Interannual Variability in Reconstructed Canadian Snow Cover, 1915–1992

Abstract

Abstract Seasonal snow cover information over southern Canada was reconstructed from daily snowfall and maximum temperature data back to 1915 using a simple mass balance approach with snowmelt estimated via a calibrated temperature index method. The reconstruction method was able to account for 70%–80% of the variance in annual snow cover duration (SCD) over most of southern Canada for the 1955–1992 calibration period. The data were used to construct regional SCD anomaly series in four regions spanning the continent. The regional SCD series were characterized by high interannual variability, with most of the variance concentrated at periods less than 5 years. Spring (MAM) snow cover variability was characterized by a prominent spectral peak with a period of approximately 4 years, which appeared to be linked to tropical Pacific sea surface temperature variability. There was no evidence of statistically significant long-term trends in snow cover in any of the regions, but the data suggested that winter (DJF...