Assigned Session: #AGM28: Generic Meeting Session
Multi-sensor satellite observations of snow area extent in mountain regions
Abstract ID: 28.7267 | Accepted as Poster | Poster | 2025-02-28 12:45 - 14:15 | Ágnes‐Heller‐Haus/Small Lecture Room
Maria Heinrich (0)
Nagler, Thomas (1), Schwaizer, Gabriele (2), Moelg, Nico (3)
Maria Heinrich ((0) ENVEO Environmental Earth Observation IT GmbH, Fürstenweg 176, 6020, Innsbruck, AT)
Nagler, Thomas (1), Schwaizer, Gabriele (2), Moelg, Nico (3)
(0) ENVEO Environmental Earth Observation IT GmbH, Fürstenweg 176, 6020, Innsbruck, AT
(1) ENVEO Environmental Earth Observation IT GmbH, Fürstenweg 176, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Detailed information on the extent of the seasonal snow in high mountain regions is needed for applications in snow hydrology, management of water resources and glaciology. Due to the high spatial variability of seasonal snow in space and time, high resolution satellites provide efficient means for comprehensive snow monitoring in high mountain terrain. We report on the development of an advanced method for monitoring snow extent from multiple optical satellite data optimized for scientific and operational application in mountain areas. Regarding snow extent, we developed a multispectral unmixing approach that accounts for variations in illumination across mountainous terrain and offers flexibility regarding the optimum use of spectral sensor capabilities. Especially in mountain areas topographically induced shadow zones are common and cause problems in detection of snow using standard algorithms. Our approach separates regions illuminated by the sun from shaded regions using spectral classification rules and solar illumination conditions together with a DEM for detecting different snow free and fully snow covered Endmembers by applying adapted spectral band combinations. The algorithm is designed to provide consistent snow extent estimates from satellite sensors with different spatial resolution and spectral channels, such as sensors of the Copernicus Sentinel-2 and Sentinel-3 missions. By combining both satellite missions, we provide daily medium resolution snow products (300m) from Sentinel-3 SLSTR / OLCI together with high resolution snow products with 20 m pixel size from Sentinel-2, acquired every few days over the Alps and other mountain regions. Maps of uncertainty are attached to the snow extent products. In the presentation we outline the snow mapping procedure, show examples of snow products for different mountain regions worldwide, and report on the quality of the products in comparison with snow information from other sources.
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