The Mystery of Mountain Snow: Fresh Flurries Provide Water for Area Rivers

The mystery of mountain snow has been relatively untouched by scientists. Yet lfurries that fall against these continuities are also responsible for the amount of water found in rivers located on or near the land masses. 

Lead study authors Wouter Berghuijs, Ph.D. student, and Dr. Ross Woods, Senior Lecterer in Water and Environmental Engineering in the Department of Civil Enginnering at the University of Bristol, worked with researchers from Delft University of Technology to determine how hundreds of river basins located across the United States are influenced by snow that hits mountain ranges. They used historical data from many of the river basins to determine what effect this type of weather had on the rivers.

More specifically, researchers hoped to address the role of snow and the average amount of water it provides for rivers in the area. 

Using data from 420 catchments located throughout the United States, they discovered that snow is an essential factor for the average river discharge.

However, the study authors also stressed the issue of global warming and the phenomena's impact on rising temperatures and less river water.

"With more than one-sixth of the Earth's population depending on meltwater for their water supply, and ecosystems that can be sensitive to streamflow alterations, the socio-economic consequences of a reduction in streamflow can be substantial," said the study authors, via a press release. "Our finding is particularly relevant to regions where societally important functions, such ecosystem stability, hydropower, irrigation, and industrial or domestic water supply are derived from snowmelt."

More information regarding the findings can be seen via journal Nature Climate Change.