Advancements in monitoring snow and glaciers in mountain regions using satellite

Quantitative observations of physical properties of the seasonal snowpack and glaciers are of great importance for water resources, climate impact and natural hazard monitoring activities. Satellite-based observation systems are the only efficient means for obtaining the required high temporal and spatial coverage on regional to global scale. In the last decades significant advancements have been achieved in retrieval of snow and glacier parameters from optical and SAR satellite data and assimilating these products into models. Optical sensors provide information on snow extent and snow albedo. Due to the sensitivity to dielectric properties and penetration capabilities, SAR systems are versatile tools for snow parameter observations such as snow melt and mass. Additionally, lidar backscatter measurements have been proven to provide accurate observations on snow height. However, there is still need for improvement of snowpack and glacier products, addressing snow depth, snow water equivalent, liquid water content, freezing state and snow morphology and accounting for topography and land surface heterogeneity. In this session the status of current products on snow and glacier parameters in mountain regions are reviewed and activities towards further improvements will be presented, taking into account satellite data of current and future satellite missions. In this context a wide range of retrieval techniques are of interest as well as assimilation techniques of satellite snow and ice products into models.