MODIS/Terra observed snow cover over the Tibet Plateau: distribution, variation and possible connection with the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM)

• Published in: Theoretical and applied climatology Vol. 97; no. 3-4; pp. 265 - 278
• Main Authors: Pu, Zhaoxia, Xu, Li
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Vienna Springer Vienna 01.08.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric circulation; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Atmospheric Sciences; Climate; Climatology; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Elevation; Exact sciences and technology; External geophysics; Meteorology; Monsoons; Original Paper; Rain; Snow; Snow cover; Spacecraft; Spatial distribution; Statistical analysis; Summer; Temporal distribution; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Xizang China; Far East; Asia; China; Qinghai-Xizang Plateau; Tibetan Plateau; China, People's Rep., Xizang, Tibetan Plateau; China, People's Rep., Xizang; USA; Tibetan Plateau; East Asia; East Asian Summer Monsoon; Snow Cover; Snow Water Equivalent; Terra satellite; trend-surface analysis; time variations; Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer; anomalies; Summer monsoon; Polar orbiting satellite; Interannual variation; Persistence; Spatial distribution; snow; Spring(season); Reanalysis; Snow cover; statistical analysis; seasonal variations
• ISSN: 0177-798X; 1434-4483
• DOI: 10.1007/s00704-008-0074-9

Based on the snow cover fraction (SCF) data acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the NASA Terra spacecraft from 2000–2006, statistical analyses are performed to explore the spatial and temporal distribution and variation of the snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau (TP). It is found that the snow persistence over the TP varies in different elevation ranges generally becomes longer with increases in the terrain elevation. In addition, the spatial distribution of the snow cover not only depends on the elevation but also varies with terrain features, such as aspect, slope, and curvature in the local areas. With 7-year observational data, seasonal and interannual variability of snow cover has been detected. There are slight decreasing trends in SFCs from 2000–2006. With MODIS satellite snow-cover fraction data and the National Centers for Environmental Predictions and U.S. Department of Energy NCEP/DOE reanalysis II dataset, the relationship between snow cover anomalies over the TP and the East Asian Summer Monsoon (EASM) is examined. Results indicate that the onset of the EASM is closely associated with snow cover anomalies in the spring. Specifically, a positive (negative) snow cover anomaly is followed by a later (earlier) onset of the EASM.