Time Trends and Persistence in the Snowpack Percentages by Watershed in Colorado

In this paper we investigate the time trend coefficients in snowpack percentages by watershed in Colorado, US, allowing for the possibility of long range dependence or long memory processes. Nine series corresponding to the following watersheds are examined: Arkansas, Colorado, Gunnison, North Platte, Rio Grande, South Platte, San Juan-Animas-Dolores-San Miguel, Yampa & White and Colorado Statewide, based on annual data over the last eighty years. The longest series start in 1937 and all end in 2019. The results indicate that most of the series display a significant decline over time, showing negative time trend coefficients, and thus supporting the hypothesis of climate change and global warming. Nevertheless, there is no evidence of a long memory pattern in the data.