POLAR SNOW COVER CHANGES AND GLOBAL WARMING

Many general circulation models suggest that current precipitation amo unts in polar latitudes will increase under double CO2 scenarios. Even though temperatures in such high-latitude regions should also increas e under a doubling of CO2, as long as those temperatures remain below freezing, the increased precipitation should accumulate as snow. A stu dy of both current and double CO2 temperature and precipitation data f or all land areas poleward of 60 degrees latitude using three differen t general circulation models suggests possible changes in snow accumul ation due to increasing CO2. Increased snow accumulation will occur in the Antarctic whereas a small decrease in snow depth is to be expecte d in the Northern Hemisphere. Total snow accumulation for all land are as poleward of latitude 60 degrees is found to increase under a double CO2 scenario.