Snow cover
Observations show a decline in snow depth in Australia's alpine region over the last 50 years, although there is a great deal of annual variability.
Source: Climate variability, climate change, and the Australian snow season, Neville Nicholls
Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre, in Australian Meterology Magazine 54:177-185, Figure 2
Figure shows time series of maximum snow depth (broken line) and snow depth at first observation in October (solid line) at Spencers Creek. Linear trends indicated with thick lines.
- Warming trends are slightly greater at higher elevations.
- Over the past 50 years there has been a small increase in alpine precipitation in New South Wales, and a small decrease in Victoria.
- Some alpine sites have shown a weak decline in maximum snow depth over the period 1957-2002. Close analysis at one site indicates a 10% decrease in snow depth since 1962.
- Some alpine sites have shown a moderate decline in mid-late season snow depths (August-September). Close analysis at one site indicates a 40% decrease in spring snow depth since 1962.
