Disappearing Winter Snowpack
Provided by: The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)|Published on: May 20, 2021|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences
Authors: Nick Bradford, The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF)
Location: North America > United States
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article explains how climate change has caused a decrease in snowpack in the western United States.
- Students will learn about the importance of snowpack to surrounding ecosystems, municipal water supplies, agriculture, and hydropower generation.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article analyzes the impacts of the reduced snowpack.
- The data and images provided in the article are great visuals to have students interpret and discuss.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand how hydropower works.
Differentiation & Implementation
- Science classes can use this article during a unit on the water cycle. Students could identify the different sources of water for drinking, power generation, and recreation.
- Teachers can ask students to think about the energy sources that are likely to replace hydropower if the snowpack continues to disappear. Students could discuss which of the alternative energy sources are sustainable.
- Math or science classes can use the map showing trends in snowpack in the Western US to discuss percent change. Teachers should reinforce the fact that positive percent change is in blue and that negative percent change is in red and explain what this means for snowpack trends.
- As an extension, have students use this interactive mapping tool to investigate changes in precipitation around the world and then come up with an action plan for adapting to this side effect of climate change.
Data showed a marked increase in natural gas usage in California (2012-2014), which raises a big concern to take immediate action to transition to clean-tech energy usage. The resource is recommended.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
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