Projections of Mountain Snowpack Loss for Wolverine Denning Elevations in the Rocky Mountains

• Published in: Earth's future Vol. 8; no. 10
• Main Authors: Barsugli, Joseph J., Ray, Andrea J., Livneh, Ben, Dewes, Candida F., Heldmyer, Aaron, Rangwala, Imtiaz, Guinotte, John M., Torbit, Stephen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bognor Regis John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.10.2020; Wiley
• Subjects: Anthropogenic climate changes; Anthropogenic factors; Climate change; Conservation; Elevation; Energy balance; Future climates; Geographical distribution; Human influences; Mountain snow; Mountains; National parks; Reintroduction; Slopes; Snow; Snowpack; Spatial distribution; Surface energy; Surface energy balance; Surface properties; Wildlife conservation; Rocky Mountains; United States > US; Montana
• ISSN: 2328-4277; 2328-4277
• DOI: 10.1029/2020EF001537

Future reduction in mountain snowpack due to anthropogenic climate change poses a threat to many snow‐adapted species worldwide. Mountain topography exerts a strong control on snowpack not only due to elevation but also through the effect of slope and aspect on the surface energy balance. We develop high‐resolution projections of snowpack in order to provide improved, physically based estimates of the spatial distribution of future snowpack to inform species conservation efforts for the wolverine (Gulo gulo) in two study areas in the Rocky Mountains: one in Montana with known den sites and one in Colorado with recent wolverine activity and potential for reintroduction. Here we assess springtime snowpack loss in actual and potential denning areas under five future climate scenarios for the mid‐21st century. Snowpack in April and May is likely to persist into the mid‐21st century in the upper half of current denning elevations in all but the warmest future climate scenario, while large declines are projected for the lower half of the denning elevations. We gain new insight into the influence of topographical aspect on future snowpack and quantify the potential for enhanced snow persistence on north and east facing slopes under future scenarios that is only revealed in simulations where terrain slopes are resolved. Plain Language Summary Climate change and its effect on snow are a threat to high mountain ecosystems and species worldwide. The future of mountain snowpack is complex, with multiple drivers, and with a strong elevation dependence. What has received much less attention is the dependence on topographical aspect—how will the snowpack on north facing versus south facing slopes respond differently under climate change. In this paper we develop snow projections motivated by a conservation issue for the wolverine: the future of the springtime snowpack at elevations of observed and potential wolverine denning for two study areas in the Rocky Mountains by the mid‐21st century. While there is significant snowpack loss in the lower half of denning elevations, the upper denning elevations retain springtime snowpack, supporting conservation actions through midcentury in these regions. Key Points Early spring snowpack declines sharply in the lower half of wolverine den elevations studied but persists through midcentury higher up Springtime snowpack is less affected by climate change on north and east facing slopes leading to potential for climate refugia High‐resolution modeling that resolves topographical aspect may provide useful information to support conservation decisions