Editing Avalanche (section)

=== Impacts on avalanche type and frequency ===
Overall, a rising seasonal snow line and a decrease in the number of days with snow cover are predicted.<ref name="IPCC">{{Cite web |title=Chapter 2: High Mountain Areas – Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate |url=https://www.ipcc.ch/srocc/chapter/chapter-2/ |access-date=4 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Lazar-2010">{{Cite journal |last1=Lazar |first1=Brian |last2=Williams |first2=Mark W. |date=2010 |title=Potential Changes in the Frequency of Rain-On-Snow Events for U.S. Cascades Ski Areas As A Result of Climate Change: Projections for Mt Bachelor, Oregon in the 21st Century |url=https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/objects/ISSW_P-024.pdf |journal=2010 International Snow Science Workshop |language=en |pages=444–449}}</ref> Climate change-caused temperature increases and changes in precipitation patterns will likely differ between the different mountain regions,<ref name="IPCC" /> and the impacts of these changes on avalanches will change at different elevations. In the long term, avalanche frequency at lower elevations is expected to decline corresponding to a decrease in snow cover and depth, and a short-term increase in the number of wet avalanches are predicted.<ref name="IPCC" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Naaim |first1=Mohamed |last2=Eckert |first2=Nicolas |date=2 October 2016 |title=Decrease of Snow Avalanches Activity and Proliferation of Wet Snow Avalanches in French Alps Under Climate Warming |url=https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item/2461 |journal=International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA |language=en |pages=1319–1322}}</ref><ref name="Zeidler-2016">{{Cite journal |last1=Zeidler |first1=Antonia |last2=Stoll |first2=Elena |date=2 October 2016 |title=What Do We Know About the Impact on the Snowpack in a Changing Climate – a Work in Progress |url=https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item/2398 |journal=International Snow Science Workshop 2016 Proceedings, Breckenridge, CO, USA |language=en |pages=970–971}}</ref>

Precipitation is expected to increase, meaning more snow or rain depending on the elevation. Higher elevations predicted to remain above the seasonal snow line will likely see an increase in avalanche activity due to the increases in precipitation during the winter season.<ref name="Zeidler-2016" /><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Salzer |first1=Friedrich |last2=Studeregger |first2=Arnold |date=2010 |title=Climate Change in Lower Austria – A Snow Cover Analysis of the Last 100 Years With a Special Emphasis on the Last Century and the Impact of the Avalanche Situation in Lower Austria |url=https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item/400 |journal=2010 International Snow Science Workshop |language=en |pages=362–366}}</ref> Storm precipitation intensity is also expected to increase, which is likely to lead to more days with enough snowfall to cause the snowpack to become unstable. Moderate and high elevations may see an increase in volatile swings from one weather extreme to the other.<ref name="IPCC" /> Predictions also show an increase in the number of rain on snow events,<ref name="Lazar-2010" /> and wet avalanche cycles occurring earlier in the spring during the remainder of this century.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lazar |first1=Brian |last2=Williams |first2=Mark |date=2006 |title=Climate Change in Western Ski Areas: Timing of Wet Avalanches in Aspen Ski Area in the Years 2030 and 2100 |url=https://arc.lib.montana.edu/snow-science/item/1035 |journal=Proceedings of the 2006 International Snow Science Workshop, Telluride, Colorado |language=en |pages=899–906}}</ref>