高空大气涛动现象与太阳活动的联系

本文根据全球高空10 hPa位势高度距平场EOF分析得知,存在于地面层大气中的南北向涛动现象~北极高空大气涛动和南极涛动,在高空大气中更为清楚,而且这种高空南北向涛动现象是波及全球的;存在于地面层大气中著名的纬向涛动现象~南方涛动(Southern Oscillation,SO)和北方涛动(North Oscillation,NO),在高空大气中则变得不甚清楚.表征北极高空大气涛动的第一模态与表征南极涛动的第二模态的方差贡献率分别为41.47%和27.04%,二者累积方差贡献率达到68.51%,构成了平流层高空大气年代际振荡的主要形式;另外还存在两半球对称性中高纬度南极涛动模态和两半球不对称性中高纬度南极涛动模态,是高空大气中出现概率比较小的振荡形式.谱分析表明,无论北极高空大气涛动模态、南极涛动模态还是中高纬度纬向涛动模态,都存在与太阳磁场磁性指数相一致的22年准周期变化以及与太阳黑子相对数相一致的11年准周期变化;采用逐次滤波法的滤波分析和对比分析表明,高空大气涛动现象的重要影响因子乃太阳活动,其中太阳磁场的大幅度涨落及其磁性变化是主要因素,太阳黑子相对数的变化为次要因素.     

淮河流域径流过程变化时空特征及成因

径流变化特征及成因研究对于农业灌溉、流域水资源配置与管理等具有重要理论与现实意义,而淮河流域是我国重要农业区,因而淮河流域径流过程特征及机理研究更突显其重要性.利用非参数Mann-Kendall趋势检验和小波转换等方法系统分析了淮河中上游息县、王家坝和蒋家集等9个水文站点径流资料,分析淮河流域中上游径流年内分配、年际变化、径流趋势、突变特征及周期变化等径流过程变化特征,并探讨了径流变化特征的成因.研究发现:(1)淮河中上游径流量主要集中于5-9月,约占年径流总量的70.37%,变差系数介于0.16~0.85之间,径流年际极值比则介于1.7~23.9之间,径流年际变化剧烈;(2)淮河中上游径流量整体呈下降趋势,尤其是4-5月径流下降趋势显著,季节变化不明显;(3)各站点年径流量在2000s呈显著周期变化,班台、王家坝、鲁台子和蚌埠站在该尺度上存在2.0~3.4 a尺度的小周期,息县、潢川和蒋家集站处于高能区.季节和汛期与非汛期的显著周期集中出现在1960s、1980s和2000s,1960s周期主要为2~8a.(4)潢川站年径流量对气候因子的响应最为明显,其对混合ENSO指数和太平洋中高纬年代际振荡指数(PDO)的响应分别通过了95%和99%的显著性检验.PDO对各站点月径流的直接影响最为显著,且主要集中在6月份,多呈显著负相关关系,以班台站最为显著,分别在1、4和6月通过了95%的显著性检验.南方涛动指数、北大西洋涛动指数和Nino3.4区海表温度距平指数(Nino3.4)对研究区月径流量的响应存在显著滞后性,Nino3.4对研究区月径流量滞后期的影响主要发生在潢川和蒋家集站,而北极涛动指数和PDO指数无滞后性响应.     

北极涛动低空大气环流特征及其与太阳活动的联系

通过北极涛动AO正负位相时期北半球1000 hPa月平均位势高度、位势高度距平和气温月距平图对比分析可知,北极区域异常增暖时期对应着AO负位相时期,而北极区域异常偏冷时期对应着AO正位相时期,说明北极区域气温异常变化是决定AO异常变化的重要因子.逐次滤波法分析可知,冬季1月北极涛动现象表现出十分清楚的与太阳活动密切联系的准110a世纪周期和准22a年代际周期,具体表现为：（1）冬季1月北极涛动现象具有十分清楚的与太阳活动密切联系的准110a世纪周期.准110a世纪周期对于北极涛动指数的方差贡献率达到44.4%,是冬季1月北极涛动现象最显著的世纪际变化特征.（2）谱分析结果表明,滤除准110a世纪周期变化以后的1月北极涛动指数具有显著的22a周期,其方差贡献率达到18.5%,乃仅次于准110a世纪周期之后北极涛动指数年代际变化重要特征.对比分析表明,太阳活动尤其是太阳磁场磁性指数变化与1月北极涛动22a周期变化呈密切的反相关关系,二者变化趋势基本相反,即多数情况当太阳磁性指数MI由最低值转为上升以后都可引起北极涛动AO由最高值转为下降;当太阳磁性指数MI由最高值转为下降以后都可引起北极涛动AO由最低值转为上升.综上所述,北极涛动的准110a世纪周期变化、22a年代际周期变化对于北极涛动方差贡献率达到62.9%,标志着太阳活动是北极涛动的重要驱动因子.     

