Reanalysis-based contextualization of real-time snow cover monitoring from space
Simon Gascoin, Diego Monteiro, Samuel Morin
Abstract
Abstract Satellite remote sensing provides real-time information on the extent of the snow cover. However, the period of record is generally too short to build a reference climatology from these data alone, preventing their use as climatic indicators. Here we show that reanalysis data can be used to reconstruct a 30 year snow cover time series that fits well with the satellite observations. This climatology can then be used to put the current state of the snow cover into perspective. We implemented this approach to provide real-time information on the snow cover area in the Alps through a web application.
Topics & Concepts
Snow coverSnowSatelliteClimatologyCover (algebra)Environmental scienceContextualizationMeteorologyCurrent (fluid)Remote sensingComputer scienceGeographyGeologyInterpretation (philosophy)Aerospace engineeringOceanographyEngineeringMechanical engineeringProgramming languageCryospheric studies and observationsClimate variability and modelsMeteorological Phenomena and Simulations