Forests' vanishing snow is also bad news for carbon storage

image via New Scientist

July 7, 2025, 8:00 PM

• •The loss of snow cover in temperate forests due to rising global temperatures is slowing their growth and reducing their carbon storage capacity.
• •Researchers found that removing snow and warming soil led to slower tree growth due to root damage from increased freeze-thaw cycles.
• •Models that don't account for winter climate change may overestimate future carbon storage in forests.
• •The study estimates that snowpack loss could reduce carbon storage by over one million tonnes per year in the Northeast US by the end of the century.

Climate change is causing significant snowpack loss in temperate forests, leading to slower tree growth and reduced carbon storage. Research indicates that forests with less snow experience more freeze-thaw cycles, damaging tree roots and hindering growth. Models that don't consider these winter changes may be overestimating the future carbon storage capacity of these forests. The anticipated loss of snowpack could significantly reduce carbon storage in the Northeast US, underscoring the importance of accounting for winter climate impacts.

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