淮河流域夏季降水的振荡特征及其与气候背景的联系

利用1922~2007年淮河流域和长江中下游夏季降水量资料,使用小波变换、广义极值分布等方法,分析了近86年来淮河流域夏季降水的年际、年代际振荡和概率分布特征.在此基础上,分析了东亚夏季风、太平洋海表温度及东亚遥相关环流等气候背景与淮河流域夏季降水年际和年代际振荡的联系.另外,还比较了淮河流域与长江中下游夏季降水年代际振荡特征及其气候背景的差异.结果表明：①淮河流域夏季降水存在显著的准2年振荡和年代际振荡特征.准2年振荡的强弱变化与年代际振荡强弱变化一致.20世纪90年代末以来,淮河流域夏季降水处在年代际偏多期,准2年振荡特征突出,极端强降水事件的概率亦显著增加;②淮河流域夏季降水年代际振荡与PDO及东亚夏季风年代际振荡关系密切,当PDO处于冷位相年代际阶段且东亚夏季风处于年代际偏弱时,淮河流域夏季降水呈年代际偏多趋势;③淮河流域夏季降水的准2年振荡主要受到东亚夏季风准2年振荡的控制,同时与东亚环流系统从高纬至低纬的＂＋,？,＋＂特定配置有关;④淮河流域与长江中下游夏季降水存在年代际位相差异,其差异主要与西太平洋副热带高压强度和位置的年代际变化有关.     

秋季北极海冰与欧亚冬季气温在年代际和年际尺度上的不同联系

北极海冰的急剧消融在近年来欧亚大陆频发的低温事件中扮演着关键角色.秋季北极海冰的偏少对应着冬季欧亚大陆的低温天气,然而二者的联系在年代际和年际两种时间尺度上存在显著区别.本文运用1979—2012年哈德莱中心第一套海冰覆盖率(HadISST1)、欧洲中心(ERA_Interim)的2m温度、风场、海平面气压场、高度场等资料,分别研究了年代际和年际时间尺度上前期秋季北极海冰与欧亚冬季气温的联系.结果表明,欧亚和北极地区(0°—160°E,15°N—90°N)的冬季气温具有显著的年代际和年际变化.在年代际尺度上,温度异常分布在21世纪初由北极冷-大陆暖转为北极暖-大陆冷.这一年代际转折与前期秋季整个北极地区的海冰年代际减少联系密切.秋季北极全区海冰年代际偏少对应冬季欧亚大陆中高纬地区的高压异常,有利于北大西洋的暖湿气流北上和北极的冷空气南侵,造成北极暖-大陆冷的温度分布;在年际时间尺度上,温度异常分布主要由第一模态的年际变化部分和第二模态组成,且第一模态包含的年际变率信号也存在显著的年代际变化.年际尺度上全区北极海冰对欧亚冬季气温的影响远不及位于北冰洋西南边缘的巴伦支海、喀拉海和拉普捷夫海西部(30°E—120°E,75°N—85°N)的关键区海冰影响显著.关键区内海冰的偏少会引发冬季的北大西洋涛动负位相,导致北大西洋吹往欧亚大陆的暖湿气流减弱和欧亚大陆中高纬地区的气温偏低.     

亚洲和北美干湿变化及其与海表温度异常的关系

利用多通道奇异谱方法（MSSA）分析了1953~2003年亚洲和北美Palmer干旱指数（PDSI）与热带和北半球温带海洋海表面温度异常（SSTA）的主要周期振荡特征及其相互联系.结果表明：亚洲和北美PDSI以及SSTA均存在明显的3~6年的年际以及10年左右的年代尺度振荡;此外,亚洲PDSI还存在显著的6~8年的年际振荡.SSTA的年际振荡主要体现了ENSO的变化特征,而其年代尺度振荡的空间分布具有热带太平洋和北太平洋共同作用的类ENSO型.同时,MSSA的分析结果给出了亚洲和北美主要振荡信号的时间和空间演变特征.相关性分析表明,亚洲和北美PDSI的年际及年代尺度振荡均显示明显的对SSTA强迫信号的响应.对于年际振荡,亚洲PDSI对SSTA响应强于北美,但年代尺度振荡则反之.此外,亚洲和北美PDSI对于SSTA信号响应的关键区域也随时间尺度的不同而发生变化.亚洲的西西伯利亚、青藏高原东西两侧以及中西伯利亚东部在年际和年代尺度上均为受SSTA影响最显著的区域;在年际尺度上,北美中部地区的干湿变化与SSTA存在显著相关,而在年代尺度上,美国西部更易受SSTA年代尺度振荡的影响.     

