Global and regional patterns of elevation-dependent climate change in the world’s mountains.
Mountains cover about 25% of Earth’s surface, providing vital resources such as water for both high-elevation ecosystems and billions of people. Multiple drivers of global change impact mountain ecosystems and those downstream. Understanding patterns of past/future temperature and precipitation changes within mountain regions, especially comparative studies across contrasting mountain regions, remains key to help address impacts of climatic change. Nearly all mountain regions are warming, some areas faster than nearby lowlands (elevation-dependent warming). There is a transition from snowfall to rainfall in many locations. There is a reduction in orographic enhancement of rainfall/snowfall evident in many datasets, but there remain large uncertainties in the measurement of mountain precipitation. This session invites studies (in situ observations, remote sensing, model simulations) of patterns of warming and precipitation changes, and other related variables (e.g. snow cover, wind), in mountain regions to help consolidate our knowledge on elevation dependent climate change.
Abstract submission deadline 16 February 2022.
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Full Title: Global and regional patterns of Elevation-Dependent Climate Change in the world’s mountains
First Author: Nicholas Pepin -
Assigned Synthesis Workshop: 1. Mountain Ecosystems under Global Change
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Keywords: Climate change, elevation dependent warming, temperature, precipitation, trends, mountains
This session is taking place as part of the IMC2022. Discover other IMC2022 sessions being held by representatives of the MRI here.
Related Article: Decline in Mountain Snow and Ice May Be Faster Than Anticipated
Enhanced mountain warming coupled with reduced elevation dependency of precipitation may deplete stores of mountain snow and ice more rapidly than previously thought, new research conducted by the MRI’s Elevation-Dependent Climate Change Working Group has found.
