Spatial, Temporal and Intensity Characteristics of Heavy Snowfall Events over Austria

Spreitzhofer, Gerald

doi:10.1007/s007040050085

Cited by 20 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…[4] The other important topic is statistical analysis of ISEs, in particular, their frequency change [Spreitzhofer, 1999;Laternser and Schneebeli, 2003;Esteban et al, 2005]. The results of this research are the basis for seasonal prediction of ISE activity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial‐temporal features of intense snowfall events in China and their possible change

et al. 2010

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[1] The statistical spatial-temporal features of the intense snowfall event (ISE) in China are investigated over the period of 1962-2000. The results indicate that eastern China, northern Xinjiang, the eastern Tibetan plateau, and northeastern China are four key regions for the ISE, with more frequency and strong variability. Annual cycle analysis shows the ISE exhibits a unimodal distribution with maximum frequency at winter months for eastern China, a bimodal distribution with maximum frequency at early winter and spring months for northern Xinjiang and northeastern China, and a bimodal distribution with maximum frequency at autumn and spring months for the eastern Tibetan plateau. Linear trend analysis indicates that in the last 39 years, the ISE exhibits a decreasing trend for eastern China and an increasing trend for northern Xinjiang and the eastern Tibetan plateau. The linear trend of the ISE is weak over northeastern China. Based on the simulations of the most recent and comprehensive climate models in the 20th century run, the performance of the current climate models in simulating the Chinese ISE is investigated. The results indicate that, of the 20 models, there are four models that can reasonably reproduce the spatial-temporal features of the Chinese ISE. Based on these four models' simulation for the 21st century under A1B and A2 scenarios, the future variability of the Chinese ISE is projected. It is found that global warming will cause the ISE frequency over southern China to decrease, while the ISE over northern China will initially increase and then decrease.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial‐temporal features of intense snowfall events in China and their possible change

et al. 2010

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“…Long-term changes of various snow parameters for a few selected Alpine stations had already been analysed by Ambühl (1961), Steinhauser (1970) and Brand (1991), and, on the international scene, during the 1990s publications on this topic multiplied (e.g. Mohnl, 1991Mohnl, , 1993Mohnl, , 1996Beniston et al, 1994;Bultot et al, 1994;Hughes and Robinson, 1996;Beniston, 1997;Jaagus, 1997;Leathers and Luff, 1997;Hartley and Keables, 1998;Hantel et al, 2000;Spreitzhofer, 1999;Serreze et al, 2001;Ye, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Long‐term snow climate trends of the Swiss Alps (1931–99)

Laternser

Schneebeli

2003

Intl Journal of Climatology

336

241

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The mean snow depth, the duration of continuous snow cover and the number of snowfall days in the Swiss Alps all show very similar trends during the observation period 1931-99: a gradual increase until the early 1980s (with insignificant interruptions during the late 1950s and early 1970s) followed by a statistically significant decrease towards the end of the century. Regional and altitudinal variations are large; high altitudes show only slight changes, and the trends become more pronounced at mid and low altitudes. At any particular time the southern part of the Alps often has different conditions than the north. Shorter snow duration is mainly caused by earlier snow melting in spring than by later first snowfalls in autumn.Trends for heavy snowfall events are somewhat different: at elevations above 1300 m a.s.l. a very weak increasing trend towards heavier snowfalls has persisted since the 1960s, and only low altitudes below 650 m a.s.l. show a marked drop since the early 1980s, indicating that heavy winter precipitation to an increasing degree falls in the form of rain instead of snow.A literature review confirms that, throughout the temperate and subpolar Northern Hemisphere, a similar general pattern of temporal snow variations occurred during the 20th century.

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“…Similar low‐pressure systems (one with a centre over the Baltic Sea and the other over the Mediterranean) were defined by Spreitzhofer (, ) as typical weather patterns related to intense snowfalls in Austria. Scherrer and Appenzeller () defined low‐pressure systems over southeastern Europe as being responsible for snowfalls in the Swiss Alps.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…An analysis of severe snowstorms formation in Europe has already been performed on a regional scale, for example for the Swedish east coast (Andersson and Nilsson ; Andersson and Gustafsson ). The synoptic classification of heavy snowfall events in Austria has been developed first by Schalko () and then by Spreitzhofer (, ). Bednorz () has found circulation patterns responsible for abundant snowfalls in the North European Plain.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synoptic conditions of heavy snowfalls in europe

Bednorz

2013

Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography

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Synoptic conditions of heavy snowfalls at four stations in Europe (Oslo, Bremen, Smolensk and Budapest) were analyzed using daily data of snow cover depth from 50 winter seasons (1960/1961-2009/2010). Composite maps of the sea level pressure and 500 hPa geopotential height means and anomalies were presented for the days with an increase in snow depth by Ն10 cm, for each station separately. In the same way, maps were presented for the 850 hPa temperature and the precipitable water content. Additionally, 48 h back trajectories of air masses for the chosen days with the highest amount of snowfall were constructed, using the NOAA HYSPLIT model. Negative anomalies of sea level pressure and 500 hPa heights, which correspond to low-pressure systems spreading over Europe, are prerequisites for the occurrence of heavy snowfalls at each analyzed location. In Budapest, heavy snowfalls appear as a result of cyclonic cold fronts from the Mediterranean Sea. Another typical location of snow-bringing low-pressure systems is the Baltic Sea region. Negative pressure anomalies over the North Atlantic with a low-pressure centre over the Norwegian Sea cause snowfalls in Oslo. There are two main sources of air masses bringing abundant snowfalls in Europe: the Atlantic region and Mediterranean. According to back trajectories, the humid air masses are transported over long distances and on the way they are shifted from the low troposphere in the source regions to the upper layers.

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Spatial, Temporal and Intensity Characteristics of Heavy Snowfall Events over Austria

Cited by 20 publications

References 13 publications

Spatial‐temporal features of intense snowfall events in China and their possible change

Spatial‐temporal features of intense snowfall events in China and their possible change

Long‐term snow climate trends of the Swiss Alps (1931–99)

Synoptic conditions of heavy snowfalls in europe

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