太平洋年代际振荡与南北半球际大气质量振荡及东亚季风的联系

众多研究表明,太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)与东亚季风以及我国气候的年代际异常存在显著影响,然而其影响途径及机制仍不明确.本文分别分析了年代际尺度上的太平洋年代际振荡(PDO)、南北半球际大气质量振荡(IHO)以及东亚季风的变化特征,据此建立了三者之间的关系,并进一步分析了它们对我国东部冬夏两季年代际气候异常的影响,所得主要结果包括:(1)PDO与IHO以及东亚季风强度具有明显的年代际波动特征,三者之间存在较好联系,其中它们在70年代和90年代后期处于负位相,而在80年代至90年代中期均处于正位相期.PDO和IHO对全球大范围的低层气温异常,以及大气质量迁移尤其是东半球30°S-50°N区域的质量变化具有显著并且空间一致的影响;(2)当PDO为正位相时,整层大气质量年代际异常呈偶极型的自东半球向西半球太平洋区域输出,造成了南北半球际以及海陆间大气质量迁移,同时引起Walker环流的上升和下沉支位置变化,以及越赤道大气质量流的向北异常输送,并由此建立起东亚季风与PDO和IHO之间的联系;(3)PDO年代际异常与冬夏季节蒙古地区地表气压变动存在密切联系.当PDO指数增强时,冬夏季850hPa均出现显著反气旋风场异常,并在我国东部形成异常北风,从而显著影响东亚冬夏季风强度变化.与之对应,PDO指数与我国东部大部分地区的站点气温、降水的年代际分量保持显著的同期相关.     

500 hPa高度场上两极和赤道位势高度气候演变规律的研究

本文运用近50 a来500 hPa层次上南极、赤道和北极位势高度以及南北半球西风指数的资料,分析了它们的时间演变规律及其相互间的关系.结果表明,南极位势高度显著下降;赤道位势高度显著上升.南极、赤道和北极位势高度都存在着显著的年际、年代际变化特征.总体上,南极位势高度与赤道位势高度有极其显著的负相关关系,北极与赤道的位势高度之间以及两极位势高度之间相关关系不显著;在共振的特定频率中,北极位势高度振荡落后于南极位势高度,赤道位势高度振荡又落后于两极位势高度振荡,气候变化最先开始的区域为南极地区.进一步分析表明,伴随着以上三个区域的位势高度趋势变化及其周期振荡,必然引起高空西风的增强与周期振荡.研究表明,南北两半球西风指数都存在显著的上升趋势,且存在显著的年代际变化特征.其中,南半球西风指数上升幅度较北半球大,其振荡落后于南极位势高度.     

FGOALS－g快速耦合模式模拟的北太平洋年代际变率

本文分析了由中国科学院大气物理研究所大气科学和地球流体力学数值模拟国家重点实验室（LASG/IAP）最新发展的FGOALS_－g快速耦合模式300 a积分模拟结果,通过与多种观测资料的对比分析,讨论了北太平洋年代际变率的时空结构、主要年代际模态的演变特征以及与ENSO的联系等研究内容. 结果表明：该模式能成功模拟出北太平洋年代际变率的主要空间分布特征;模拟的年代际模态具有多时间尺度性,其中最显著的是周期约为10～20 a左右的准20年振荡模态,该模态上层海洋热容量异常的演变过程主要表现为大致沿副热带海洋涡旋做海盆尺度顺时针旋转的特征,相应的大气异常不仅与阿留申低压的变异有关,而且与太平洋-北美PNA）遥相关型以及上游的欧亚大气环流异常有密切关系;模拟的北太平洋年代际变率对年际ENSO循环的发生频率和强度有明显的调制作用. 但模拟的KOE区和阿拉斯加湾SST异常振幅比观测偏强,这与模式海冰偏多、高纬度SST偏冷的误差有关.     

