Identifying dust sources and dust transport mechanisms contributing to dust-on-snow events in the Rocky Mountains: Implications for management and restoration

Authors: DHITAL, SAROJ - New Mexico State University; Webb, Nicholas; EDWARDS, BRANDON - New Mexico State University; McCord, Sarah; KAPLAN, MICHAEL - Desert Research Institute

Submitted to: Society for Ecological Restoration Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2025
Publication Date: 10/4/2025
Citation: Dhital, S., Webb, N.P., Edwards, B., McCord, S.E., Kaplan, M.L. 2025. Identifying dust sources and dust transport mechanisms contributing to dust-on-snow events in the Rocky Mountains: Implications for management and restoration. Society for Ecological Restoration Abstracts. Abstract.

Interpretive Summary: Every year dust transported from regionally active dust sources in the Southwest results in multiple dust-on-snow events in the Rocky Mountains snowpack. These dust-on-snow events change the life cycle of snow, accelerate snowmelt, and alter the hydrologic cycle in the Colorado River Basin and Rio Grande Basin, affecting regional agriculture, ecosystems, and more than 40 million people in the Southwest. Identifying dust sources contributing to dust-on-snow events and predicting the effect of dust on snowmelt and the water cycle in these river basins is important to mitigate the effect of dust on snowmelt and support water resource management across the Southwest where the communities and agriculture face critical water shortages. Here we present 1) our ongoing research to understand the dust sources contributing to dust-on-snow events and 2) how different available datasets and tools, including the Rangeland Analysis Platform, a regional weather forecasting models and the Aeolian EROsion model, can be used to identify dust sources and provide valuable information to support restoration efforts to mitigate the effect of dust on snowmelt, water resources, and agriculture.

Technical Abstract: Every year dust transported from regionally active dust sources in the US Southwest results in multiple dust-on-snow events in the Rocky Mountains. Dust-on-snow is a growing concern for resource managers because it significantly changes the life cycle of snow, accelerates snowmelt, and alters the hydrologic cycle of the Colorado River and Rio Grande Basins, affecting regional agriculture, ecosystems, and more than 40 million people living in the Southwest. Studies have shown that dust-on-snow radiative forcing influences snowmelt more than increasing air temperatures. As a result, identifying regionally active dust sources and mechanisms of dust transport to snowpack are important to mitigate negative impacts and support water resource management across the Southwest where communities and agriculture face critical water shortages. However, most research has focused on impacts to snowmelt timing and down-basin effects, and models are yet to capture the complete life cycle of dust on snow, including dust emissions and transport. This is a critical knowledge gap the scientific community needs to address to provide early warnings to water resource managers. Here, we present highlights of our ongoing research seeking to understand dust source dynamics and dust transport mechanisms—critical components for dust-on-snow modeling. We show how available datasets and tools, including the Rangeland Analysis Platform, Weather Research and Forecasting with Chemistry Model, and the Aeolian EROsion (AERO) model can be used to identify dust sources contributing to dust-on-snow and provide critical information to support restoration efforts to mitigate dust emissions and dust impacts on regional hydrology and agriculture.