PL
We are all familiar with the images from Christmas cards of children making a snowman, throwing snowballs at each other or sledging on Christmas Eve morning. However, these drawings have long ceased to reflect reality. In recent years, snow at Christmas has become something exceptional, unheard of. It is all due to climate change. How does it affect the environment during winter?
One of the most significant consequences of climate change is changes in the hydrological cycle, which regulates the flow of water through the atmosphere, the earth’s surface and its deeper layers. The increase in average temperatures around the world is causing a number of transformations in this natural process, which has a direct impact on snowfall and the overall availability of water. One of the main effects of the increase in temperature is the intensification of water evaporation from the surface of the seas, rivers, lakes and soil. Warm air increases the atmosphere’s ability to retain water in the form of vapor, which causes water to evaporate faster and in larger quantities before it has time to condense in clouds and turn into precipitation.
In addition, climate change is also causing an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts. Long periods without rain lead to a decrease in atmospheric moisture, which reduces the amount of water available to form precipitation. In places where winters used to be abundant in snow, droughts and a lack of atmospheric moisture may make this occurrence less frequent. As a result, even if temperatures are favorable for snowfall, the lack of adequate water vapor in the atmosphere may limit its formation.
Climate change is also leading to an increase in the average annual temperature. Winters are becoming warmer all over the world, and frost does not occur for more than a few days. As a result, it is becoming less and less common to see a crust of snow that covers the ground for weeks. Instead, we have a few centimeters of snow that disappear after a short time due to higher temperatures. This is particularly noticeable in regions that are not naturally adapted to maintaining a snow cover for a long time.
We must also pay attention to the change in the intensity and frequency of precipitation. The patterns that were once familiar to us, thanks to which we could predict when we could expect the most snow and rain, are becoming less and less helpful. It is not only the amount of precipitation that is changing, but in many regions its distribution is also changing. Snowfall is becoming less and less predictable and common. On the other hand, we can observe more intense but short-lived rainfall more often.
Other noticeable effects of climate change are a shorter snow season and the phenomenon of “wet” snow. As a result of rising temperatures, especially in the pre-holiday period, snow is becoming less and less likely to last for long periods of time. The season in which atmospheric conditions are conducive to snowfall is becoming shorter, and snow may melt quickly or not occur at all. However, if it does occur, we may be dealing with so-called “wet” snow, i.e. a change in its structure. Instead of dry, fluffy snow, we can increasingly experience heavy snow, which is more susceptible to melting, which affects the quality of the snow cover.
Due to all the changes mentioned above, we can observe an increase in the frequency of extreme weather phenomena. The climate is becoming increasingly variable, and extremes – such as heavy rainfall, long-term droughts and rapid changes in temperature – can affect the instability of atmospheric conditions in winter and beyond. It is known that the area of snow cover is decreasing worldwide. As a result of climate change, glaciers are disappearing and snow-covered areas are shrinking in mountainous regions, where snow was once an almost certain phenomenon in winter. This could impact the global snowpack and availability.
Climate change is changing our perceptions of winter and Christmas. The tradition of a white Christmas, which has been a symbol of winter for centuries, could eventually fade. Water shortages and changing weather patterns could mean that in many regions, there will be fewer opportunities to celebrate the holidays with a blanket of snow during the Christmas period.
