Articles | Volume 13, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-21-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-21-2019
Brief communication
 | 
03 Jan 2019
Brief communication |  | 03 Jan 2019

Brief Communication: Early season snowpack loss and implications for oversnow vehicle recreation travel planning

Benjamin J. Hatchett and Hilary G. Eisen

Data sets

SNOTEL Historic Data United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service https://wcc.sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/tabget

Download
Short summary
We examine the timing of early season snowpack relevant to oversnow vehicle (OSV) recreation over the past 3 decades in the Lake Tahoe region (USA). Data from two independent data sources suggest that the timing of achieving sufficient snowpack has shifted later by 2 weeks. Increasing rainfall and more dry days play a role in the later onset. Adaptation strategies are provided for winter travel management planning to address negative impacts of loss of early season snowpack for OSV usage.