The CryosphereError Analysis for Global Snow-Cover Mapping in the Earth Observation System (EOS) EraDerived preliminary maximum snow-mapping errors according to land-cover typeMaximum expected preliminary errors (in %), by month, in Northern Hemisphere snow mapping using EOS/MODIS data.MOD10C2 Snow ProductSSD Snow and Ice ProgramNimbus-7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthNimbus-7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthGreenland Mean July Surface TemperaturePassive Microwave Wet-Snow DetectionPassive Microwave Satellite Data as proxy Climate Change DetectorThese three radar images show a comparison of measurements of the Greenland ice sheet made by the Seasat Scatterometer (SASS) Melt maps on summer solstice day in 2000-2003 show extensive melt in 2003 Melt maps on 1 August in 2000-2003 show melt conditions at climatological peak melt day CharacteristicsAntenna and Swath GeometryKey Radar ParametersKey Preliminary Radiometer Parameters3 days repeat cycle3 days repeat cycle6 days repeat cycle6 days repeat cycle9 days repeat cycle9 days repeat cycleGlobal Snow CoverAssessment and Review of Satellite DataGlobal Snow CoverGlobal Snow CoverAssessment and Review of Satellite DataAssessment and Review of Satellite Data1. Visible Channels – AVHRR, OLS, MODIS, LANDSAT, SPOT2. Passive Microwave Data – SMMR, SSM/I, AMSR3. Active Microwave – SAR, RADARSAT, QuikScat4. Aircraft Missions – CLPXThe CryosphereThe CryosphereArea [106km2]Volume[106km3]Volume[relative]Ice Sheets 14.8 28.8 600Ice Shelves 1.4 0.5 10Sea Ice 23.0 0.05 1Snow 45.0 0.0025 0.05MODIS bands 1,4,3 RGB true color image of New Zealand on the 15th of June 2002.MODIS bands 1,4,3 RGB true color image of Svalbard on the 12th of July 2002.Smoke from the Saskatchewan fires in Canada can be seen on the right side of this image.MODIS bands 1,4,3 RGB true color image of Greenland on the 7th of July 2002.Atmospheric Water VaporBandsMODIS GLOBAL SNOW COVER ANIMATION 2002 - 2002Error Analysis for Global SnowError Analysis for Global Snow--Cover Mapping Cover Mapping in the Earth Observation System (EOS) Erain the Earth Observation System (EOS) Era¾ The errors are found primarily in land covers composed of forests. ¾ Maximum monthly snow-mapping errors are expected to range from 5 - 9% for North America, and from 5 - 10% for Eurasia. ¾ The largest errors are expected when snow coverage in the Boreal Forest is greatest. ¾ The maximum aggregated snow-mapping error for the Northern Hemisphere is expected to be about 7.5%. Error estimates will be refined after the first full year that MODIS data are available.Following the launch of the Earth Observing System (EOS) satellite platform, daily, global snow-cover mapping will be performed automatically at a spatial resolution of 500 m using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. In order to estimate the accuracy of the MODIS snow maps, the Northern Hemisphere was divided into 7 land-cover classes and water, and expected errors in mapping snow were calculated for each of the 7 classes using the average monthly snowline position.North America Land CoverEurasia Land CoverDerived preliminary maximum snowDerived preliminary maximum snow--mapping mapping errors according to landerrors according to land--cover typecover typeLand-Cover Type Error (%)Forests 15Mixed agriculture and forest 10Barren/sparely-vegetated 5Tundra 5Grassland/shrubland 5Wetlands 5 Snow/ice 5Maximum expected preliminary errors (in %), by month, in Northern Hemisphere snow mapping using EOS/MODIS data.Maximum expected preliminary errors (in %), by month, Maximum expected preliminary errors (in %), by month, in Northern Hemisphere snow mapping using in Northern Hemisphere snow mapping using EOS/MODIS data.EOS/MODIS data.Month North America EurasiaJanuary 9 9February 9 9March 910April 910May 6 8June 5 6July 5 5August 5 5September 5 5October 6 7November 9 8December 9 8MOD10C2 Snow ProductMOD10C2 Snow Product¾ The sequence of snow products ends with an eight-day climate-modeling grid (CMG) snow-cover data product. ¾ This product is generated by merging all the MOD10A2 products (tiles) for an eight-day period and binning that 500 m data to 1/20°, or about 5.6 km resolution to create a global CMG map of snow cover.¾ The size of the arrays is 3600 rows by 7200 columns. ¾ Snow cover, cloud cover and quality-assurance information are included in the product. ¾ This product is validated.MODIS Cloud Classification Problems Polar RegionsMODIS Cloud Classification Problems Polar RegionsMODIS Cloud Classification Problems Polar RegionsClouds mask over landWorks goodCloud mask oversnow and ice regionsproblematicSSD Snow and Ice ProgramSSD Snow and Ice ProgramOperational snow and sea ice extent charts are produced by NOAA on a daily bases. They use visible and microwave satellite data as basis for their analysisDaily maps forN-HemisphereFor snow andsea ice extentMaps also forAsia and northAmerica withMore spatialDetails.Nimbus-7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthNimbusNimbus--7 SMMR Derived Monthly 7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthGlobal Snow Cover and Snow Depth¾ The data set consists of monthly global snow cover and snow depth derived from Nimbus-7 SMMR data for 1978 through 1987. ¾ Maps are based on six-day average brightness temperature data from the middle week of each month. ¾ Data are placed into 1/2 degree latitude by 1/2 degree longitude grid cells uniformly subdividing a polar stereographic map according to the geographic coordinates of the center of the radiometers' fields of view. ¾ Overlapping data from separate orbits in the same six-day period are averaged to give a single brightness temperature assumed to be at the cell's center. Oceans and bays are masked so that only microwavedata for land areas are displayed.Nimbus-7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthNimbusNimbus--7 SMMR Derived Monthly 7 SMMR Derived Monthly Global Snow Cover and Snow DepthGlobal Snow Cover and Snow Depth¾ Comparisons of SMMR snow cover maps with previous maps produced by NOAA/NESDIS and US Air Force Global Weather Center indicate that the total snow covered area derived from SMMR is usually about ten percent less than that measured by the earlier products, because passive microwave sensors often can't detect shallow dry snow less than about 5 cm deep. ¾ Snow depths are comparable, showing SMMR results to be especially