厄尔尼诺/南方涛动与赤道远西太平洋准两年周期振荡之间相互作用的概念模式

建立了一个反映厄尔尼诺/南方涛动(ENSO)与热带远西太平洋准两年振荡(QBOWP)相互作用最基本物理过程的新概念模式. 在此概念模式中, QBOWP对ENSO的影响通过两种途径: (1) 沿赤道太平洋海洋Kelvin波和 (2) 大气的Walker环流; 而ENSO对QBOWP的影响则可通过大气的Walker环流异常来实现. 对该模式结果的分析诊断表明: 在ENSO与QBOWP相互作用过程中, 大气桥(Walker环流)的作用比海洋桥(沿赤道太平洋的Kelvin波)更重要; 通过QBOWP与ENSO的相互作用, 一个3~5年周期的ENSO振荡可以变为准两年振荡, 而赤道远西太平洋年际变化的主要周期也会变长; 热带太平洋大气-海洋耦合系统的多时间尺度的年际变化可以通过ENSO与QBOWP的相互作用来实现.     

卫星遥感藏北积雪分布及影响因子分析

利用1993~2004年SSM/I被动微波辐射仪反演的雪深资料,1996~2004年NOAA/AVHRR可见光和红外反演的积雪覆盖面积资料,1966~2003年藏北地区6个地面台站的积雪观测资料来检验卫星资料的可用性,并研究近年来藏北积雪的时空分布和影响因素.结果表明,SSM/I, NOAA/AVHRR和实际观测的积雪资料具一致性.从积雪时间变化看：季节尺度上,藏北地区秋冬季积雪迅速增加,但春季(3~5月)融雪速度不快,呈现正反馈特征;年际尺度上,藏北地区20世纪60年代末期起积雪开始减少,80年代积雪增加,90年代起到2003年积雪总体上减少,呈现出减少—增加—减少趋势.采用小波分析发现积雪振荡周期存在着一个准2~3年,准9年和13年的周期,从20世纪70年代初到90年代中期还有一个5年的周期.积雪空间上看,藏北地区积雪主要集中在东部地区,该区每个冬春年积雪覆盖旬数超过15旬,显著高于西部少雪区,大部分积雪集中在4900~5600 m的高度左右;藏北高原积雪变动的显著区位于藏北中东部的安多和聂荣地区.利用藏北地区1966~2003年的地面温度和降水资料建立回归方程模拟年累积雪日,结果表明模拟值与实测值之间的相关系数达0.74.积雪时空分布受温度、降水等因子影响明显.1998~2003年藏北积雪的减少与全球变暖有关,但降水的减少可能是导致近年来藏北积雪减少的更主要因素.     

Frequency-specified EOF analysis and its application to Pacific decadal oscillation

A frequency-specified empirical orthogonal function (FSEOF) analysis is proposed in this study. The aim of FSEOF is to specify a prescribed-band of frequency in leading principal components with less information losing at the ends of the data, thus well characterizing the signals of interest. The FSEOF can well capture prescribed variability in leading modes, and has intrinsic merits in resolving frequency-related modes, especially those associated with low frequency oscillations. An application of the FSEOF to the tropical and northern Pacific sea surface temperature shows that this new method can successfully separate Pacific decadal oscillation (PDO) mode from the El Niño-Southern oscillation mode, and clearly detect all regime shifts of PDO in the past century.     

Sea level extremes in Marseille (NW Mediterranean) during 1885–2008

Sea level extremes and their temporal variability have been explored based on the hourly measurements at Marseille tide gauge for the period 1885–2008. A careful quality check has first been applied to the observations to ensure consistency of the record by eliminating outliers and datum shifts. Yearly percentiles have been used to investigate long-term trends of extremes revealing that secular variations in extremes are linked to mean sea level changes. The associated decadal changes show discrepancies between mean sea level trend and extreme fluctuations, due to the influence of the atmospheric forcing. A local regression model based on the generalized Pareto distribution has been applied to derive trends in return levels. The 50-years return levels reach values between 80 and 120 cm. The most significant changes in return levels are characterized by an increase since the 1970s.     

