Abstract
The decrease of snow water equivalent(SWE) due to global warming was analyzed in basins with different elevations in Niigata prefecture. Data of 1979/80 through 2007/08 and the condition of 2 degrees Celsius rise in air temperature corresponding to the rise for 50 years in this area, were used. It shows that snowfall decreases, snowmelt increases during the coldest period, consequently SWE decreases and those tendencies are strong in lower elevation. It also shows that the most decreasing snowfall occurs around 0 m elevation, the snowfall of 822mm decreases to 269mm and decreasing amount reaches to 553mm or 67%. This is because the largest reduction of snowfall period occurs around 0 m. Therefore SWE decreases excessively in warm snow-covered area by global warming.
