Dust impacts on snow

Abstract

The lecture will focus on the identification of the different interactions of dust with snow cover. By darkening the snow surface, mineral dust and black carbon deposition enhances snowmelt and triggers numerous feedback. The presentation will review the impacts of Saharan dust on snow cover over the Alps and the Pyrenees. It is based on recent studies and combines field and lab measurements, satellite remote sensing, numerical modeling and citizen science. The presentation will cover the wide impacts of orange snow, from ski resorts, to hydro-power and mountain ecosystems.