Spatio‐temporal patterns of snow in the Catalan Pyrenees (NE Iberia)

Abstract

In a warmer climate, significant variations in the snow regime are expected. Thus, it is crucial to better understand present‐day snow cover regime, its duration and thickness, in order to anticipate future changes. This work presents the first characterization of snow patterns in the Catalan Pyrenees based on 11 snow stations located in high elevation areas (>2,000 m). Here, we examine spatio‐temporal evolution of the daily snow depth and new snow height (HN) since the earliest 2000s to 2020. In addition, we analyse the different synoptic patterns that cause HN events in the study area as well as the low frequency climate modes on the different stages of the snow season. Our results show evidence that the measured snow amount differs considerably between the western and the eastern Catalan Pyrenees independently of the considered elevation. While the eastern part has an average seasonal cumulative HN of 278 cm, the western sector gets almost twice (433 cm). Nonetheless, the onset of the snow melting does not show substantial differences, being primarily ruled by the elevation in both areas. The longest snow records (Núria, 1971 m) point to an increase of HN from 1985 to 2020, a trend which is also observed in most stations from 2000 to 2020. Nevertheless, some stations of the N western fringe record negative trends associated with the low frequency variability of the Western Mediterranean Oscillation (WeMO). Results also indicate that the NW Atlantic low‐pressure systems are the circulation weather types that provide more abundant HN in the majority of snow stations. The Atlantic advections are more frequent in autumn and winter, while the Mediterranean advections provide more intense and recurrent HN in spring. The atmospheric circulation is basically ruled by the East Atlantic/West Russia and the WeMO teleconnection patterns.