Zheng et al. (2025) Spatiotemporal variation of snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau based on the MODIS fractional snow cover product: 2000–2023

Identification

• Journal: Journal of Hydrology
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-10-28
• Authors: Yifei Zheng, Lingmei Jiang, Fangbo Pan, Cheng Zhang, Jinmei Pan, Jiancheng Shi
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134474

Research Groups

• State Key Laboratory of Remote Sensing and Digital Earth, Faculty of Geographical Science, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
• National Space Science Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China

Short Summary

This study investigates the spatiotemporal variations of snow cover and its climatic responses across the Tibetan Plateau from 2000 to 2023 using MODIS fractional snow cover data, revealing a widespread decline in snow cover driven by distinct temperature and precipitation factors across different circulation regimes.

Objective

• To systematically investigate the long-term spatiotemporal variations in snow cover and its climatic responses across the entire Tibetan Plateau, as well as within its westerly domain, monsoon domain, and transitional regions, utilizing fractional snow cover data to accurately capture snow dynamics.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Tibetan Plateau (TP), including its westerly domain, monsoon domain, and transitional regions.
• Temporal Scale: 2000–2023 (24 years).

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Mann–Kendall test, Theil–Sen estimation.
• Data sources: Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) daily fractional snow cover (FSC) product.

Main Results

• A widespread decline in snow cover was observed across the Tibetan Plateau.
• The fractional snow cover (FSC) decreased at a rate of −0.71 ± 0.44 % per decade.
• The snow cover area (SCA) decreased by −8271 ± 1948 km² per decade.
• In westerly regions, decreasing FSC was primarily driven by temperature increases.
• In monsoon regions, decreasing FSC was more strongly influenced by reduced precipitation.
• Over 64 % of the plateau experienced a significant shortening of stable snow cover (p < 0.05).
• The 5000–6000 m elevation band showed the strongest sensitivity, mainly due to an increased number of days above 0 °C (r = −0.74) and strong snow–albedo feedback (r = 0.83).

Contributions

• Provides a systematic investigation of long-term spatiotemporal snow cover variations and their climatic responses across different circulation regimes and elevation bands on the Tibetan Plateau using fractional snow cover data, which offers higher accuracy than traditional binary products.
• Highlights the distinct spatial variability in the responses of snow to climate drivers (temperature vs. precipitation) across different atmospheric circulation regimes.
• Offers quantitative support for improved hydrological modeling and water resource forecasting under ongoing climate change in the region.

Funding

• Not specified in the provided text.

Citation

@article{Zheng2025Spatiotemporal,
  author = {Zheng, Yifei and Jiang, Lingmei and Pan, Fangbo and Zhang, Cheng and Pan, Jinmei and Shi, Jiancheng},
  title = {Spatiotemporal variation of snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau based on the MODIS fractional snow cover product: 2000–2023},
  journal = {Journal of Hydrology},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134474},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2025.134474}
}