Analisi della variabilità della precipitazione nevosa e della sua dipendenza dalla quota nella regione alpina

Snowfall is a key variable in the climate of mountainous regions and understanding its dynamics is crucial for the comprehension of the overall climate processes in these areas. This research focuses on analysing the spatio-temporal variability of snowfall and its elevation dependence in the European Alps over the period 1941-2022. The analysis compares snowfall values in two datasets: ERA5 reanalysis and HISTALP station-based gridded dataset. This thesis is divided into three sections: 1) climatological analysis, 2) time variability and 3) elevation dependence of trends. Results indicate increasing snowfall trends from the 40’s to the 80’s, followed by a subsequent decline until 2020. Furthermore, analysing the vertical stratification of trends during winter and spring from 1981 to 2010, elevation dependent patterns in the trends are found. The research provides valuable insights into the changing snowfall patterns in the European Alps. Such information is crucial for adapting to the changing snow conditions and mitigating the impacts of climate change in mountainous regions.