Abstract
With all-weather imaging, a wide swath width, and sensitivity to volume scatter of the snowpack, satellite-derived passive microwave data are well suited to snow cover applications, though the development and validation of these techniques at high latitudes lags behind their operational use across southern Canada. This review presents key results from recent field initiatives conducted to address weaknesses in contemporary SWE retrieval algorithm performance at high latitudes. Of particular relevance is the recent progress made in (1) understanding the impact of sub-grid cell land cover variability (2) validating algorithm performance over large regions of the northern boreal forest, (3) northern boreal forest algorithm development using the improved spatial resolution and additional frequencies of data available with the 2002 launch of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E), and (4) early efforts to develop a tundra specific SWE retrieval scheme. Significant advances will contribute to ongoing and future climatological, hydrological, and numerical modeling studies of high latitude energy and water cycles.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Armstrong R, Chang A, Rango A, Josberger E (1993) Snow depths and grain-size relationships with relevance for passive microwave studies. Ann Glaciol 17:171–176
Brown R, Brasnett B, Robinson D (2003) Gridded North American monthly snow depth and snow water equivalent for GCM evaluation. Atmos Ocean 41:1–14
Chang A, Foster J, Hall D (1987) Nimbus-7 SMMR derived global snow cover parameters. Ann Glaciol 9:39–44
Chang A, Foster J, Hall D, Goodison B, Walker A, Metcalfe J, Harby A (1997) Snow parameters derived from microwave measurements during the BOREAS winter field campaign. J Geophys Res 102(D24):29,663–29,671
Chang A, Foster J, Rango A (1991) Utilization of surface cover composition to improve the microwave determination of snow water equivalent in a mountain basin. Int J Remote Sens 12:2311–2319
De Seve D, Bernier M, Fortin J-P, Walker A (1997) Preliminary analysis of snow microwave radiometry using the SSM/I passive-microwave data: the case of La Grande River watershed (Quebec). Ann Glaciol 25:353–361
Derksen C, Brown R, MacKay M (2007) Mackenzie Basin snow cover variability and trends from conventional data, satellite remote sensing, and Canadian Regional Climate Model simulations. (Vol. I, this book)
Derksen C, MacKay M (2006) The Canadian boreal snow water equivalent band. Atmos Ocean 44:305–320
Derksen C, Walker A, Goodison B (2003) A comparison of 18 winter seasons of in situ and passive microwave derived snow water equivalent estimates in Western Canada. Remote Sens Environ 88:271–282
Derksen C, Walker A, Goodison B (2005b) Evaluation of passive microwave snow water equivalent retrievals across the boreal forest/tundra transition of western Canada. Remote Sens Environ 96(3/4):315–327
Derksen C, Walker A, Goodison B, Strapp JW (2005a) Integrating in situ and multi-scale passive microwave data for estimation of sub-grid scale snow water equivalent distribution and variability. IEEE T Geosci Remote Sens 43:960–972
Duguay C, Green J, Derksen C, English M, Rees A, Sturm M, Walker A (2005a) Preliminary assessment of the impact of lakes on passive microwave snow retrieval algorithms in the Arctic. Proc 62nd Eastern Snow Conference, Waterloo, Ontario, June 2005, pp 223–228
Goita K, Walker A, Goodison B (2003) Algorithm development for the estimation of snow water equivalent in the boreal forest using passive microwave data. Int J Remote Sens 24:1097–1102
Goita K, Walker A, Goodison B, Chang A (1997) Estimation of snow water equivalent in the boreal forest using passive microwave data. CD-ROM, Proc Geomatics in the Era of Radarsat, Ottawa, Ontario, May, 1997
Goodison B (1989) Determination of areal snow water equivalent on the Canadian Prairies using passive microwave satellite data. Proc IGARSS 1989, Vancouver, 3:1243–1246
Goodison B, Rubinstein I, Thirkettle F, Langham E (1986) Determination of snow water equivalent on the Canadian Prairies using microwave radiometry. Modelling snowmelt induced processes, Proc Budapest Symposium, July 1986. IAHS Publication 155, pp 163–173
MacKay M, Seglenieks F, Verseghy D, Soulis E, Snelgrove K, Walker A, Szeto K (2003) Modeling Mackenzie Basin surface water balance during CAGES with the Canadian Regional Climate Model. J Hydrometeorol 4:748–767
Rees A, English M, Derksen C, Walker A (2005) Assessing snowpack water equivalent distribution in an open tundra environment using various scales of passive microwave data. Proc 62nd Eastern Snow Conference, Waterloo, Ontario, June 2005, pp 229–233
Rott H, Nagler T, Aschbacher J (1991) Algorithm development for monitoring the global snow cover by spaceborne microwave radiometry. Proc 11th EARSel Symposium, Graz, Austria, July, 1991, pp 58–69
Schanda E, Matzler C, Kunzi K (1983) Microwave remote sensing of snow cover. Int J Remote Sens 4:149–158
Sturm M, Liston G (2003) Snow cover on lakes of the Arctic Coastal Plain of Alaska, U.S.A. J Glaciol 49:370–380
Toose P, Derksen C, Walker A, LeDrew E (2005) Investigating relationships between forest structure and in situ and airborne passive microwave snow water equivalent in a boreal forest environment. Proc 62nd Eastern Snow Conference, Waterloo, Ontario, June 2005, pp 41–47
Walker A, Silis A (2002) Snow cover variations over the Mackenzie River Basin from SSM/I passive microwave satellite data. Ann Glaciol 34:8–14
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2008 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Derksen, C., Walker, A., Toose, P. (2008). Estimating Snow Water Equivalent in Northern Regions from Satellite Passive Microwave Data. In: Woo, Mk. (eds) Cold Region Atmospheric and Hydrologic Studies. The Mackenzie GEWEX Experience. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73936-4_12
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73936-4_12
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-73935-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-73936-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)