Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau
Abstract Snow cover changes are of great importance to the hydrological cycle of the western Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the influence of the atmospheric circulation on snow cover over the western TP is still unclear. This study finds that springtime snow cover variability over the western TP tai...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Geophysical Research Letters |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114453 |
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| author | Jingzhi Wang Xiao‐Feng Li Song Yang Nathan Forsythe Hayley J. Fowler |
| author_facet | Jingzhi Wang Xiao‐Feng Li Song Yang Nathan Forsythe Hayley J. Fowler |
| author_sort | Jingzhi Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Snow cover changes are of great importance to the hydrological cycle of the western Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the influence of the atmospheric circulation on snow cover over the western TP is still unclear. This study finds that springtime snow cover variability over the western TP tail is significantly modulated by the Western Tibetan Vortex (WTV), which explains up to 40% variance. Cyclonic (anticyclonic) WTV variability generally causes water vapor convergence (divergence) and ascending (sinking) motions over the western TP tail, which thereby leads to more (less) snowfall and snow cover about one day later. Horizontal water vapor transport at the southern boundary of the western TP tail from the tropical Indian Ocean is key for the influence of the WTV. This study elucidates the impact of the WTV on springtime snow cover, which augments our understanding of the hydrological cycle over the western TP. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-c081ad1628e24eb18ecf0aafeba82b97 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0094-8276 1944-8007 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Geophysical Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj-art-c081ad1628e24eb18ecf0aafeba82b972025-08-20T03:58:44ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072025-07-015214n/an/a10.1029/2024GL114453Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan PlateauJingzhi Wang0Xiao‐Feng Li1Song Yang2Nathan Forsythe3Hayley J. Fowler4School of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat‐sen University & Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat‐sen University & Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Atmospheric Sciences, Sun Yat‐sen University & Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai) Zhuhai ChinaSchool of Engineering and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UKSchool of Engineering and Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne UKAbstract Snow cover changes are of great importance to the hydrological cycle of the western Tibetan Plateau (TP). However, the influence of the atmospheric circulation on snow cover over the western TP is still unclear. This study finds that springtime snow cover variability over the western TP tail is significantly modulated by the Western Tibetan Vortex (WTV), which explains up to 40% variance. Cyclonic (anticyclonic) WTV variability generally causes water vapor convergence (divergence) and ascending (sinking) motions over the western TP tail, which thereby leads to more (less) snowfall and snow cover about one day later. Horizontal water vapor transport at the southern boundary of the western TP tail from the tropical Indian Ocean is key for the influence of the WTV. This study elucidates the impact of the WTV on springtime snow cover, which augments our understanding of the hydrological cycle over the western TP.https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114453Western Tibetan Vortexwestern Tibetan Plateausnow covermoisture fluxspring |
| spellingShingle | Jingzhi Wang Xiao‐Feng Li Song Yang Nathan Forsythe Hayley J. Fowler Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau Geophysical Research Letters Western Tibetan Vortex western Tibetan Plateau snow cover moisture flux spring |
| title | Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full | Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau |
| title_short | Impact of the Western Tibetan Vortex on Springtime Snow Cover Over the Western Tibetan Plateau |
| title_sort | impact of the western tibetan vortex on springtime snow cover over the western tibetan plateau |
| topic | Western Tibetan Vortex western Tibetan Plateau snow cover moisture flux spring |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2024GL114453 |
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