华北降水年代际变化特征及相关的海气异常型

利用近50年华北地区26个站逐月降水观测资料和全球大气海洋分析资料,分析了华北降水的年代际变化特征及其和全球海气系统年代际变化的关系.对华北降水距平指数变化分析表明,近50年来华北降水具有减少的总体趋势,叠加在该趋势之上的是年代际变化,其中1965年和1980年发生了两次跃变,使得20世纪80年代干旱尤为严重.在对华北地区降水年代际变化特征分析的基础上,揭示了与华北降水年代际异常相伴随的大气环流和上层海洋热力异常型.结果表明,华北降水年代际异常与太平洋上层海洋热力状况异常有显著关系,主要表现为太平洋年代际振荡（PDO）与华北降水异常的相关.在年代际时间尺度上,华北干旱与上层海洋热力及大气环流异常的配置关系如下：当华北地区干旱时,则热带中东太平洋海温偏高,北太平洋中部海温偏低,即太平洋上主要表现为PDO暖位相,全球大部分地区（包括华北地区）气温偏高,青藏高原地区气温偏低,日本北部及东西伯利亚气压异常偏低,华北及其以南大片地区气压偏高,华北地区由异常西北风控制,不利于水汽向华北地区输送.     

Analysing the influences of ENSO and PDO on water discharge from the Yangtze River into the sea

The El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) are two important climate oscillations that affect hydrological processes at global and regional scales. However, few studies have attempted to identify their single and combined influences on water discharge variability at multiple timescales. In this study, we examine temporal variation in water discharge from the Yangtze River into the sea and explore the influence of the ENSO and the PDO on multiscale variations in water discharge over the last century. The results of the wavelet transform analysis of the water discharge series show significant periodic variations at the interannual timescale of 2 to 8 years and the decadal timescale of 15 to 17 years. Water discharge tended to be higher during the La Niña–PDO cold phase and lower during the El Niño–PDO warm phase. The results of the cross wavelet spectrum and wavelet coherence analyses confirm the relationship between the interannual (i.e., 2 to 8 years) and decadal (i.e., 15 to 17 years) periodicities in water discharge with the ENSO and the PDO, respectively. As an important large‐scale climate background, the PDO can modulate the influence of the ENSO on water discharge variability. In general, the warm PDO enhances the influence of El Niño events, and the cold PDO enhances the influence of La Niña events. Our study is helpful in understanding the influencing mechanism of climate change on hydrological processes and provides an important scientific guideline for water resource prediction and management.     

Stratospheric wave activity and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation

Using the monthly mean NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and NOAA Extended Reconstructed sea surface temperature (SST) datasets, strong correlations between the SST anomalies in the North Pacific and calculated three-dimensional Eliassen–Palm vertical fluxes are indicated in December 1958–1976 and 1992–2006. These correlations between the interannual variations of the SST anomalies and the penetration of planetary waves into the stratosphere are much less during the decadal sub-period 1976–1992 in the positive phase of the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and the decadal cold SST anomalies in the North Pacific. Interannual variations of the polar jet in the lower stratosphere in January are strongly associated with SST anomalies in the Aleutian Low region in December for the years with positive PDO index. This sub-period corresponds well with that of the violation of the Holton–Tan relationship between the equatorial Quasi-Beinnial Oscillation (QBO) and the stratospheric circulation in the extra-tropics. It is shown that interannual and interdecadal variations of stratospheric dynamics, including stratospheric warming occurrences in January, depend strongly on changes of the upward propagation of planetary waves from the troposphere to the stratosphere over North Eurasia in preceding December. These findings give evidences of a large impact of the decadal SST variations in the North Pacific on wave activity in early winter due to changes of thermal excitation of planetary waves during distinct decadal periods. Possible causes of the decadal violation of the Holton–Tan relationship, its relation to the PDO and an influence of the 11-year solar cycle on the stratosphere are discussed.     

The northern annular mode in summer and its relation to solar activity variations in the GISS ModelE

The northern annular mode (NAM) has been successfully used in several studies to understand the variability of the winter atmosphere and its modulation by solar activity. The variability of summer circulation can also be described by the leading empirical orthogonal function (EOF) of geopotential heights. We compare the annular modes of the summer geopotential heights in the northern hemisphere stratosphere and troposphere in the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) ModelE with those in the National Centers for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis. In the stratosphere, the summer NAM obtained from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis as well as from the ModelE simulations has the same sign throughout the northern hemisphere, but shows greater variability at low latitudes. The patterns in both analyses are consistent with the interpretation that low NAM conditions represent an enhancement of the seasonal difference between the summer and the annual averages of geopotential height, temperature and velocity distributions, while the reverse holds for high NAM conditions. Composite analysis of high and low NAM cases in both model and observation suggests that the summer stratosphere is more “summer-like” when the solar activity is near a maximum. This means that the zonal easterly wind flow is stronger and the temperature is higher than normal. Thus increased irradiance favors a low summer NAM. A quantitative comparison of the anti-correlation between the NAM and the solar forcing is presented in the model and in the observation, both of which show lower/higher NAM index in solar maximum/minimum conditions. The temperature fluctuations in simulated solar minimum conditions are greater than in solar maximum throughout the summer stratosphere.The summer NAM in the troposphere obtained from NCEP/NCAR reanalysis has a dipolar zonal structure with maximum variability over the Asian monsoon region. The corresponding EOF in ModelE has a qualitatively similar structure but with less variability in the Asian monsoon region which is displaced eastward of its observed position. In both the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis and the GCM the negative anomalies associated with the NAM in the Euro-Atlantic and Aleutian island regions are enhanced in the solar minimum conditions, though the results are not statistically significant.     

