A Few Reasons Why It’s Still Snowing, Despite Global Warming
While global warming has made snowfall more difficult to expect in recent years, there are still plenty of reasons why it’s still snowing. For one thing, snow is simply harder to melt. The warmer it gets, the more moisture is locked up in the form of ice and water vapor. This makes for heavier snowfalls. Even though we’re not supposed to expect much from global warming, scientists are still finding new ways that this changing climate is impacting our weather.
Climate Change is Making Snowfall Worse
Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, humans have been converting more and more land for agriculture. This has caused global warming which has led to more moisture in the air. This moisture is held in the form of precipitation which is then released as snow. This leads to heavier snowfalls. However, with the current level of greenhouse gas emissions, there’s even more water storage in the atmosphere. This means that snowfalls may actually get less due to global warming.
Air Quality and Snowfall
Colder air can hold more moisture, which is why it’s able to snowier air is able to hold less moisture. This can lead to less snow in a given area. In areas where the air is less dense, there’s less snow. So, in areas where there’s less snow, less moisture is available for freezing. This means that there’s less friction, therefore less slowing down of the air, which allows for less snow. This means less potential for heavy snowfall.
More Humidity and Colder Nights
Colder nights make for more chance of snow. This is because the heart cooler night air is less dense and therefore able to rise. Once it reaches a high altitude, it’s cooled down and condensation occurs which forms snowdrifts. Hotter nights allow for more melting which leads to less snowfall.
Global Warming May Lead to Fewer Blizzards
While it’s impossible to know for sure, it’s likely that global warming will lead to less frequent and less intense tropical cyclones which are responsible for most of the heavy precipitation in the oceans. This may result in fewer heavy-duty blizzards.
It’s important to remember that while heavy snowfall is often a result of global warming, there are also other factors involved such as weather patterns and changes in land use. The risk of flooding, for instance, is directly related to the amount of rainfall. It’s possible that changes in land use could lead to less rainfall in areas that experience frequent flooding.
While global warming has led to slightly less snowfall in recent years, it’s important to remember that this is just one factor that is playing into our weather. There are still plenty of other things that are keeping snowfall high in many areas. There may even be a few things that are keeping snowfall low. There’s no way to know for certain but it’s worth keeping an eye on the changes in our weather to see if we can predict whether or not it will be snowing this year. Looking ahead, it’s important to remember that climate change is not a myth. It’s happening right now. And while we can’t predict the weather beyond a few months, we can do our best to prepare for the changes that are coming.