Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-178
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-178
20 Mar 2023
 | 20 Mar 2023

Rain-on-snow response to a warmer Pyrenees

Josep Bonsoms, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva

Abstract. Climate warming is changing the magnitude, timing, and spatial patterns of mountain snowpacks. A warmer atmosphere may also lead to precipitation phase shifts, with decreased snowfall fraction (Sf). The combination of Sf and snowpack decreases directly affects the frequency and intensity of rain-on-snow (ROS) events, a common cause of flash-flood events in snow dominated regions. In this work we examine the ROS patterns and sensitivity to temperature and precipitation change (delta-change) in the Pyrenees using a physical-based snow model forced with reanalysis climate data perturbed following 21st century climate projections for this mountain range. ROS patterns are characteritzed by their frequency, rainfall quantity and snow ablation. The highest ROS fr for the baseline climate period (1980–2019) are found in South-West high-elevations sectors of the Pyrenees (17 days/year). Maximum ROS rain is detected in South-East mid-elevations areas (45 mm/day, autumn), whereas the highest ROS ablation is found in North-West high-elevations zones (−10 cm/day, summer). When air temperature is increased from 1 ºC to 4 ºC, ROS rain and frequency increase at a constant rate during winter and early spring for all elevation zones. For the rest of the seasons, non-linear responses of the ROS frequency and ablation to warming are found. Overall, ROS frequency decreases in the shoulders of the season across eastern low-elevated zones due to snow cover depletion. However, ROS increases in cold, high-elevated zones where long-lasting snow cover exists until late spring. Similarly, warming triggers fast ROS ablation (+10 % per ºC) during the coldest months of the season, high-elevations, and northern sectors where the deepest snow depths are found. On the contrary, slow, and non-changes in ROS ablation are expected for warm and marginal snowpacks. These results highlight the different ROS responses to warming across the mountain range, suggest similar ROS sensitivities in near mid-latitude zones, and will help anticipate future ROS impacts in hydrological, environmental, and socioeconomic mountain systems.

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

30 Jan 2024
Rain-on-snow responses to warmer Pyrenees: a sensitivity analysis using a physically based snow hydrological model
Josep Bonsoms, Juan I. López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 245–264, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-245-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-245-2024, 2024
Short summary
Josep Bonsoms, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-178', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-178', Samuel Morin, 18 Jun 2023

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • RC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-178', Anonymous Referee #1, 19 May 2023
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-178', Samuel Morin, 18 Jun 2023

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (further review by editor and referees) (04 Sep 2023) by Pascal Haegeli
AR by Josep Bonsoms on behalf of the Authors (11 Sep 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (28 Sep 2023) by Pascal Haegeli
RR by Samuel Morin (07 Oct 2023)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (21 Oct 2023) by Pascal Haegeli
AR by Josep Bonsoms on behalf of the Authors (31 Oct 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (15 Nov 2023) by Pascal Haegeli
AR by Josep Bonsoms on behalf of the Authors (02 Dec 2023)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (07 Dec 2023) by Pascal Haegeli
AR by Josep Bonsoms on behalf of the Authors (08 Dec 2023)  Author's response   Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

30 Jan 2024
Rain-on-snow responses to warmer Pyrenees: a sensitivity analysis using a physically based snow hydrological model
Josep Bonsoms, Juan I. López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 24, 245–264, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-245-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-24-245-2024, 2024
Short summary
Josep Bonsoms, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva
Josep Bonsoms, Juan Ignacio López-Moreno, Esteban Alonso-González, César Deschamps-Berger, and Marc Oliva

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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

Short summary
Climate warming is changing mountain snowpack patterns, leading in some cases to rain-on-snow (ROS) events. Here we analyzed near-present ROS and its sensitivity to climate warming across the Pyrenees. ROS increases during the coldest months of the year, but decreases in the warmest months and areas under severe warming due to snow cover depletion. Faster snow ablation is anticipated in the coldest and northern slopes of the range. Relevant implications in mountain ecosystem are anticipated.