Possible solar forcing of interannual and decadal stratospheric planetary wave variability in the northern hemisphere: An observational study

The variability of stratospheric planetary waves and their possible connection with the 11-year solar cycle forcing have been investigated using annual-mean temperatures for the period of 1958–2001 derived from two reanalysis data sets. The significant planetary waves (wavenumbers 1–3) can be identified in the northern mid-high latitudes (55–75°N) in the stratosphere using this data. Comparisons with satellite-retrieved products from the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) confirm the significant planetary wave variability seen in the reanalyses. A planetary wave amplitude index (PWAI) is defined to indicate the strength of the stratospheric planetary waves. The PWAI is derived from Fourier analysis of the temperature field for wavenumbers 1–3 and averaged over 55–75°N latitude and the 70–20 hPa layers. The results include two meaningful inter-annual oscillations (2- and 8-year) and one decadal trend (16-year) that was derived from wavelet analysis. The stratospheric temperature structure of the wave amplitudes appear associated with the Arctic Oscillation (AO) which explicitly changed with the PWAI. The temperature gradients between the polar and mid-high latitudes show opposite tendencies between the top-10 strong and weak wave regimes.The variation of the planetary wave amplitude appears closely related to the solar forcing during the recent four solar cycles (20–23). The peak of the 2-year oscillation occurs synchronously with solar minimum, and is consistent with the negative correlation between the PWAI and the observed solar UV irradiance. The UV changes between the maxima and minima of the 11-year solar cycle impact the temperature structure in the middle-lower stratosphere in the mid-high latitudes and hence influence the planetary waves. During solar maximum, the dominant influence appears to be exerted through changes in static stability, leading to a reduction in planetary wave amplitude. During solar minimum, the dominant influence appears to be exerted through changes in the meridional temperature gradient and vertical wind shear, leading to an enhancement of planetary wave amplitude.     

MODIS Terra Collection 6 fractional snow cover validation in mountainous terrain during spring snowmelt using Landsat TM and ETM+

Daily swath MODIS Terra Collection 6 fractional snow cover (MOD10_L2) estimates were validated with two‐day Landsat TM/ETM + snow‐covered area estimates across central Idaho and southwestern Montana, USA. Snow cover maps during spring snowmelt for 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007, and 2009 were compared between MODIS Terra and Landsat TM/ETM + using least‐squared regression. Strong spatial and temporal map agreement was found between MODIS Terra fractional snow cover and Landsat TM/ETM + snow‐covered area, although map disagreement was observed for two validation dates. High‐altitude cirrus cloud contamination during low snow conditions as well as late season transient snowfall resulted in map disagreement. MODIS Terra's spatial resolution limits retrieval of thin‐patchy snow cover, especially during partially cloudy conditions. Landsat's image acquisition frequency can introduce difficulty when discriminating between transient and resident mountain snow cover. Furthermore, transient snowfall later in the snowmelt season, which is a stochastic accumulation event that does not usually persist beyond the daily timescale, will skew decadal snow‐covered area variability if bi‐monthly climate data record development is the objective. As a quality control step, ground‐based daily snow telemetry snow‐water‐equivalent measurements can be used to verify transient snowfall events. Users of daily MODIS Terra fractional snow products should be aware that local solar illumination and sensor viewing geometry might influence fractional snow cover estimation in mountainous terrain. Cross‐sensor interoperability has been confirmed between MODIS Terra and Landsat TM/ETM + when mapping snow from the visible/infrared spectrum. This relationship is strong and supports operational multi‐sensor snow cover mapping, specifically climate data record development to expand cryosphere, climate, and hydrological science applications. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.