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Abstract

According to estimates (Hoinkes, 1967), snow represents about 5% of all precipitation reaching the Earth’s surface. This figure is rather uncertain because of difficulties in measuring solid precipitation by standard rain gages. By any standards, the volume of water stored as ice or snow on the Earth’s surface is impressive. Table 3.1 gives estimates by Volker (1970) and by Baumgartner and Reichel (1975) of the world-wide distribution of fresh water.

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© 1985 Chapman and Hall Ltd and J. Martinec

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Hall, D.K., Martinec, J. (1985). Snow cover. In: Remote Sensing of Ice and Snow. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4842-6_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4842-6_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

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