A new study found that snow melts faster on sunny slopes burned by wildfire. Scientists with Colorado State University say snowpack on south-facing slopes reached its peak more than 20 days earlier than north-facing slopes.
They usually get more sun, but the impact is more intense where shady trees are all gone.
“We’re seeing that melt is also faster. It’s beginning earlier, so downstream water managers might see water earlier. It’s going to be harder to predict,” said Wyatt Reis, the study’s lead author.
Those south-facing slopes saw their snow disappear 11 days earlier than north-facing ones. Reis says those changes make it harder to predict how much water will end up in rivers and the supply for people and plants.
More water news
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On Sept. 8, KJZZ water reporter Alex Hager presented your questions and concerns to a panel of experts.
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