산에 쌓인 눈 먹어삼키는, 새로운 폭염이 늘고 있다

New types of intense heatwaves are emerging, bringing heavy rainfall in mountainous areas. One such heatwave, dubbed "snow-eater heat" by researchers, is rapidly melting accumulated snow in high-altitude regions. This type of heatwave was found to have a significant impact on the water supply and flood risks in the western United States.

Researchers from the U.S. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory analyzed weather data from 1850 to 2015 and used algorithms to identify periods during the months of July through September when temperatures remained below freezing for at least three consecutive days. Such prolonged freezing periods prevent snow from melting, as it reflects sunlight and thus retains its cold properties.

Consequently, snow-eater heatwaves have led to a nearly doubling of snowfall in the affected areas, with some years experiencing up to five times less snow than usual. Moreover, seven out of eleven major spring floods in the U.S. West since 1950 occurred within five days of a snow-eater heatwave, indicating an increased risk of flooding and water scarcity.

As snow-eater heatwaves have become more frequent and earlier in onset since the 1950s, climate change is likely exacerbating the situation. Further research is needed to fully understand the extent of this phenomenon, but it is clear that similar events could occur in other regions as well.