Atmospheric Rivers Contribution to the Snow Accumulation Over the Southern Andes (26.5 degrees S-37.5 degrees S)
Author
dc.contributor.author
Saavedra, Felipe
Author
dc.contributor.author
Cortes, Gonzalo
Author
dc.contributor.author
Viale, Maximiliano
Author
dc.contributor.author
Margulis, Steven
Author
dc.contributor.author
McPhee, James
Admission date
dc.date.accessioned
2020-11-06T15:41:29Z
Available date
dc.date.available
2020-11-06T15:41:29Z
Publication date
dc.date.issued
2020
Cita de ítem
dc.identifier.citation
Frontiers in Earth Science July 2020 | Volume 8 | Article 261
es_ES
Identifier
dc.identifier.other
10.3389/feart.2020.00261
Identifier
dc.identifier.uri
https://repositorio.uchile.cl/handle/2250/177600
Abstract
dc.description.abstract
This paper quantifies the climatological contribution of atmospheric rivers (ARs) to annual snow accumulation in the Andes Cordillera between 26.5 degrees S and 36.5 degrees S. An AR identification algorithm, and a high-resolution (0.01 degrees) snow reanalysis dataset, both especially developed for this mountainous region, are used for this quantification over the 1984-2014 period. Results show that AR snowfall events explain approximately 50% of the annual snow accumulation over the study area, and are 2.5 times more intense than non-AR snowfall events. Due to orographic precipitation enhancement on the western slopes and a prominent rain shadow effect on the eastern slopes, annual snow accumulation and AR storms contribution to this accumulation are, on average, 7 and 12 times larger on western than on eastern slopes of the mountain range, respectively. Areas with lower peak elevations see more spillover snowfall over the eastern slopes of the mountain range, especially south of 35 degrees S. Analysis of teleconnections with El Nino Southern Oscillation shows a reduction in the AR frequency across the study area during La Nina episodes and, consequently, a lower contribution to snow accumulation. Conversely, weak and moderate El Nino episodes show an increase in AR frequency, and consequently more snowfall.
es_ES
Patrocinador
dc.description.sponsorship
Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT)
AFB180004
Comision Nacional de Investigacion Cientifica y Tecnologica (CONICYT)
CONICYT FONDECYT
1171032
11151009