - Generic T1 - ANTHROPOGENIC CLIMATE CHANGE AND SNOW IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST T2 - 69th Annual Western Snow Conference Y1 - 2001 A1 - Mote, P.W. A1 - Hamlet, A.F. KW - climate change AB -

The Pacific Northwest is unusually vulnerable to a warning climate owing to its heavy reliance on snowpack to store water for summer use. This paper outlines the state of global climate science and describes efforts by the Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington to understand how a warming, of plausible magnitude could affect the Pacific Northwest, specifically with regard to streamflow and snowpack.

JF - 69th Annual Western Snow Conference T3 - Proceedings of the 69th Annual Western Snow Conference PB - Western Snow Conference CY - Sun Valley, Idaho UR - sites/westernsnowconference.org/PDFs/2001Mote.pdf ER -