Uneven global retreat of persistent mountain snow cover alongside mountain warming from ERA5-land

Abstract

Abstract The warming of mountains has become evident in recent years, with a mean global warming rate of 1.19 °C from 1979 to 2022. However, unveiling the global divergent decline of persistent mountain snow cover in the face of climate shifts remains unexplored. However, the global decline of persistent mountain snow cover due to climate change is not well understood. This study uses reanalysis and satellite data to examine changes in snow cover lasting over six months across our global mountain regions. We reveal a significant global mean decline of 7.79% in persistent snow cover over the past 44 years. The regional snow cover trends exhibit a heterogeneous and non-linear response to its regional warming rate. Our findings highlight the interplay between global warming and snow cover, emphasizing the need for sustainable development strategies to address the potential impacts of diminishing mountain snow.