Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world

N. Pepin; R. S. Bradley; H. F. Diaz; M. Baraer; E. B. Caceres; N. Forsythe; H. Fowler; G. Greenwood; M. Z. Hashmi; X. D. Liu; J. R. Miller; L. Ning; A. Ohmura; E. Palazzi; I. Rangwala; W. Schöner; I. Severskiy; M. Shahgedanova; M. B. Wang; S. N. Williamson; D. Q. Yang

doi:10.1038/nclimate2563

Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world

N. Pepin, R. S. Bradley, H. F. Diaz, M. Baraer, E. B. Caceres, N. Forsythe, H. Fowler, G. Greenwood, M. Z. Hashmi, X. D. Liu, J. R. Miller, L. Ning, A. Ohmura, E. Palazzi, I. Rangwala, W. Schöner, I. Severskiy, M. Shahgedanova, M. B. Wang, S. N. WilliamsonD. Q. Yang

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Abstract

There is growing evidence that the rate of warming is amplified with elevation, such that high-mountain environments experience more rapid changes in temperature than environments at lower elevations. Elevation-dependent warming (EDW) can accelerate the rate of change in mountain ecosystems, cryospheric systems, hydrological regimes and biodiversity. Here we review important mechanisms that contribute towards EDW: snow albedo and surface-based feedbacks; water vapour changes and latent heat release; surface water vapour and radiative flux changes; surface heat loss and temperature change; and aerosols. All lead to enhanced warming with elevation (or at a critical elevation), and it is believed that combinations of these mechanisms may account for contrasting regional patterns of EDW. We discuss future needs to increase knowledge of mountain temperature trends and their controlling mechanisms through improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing and model simulations.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	424-430
Journal	Nature Climate Change
Volume	5
Issue number	5
Early online date	23 Apr 2015
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2563
Publication status	Published - May 2015

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MTNCLIM 14
Nick Pepin (Invited speaker)
14 Sept 2014 → 18 Sept 2014
Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Participation in workshop, seminar, course

High mountains warming faster
Nick Pepin
23/04/15
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Pepin, N., Bradley, R. S., Diaz, H. F., Baraer, M., Caceres, E. B., Forsythe, N., Fowler, H., Greenwood, G., Hashmi, M. Z., Liu, X. D., Miller, J. R., Ning, L., Ohmura, A., Palazzi, E., Rangwala, I., Schöner, W., Severskiy, I., Shahgedanova, M., Wang, M. B., ... Yang, D. Q. (2015). Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world. Nature Climate Change, 5(5), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2563

@article{b5de36da323a4abcb0011d1f23a1271b,

title = "Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world",

abstract = "There is growing evidence that the rate of warming is amplified with elevation, such that high-mountain environments experience more rapid changes in temperature than environments at lower elevations. Elevation-dependent warming (EDW) can accelerate the rate of change in mountain ecosystems, cryospheric systems, hydrological regimes and biodiversity. Here we review important mechanisms that contribute towards EDW: snow albedo and surface-based feedbacks; water vapour changes and latent heat release; surface water vapour and radiative flux changes; surface heat loss and temperature change; and aerosols. All lead to enhanced warming with elevation (or at a critical elevation), and it is believed that combinations of these mechanisms may account for contrasting regional patterns of EDW. We discuss future needs to increase knowledge of mountain temperature trends and their controlling mechanisms through improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing and model simulations.",

author = "N. Pepin and Bradley, {R. S.} and Diaz, {H. F.} and M. Baraer and Caceres, {E. B.} and N. Forsythe and H. Fowler and G. Greenwood and Hashmi, {M. Z.} and Liu, {X. D.} and Miller, {J. R.} and L. Ning and A. Ohmura and E. Palazzi and I. Rangwala and W. Sch{\"o}ner and I. Severskiy and M. Shahgedanova and Wang, {M. B.} and Williamson, {S. N.} and Yang, {D. Q.}",

year = "2015",

month = may,

doi = "10.1038/nclimate2563",

language = "English",

volume = "5",

pages = "424--430",

journal = "Nature Climate Change",

issn = "1758-678X",

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Pepin, N, Bradley, RS, Diaz, HF, Baraer, M, Caceres, EB, Forsythe, N, Fowler, H, Greenwood, G, Hashmi, MZ, Liu, XD, Miller, JR, Ning, L, Ohmura, A, Palazzi, E, Rangwala, I, Schöner, W, Severskiy, I, Shahgedanova, M, Wang, MB, Williamson, SN & Yang, DQ 2015, 'Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world', Nature Climate Change, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 424-430. https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2563

TY - JOUR

T1 - Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world

AU - Pepin, N.

AU - Bradley, R. S.

AU - Diaz, H. F.

AU - Baraer, M.

AU - Caceres, E. B.

AU - Forsythe, N.

AU - Fowler, H.

AU - Greenwood, G.

AU - Hashmi, M. Z.

AU - Liu, X. D.

AU - Miller, J. R.

AU - Ning, L.

AU - Ohmura, A.

AU - Palazzi, E.

AU - Rangwala, I.

AU - Schöner, W.

AU - Severskiy, I.

AU - Shahgedanova, M.

AU - Wang, M. B.

AU - Williamson, S. N.

AU - Yang, D. Q.

PY - 2015/5

Y1 - 2015/5

N2 - There is growing evidence that the rate of warming is amplified with elevation, such that high-mountain environments experience more rapid changes in temperature than environments at lower elevations. Elevation-dependent warming (EDW) can accelerate the rate of change in mountain ecosystems, cryospheric systems, hydrological regimes and biodiversity. Here we review important mechanisms that contribute towards EDW: snow albedo and surface-based feedbacks; water vapour changes and latent heat release; surface water vapour and radiative flux changes; surface heat loss and temperature change; and aerosols. All lead to enhanced warming with elevation (or at a critical elevation), and it is believed that combinations of these mechanisms may account for contrasting regional patterns of EDW. We discuss future needs to increase knowledge of mountain temperature trends and their controlling mechanisms through improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing and model simulations.

AB - There is growing evidence that the rate of warming is amplified with elevation, such that high-mountain environments experience more rapid changes in temperature than environments at lower elevations. Elevation-dependent warming (EDW) can accelerate the rate of change in mountain ecosystems, cryospheric systems, hydrological regimes and biodiversity. Here we review important mechanisms that contribute towards EDW: snow albedo and surface-based feedbacks; water vapour changes and latent heat release; surface water vapour and radiative flux changes; surface heat loss and temperature change; and aerosols. All lead to enhanced warming with elevation (or at a critical elevation), and it is believed that combinations of these mechanisms may account for contrasting regional patterns of EDW. We discuss future needs to increase knowledge of mountain temperature trends and their controlling mechanisms through improved observations, satellite-based remote sensing and model simulations.

U2 - 10.1038/nclimate2563

DO - 10.1038/nclimate2563

M3 - Article

SN - 1758-678X

VL - 5

SP - 424

EP - 430

JO - Nature Climate Change

JF - Nature Climate Change

IS - 5

ER -

Elevation-dependent warming in mountain regions of the world

Abstract

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