Radiative impacts of a compound dust-and-rain-on-snow event in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Authors

• Alden Adolph, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Ben Kopec, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Shawn Brueshaber, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Ana Dyreson, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• David B. Wallis, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Nathaniel Miller, College of Engineering
• Katie Wing, College of Engineering
• Sam Hotchkiss, College of EngineeringFollow
• Cora Mullins, College of EngineeringFollow

Document Type

Letter to the Editor

Publication Date

10-1-2026

Department

Department of Engineering Fundamentals; Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; Great Lakes Research Center

Abstract

Dust deposition and rain on snow events can significantly alter surface albedo and drive melt processes. When combined, they can become a powerful catalyst of rapid meltwater generation. A unique coupled dust and rain-on-snow (ROS) event in March 2025 with dust sourced from the Central and Southern US Plains substantially altered the surface energy balance of snow in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Using a combination of field-based observations (spectral snow albedo, liquid water content, and snow depth) and radiative transfer modeling, we analyze the impact of this unique event on snowpack evolution. At the onset of rainfall, the broadband albedo dropped rapidly, starting at 0.65 prior to the event and reaching as low as 0.52 prior to fresh snowfall. When the dust-laden surface was exposed, we determined that the added radiative forcing due to dust presence could result in an additional melt of 4.5–7.8 mm water equivalent/day above expectation under observed ambient conditions. The peak radiative forcing of 105 W m⁻² is comparable to other major dust events in the European Alps, which have similarly distant dust sources. To our knowledge, these are the first reported measurements of the radiative impacts of these dusty ROS events. As dust sources become more prevalent, this type of event may become more common around the globe. Even if short lived, the potential for rapid snowmelt enhanced by these events can cause flooding and hazards for infrastructure and are therefore important to understand for risk mitigation.

Publisher's Statement

© 2026 The Author(s). Published by IOP Publishing Ltd. Publisher’s version of record: 10.1088/1748-9326/aea7b5

Publication Title

Environmental Research Letters

Recommended Citation

Adolph, A., Kopec, B., Brueshaber, S., Dyreson, A., Wallis, D. B., Miller, N., Wing, K., Hotchkiss, S., & Mullins, C. (2026). Radiative impacts of a compound dust-and-rain-on-snow event in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Environmental Research Letters, 21(19). http://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aea7b5
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/3063

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Version

Publisher's PDF