ABSTRACT

Glacial and snow melt in the Wind River Range, Wyoming feed headwaters for the Missouri and Colorado River Systems, covering much of the western United States. Identifying the factors that have the greatest impact on snow and ice melt is important to managing the water resources in this region. This study examined snow and ice albedo, summer temperature and precipitation, and winter precipitation as potential significant factors related to snow and ice area changes. The Mann–Kendall statistical test was used to analyze changes in surface albedo on snow and ice over time (1985 to 2016) as derived from Landsat imagery among 5 basins in the Wind River Range. As well, a stepwise regression analysis was utilized in determining the significance of albedo along with summer mean temperature, total summer precipitation, and total winter precipitation in predicting snow and ice area. Among all the variables, albedo was found to have the greatest significance in relation to snow and ice area change. The significance of albedo on snow and ice melting in the Wind River Range is likely due to a positive feedback effect coupled with possible effects from annual increases in particulates from forest fires and fossil fuel production.

摘要

怀俄明州风河山脉的冰川和积雪融化为密苏里河和科罗拉多河系统的源头提供水源，覆盖了美国西部的大部分地区。确定对冰雪融化影响最大的因素对于管理该地区的水资源非常重要。这项研究将雪和冰反照率、夏季温度和降水以及冬季降水作为与雪和冰面积变化相关的潜在重要因素进行了研究。Mann-Kendall 统计检验用于分析雪和冰表面反照率随时间（1985 年至 2016 年）的变化，这些变化源自风河山脉 5 个盆地的 Landsat 图像。此外，还利用逐步回归分析来确定反照率与夏季平均气温、夏季总降水量、和冬季总降水量来预测冰雪面积。在所有变量中，发现反照率对冰雪面积变化的影响最大。反照率对风河山脉冰雪融化的重要性可能是由于正反馈效应以及森林火灾和化石燃料生产产生的颗粒物每年增加的可能影响。