EARTHSS 21 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Thermal Conductivity, Heat Sink
27 Apr 2016
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Document Summary
Snow has a huge impact on the climate. By end of century we will have very little snow. High albedo = snow cover increases the amount of sunlight reflected from earth"s surface. Moist surface = transfer of heat and moisture to and from atmosphere. It influences ecosystems and is important for conservation of biodiversity. Air temperature = whether precipitation falls as rain or snow and control the rate of snow melt. Snow is melting faster than it should during spring in the us. But in eurasia there has been long-term increase in snow depth and duration of snow cover . Mountain regions are more sensitive to climate change. High albedo of snow cover reduces net radiation . Snow is a heat sink- removes energy from the atmosphere in the form of heat. This means that the presence of snow cover inhibits soil warming until the snow melts, preventing biological activity that requires temperatures above 0c.
