Uncover Alberta’s Winter Miracle: The Surprising Savior for Struggling Farmers!

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Ezra Biyogo
West Island Community News Blog
December 28, 2024

This winter’s snowfall has brought relief to Alberta farmers who are welcoming the moisture after facing dry conditions last year. Scott Jespersen, vice-chair of Alberta Grains, highlighted the significance of this precipitation for crop and cattle production. John Pomeroy, a researcher from the University of Saskatchewan specializing in water resources, noted that although mountain snow levels are lower than usual for this time of year, the overall snowpack across much of the province remains above average.

Pomeroy explained the benefits of the snow, describing it as a valuable asset for farmers. As the snow melts, it will seep into the soil, promoting crop growth. This accumulation of snow acts like a savings account, providing essential resources for agriculture. Despite the positive outlook, Jespersen expressed hope for additional snowfall to further support agricultural efforts in the coming spring.

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The great thaw: Canada must lead climate change battle in a time of disappearing ice and snow

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John Pomeroy
The Hill Times
December 4, 2024

It is now time for Canadians to prepare for ‘cryospheric destruction’ and it is going to be a distressing experience. We must prepare for earlier, smaller, and less reliable snowmelt and, hence, less reliable river flows and lake levels that supply drinking water, irrigation water, hydropower, and cold-loving fish such as trout and salmon.

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Article: “The Great Divide: A snowflake’s journey through Alberta”

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The Great Divide: A snowflake’s journey through Alberta

By: Andrew Findlay

Mountain Life – Rocky Mountains – Winter 2025
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Snow Dome, rising on the edge of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, is a topographical anomaly. This icy, 3,456-metre monolith is what’s known as a hydrological apex because it perches at the junction of two landscape-defining continental features: the Great Divide and the Arctic Divide. Depending on what side of Snow Dome a snowflake falls, when it melts into a droplet of water it will flow into either the Arctic, Atlantic or Pacific Ocean…

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The Great Divide

Video: John Pomeroy Provides Keynote at COP29 Cryosphere Pavilion

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John Pomeroy provided a keynote at COP29 on the issues we face as we move from the International Year for Glaciers’ Preservation (2025) to the Decade of Action for the Cryospheric Sciences (2025-2034). The recording is available to watch below or on YouTube.

From the International Year of Glaciers Preservation to Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences

This event aims to launch a global call for bridging the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation 2025 and the Decade of Action for Cryospheric Sciences 2025-2034. Leveraging the momentum from 2025 to build a solid foundation for the Decade, the event will focus on scientific collaboration, policy integration, and community actions. Further discussions will center on raising the profile of science and advancing scientific research to tackle cryosphere-related challenges globally. It will highlight the critical role of glaciers and the cryosphere in climate regulation, water resources, and sustainable development while emphasizing the urgent need for action.