Snow poses a significant challenge for meteorologists in making accurate predictions. Not only do they have to determine the amount and timing of precipitation, but they also have to calculate the snow level with great precision. A miscalculation of more than 100 meters can completely alter even the most reliable weather forecasts, causing unexpected snowfall or no snowfall. As we know, there is less and less snow and many people wonder what causes the lack of snow.
Therefore, in this article we are going to tell you what causes the lack of snow and what conditions must be met for snow to occur.
Conditions for snow formation
Snow level calculation is a complex process that takes into account several atmospheric factors, including precipitation intensity, temperature variations in different layers of the atmosphere, humidity, wind, and more.
The appearance of snow requires the convergence of two crucial elements: temperatures below 2ºC and precipitation. At first glance, this combination appears to be easily observable during the winter months, particularly in higher elevation mountainous regions. However, the situation becomes significantly more complex when talking about the possibility of witnessing snowfall in the provincial capitals, much less at lower or coastal levels.
Simply concentrating cold air at the surface through a thermal inversion is not enough to produce snow. For snow to form, Temperatures in various layers of the atmosphere must be equal to or less than 0ºC. If this condition is not met, snowflakes can disintegrate before reaching the ground. On the contrary, when there is no cold air in the upper and middle atmospheric layers but there is at the surface, the phenomenon known as freezing rain becomes a major concern, especially in densely populated urban areas.
When considering factors that are not specific to our region, It is important to recognize that the predominant wind patterns in the Northern Hemisphere flow from the west. As a result, most precipitation and unstable weather systems enter our country from this direction. Thanks to the influence of the Gulf Stream and the large expanse of ocean to the west, which is unable to retain significant amounts of cold air, most fronts and rain conditions arrive with temperatures that are not low enough during the winter months. Consequently, snowfall is limited to mountainous areas.
What causes the lack of snow
The lack of significant snowfall in Europe this winter has far-reaching implications beyond the impact on winter sports. If the shortage of meltwater persists, will negatively affect several sectors such as shipping, agriculture and electricity supply.
The ski season in Germany, France, Austria and the Czech Republic is in a precarious situation. The appearance of the beloved white weather phenomenon is threatened by scorching temperatures, causing rain instead of snow. This presents a major problem with far-reaching implications.
Snow acts as a reservoir and holds water over a period of time. Instead of flowing directly, the water contained in the snow is released during the summer or spring seasons. The gradual release of meltwater into the environment It occurs only after the snow has melted, replenishing lakes, rivers and groundwater. However, without the buffering capacity of snow, this crucial water supply will run out in the coming months. As a result, rivers, normally supported by melting ice, experience reduced water levels.
Energy supply
According to a study by the International Hydrological Commission for the Rhine Basin (CHR), melting glaciers and reduced snowfall may exacerbate dry conditions along the Rhine, which stretches from Basel to the North Sea. , in the next years. This study, conducted by a consortium of scientific institutions representing the coastal states through which the renowned European river flows, highlights the importance of meltwater as a crucial water reserve during periods of reduced rainfall, particularly in the summer and fall months.
While climate models project increased winter precipitation in the future, the study suggests that this precipitation may not be enough to offset the decline in meltwater availability.
The significant and growing influence of summer aridity has far-reaching consequences for the people and industries that depend on the Rhine River for water resources. According to the research, it is expected that until the end of the century, freight transport along the Rhine could be disrupted for more than two months a year.
Furthermore, power plants may experience a decrease in electricity production, while drinking water providers and agricultural sectors would have to anticipate more frequent cases of water shortages. This is due to the increased water needs of plants during hot, dry summer seasons.
Regenerate conserve water
The lack of snowmelt in the warmer months will likely result in a greater need for water. To address this problem, the creation of more artificial reservoirs would be necessary to store winter precipitation. However, It is important to note that the construction of these retention ponds is an intervention in the natural environment and, in mountainous areas, there are limitations on the space available for such reservoirs.
In the Po Valley (Italy) the possibility of reducing rice cultivation is being discussed due to its high water needs. When winter precipitation changes from snow to rain, the danger of landslides increases. This risk is particularly pronounced when snowmelt and heavy rain occur simultaneously.
Less solar radiation due to lack of snow
Sunlight reflects off the white snow, which plays a crucial role in keeping soils cooler and moister. When there is no snow, soils warm rapidly and become drier. This, in turn, leads to faster runoff of rainwater instead of its absorption into the soil. The consequences of dry floors go beyond water management, as they also increase the likelihood of wall fires.
Snow serves as a protective shield against warming, acting as a solar filter for the Earth. From a global point of view, the polar regions, including sea ice, as well as extensive snowy regions such as those found in northern Scandinavia or Siberia, are of significant importance.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about what causes the lack of snow and what its importance is.