Snow Cover Focus Area Contributions to International Structures
GCOS
The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) is an international organization charged with defining the observational requirements for Earth Climate Variables (ECVs). GCOS goal requirements for snow extent, snow depth and SWE were set as follows (GCOS-245) :
| Variable/Parameter | Horizontal Resolution | Temporal Resolution | Latency | Required Measurement Uncertainly | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Snow areal extent | 50 m | 6 hrs | 3 hrs | 5% | 1% |
| Snow water equivalent | 0.5 km | 6 hrs | 3 hrs | 1 mm | 5 mm |
The Cryosphere Theme Report of the Integrated Global Observing Strategy (IGOS 2007) provides detailed specifications on the observational requirements for all elements of the global cryosphere, based on broad consultation of the scientific community.
| Variable/Parameter | Horizontal Resolution | Temporal Resolution | Accuracy | Measurement Range |
| Snow Water equivalent (shallow) | T: 0.5 km G: 0.1 km |
G: 12 hrs | T: 3 cm G: 2 cm |
T: 0-0.3 m G: 0-0.3 m |
| Snow Water equivalent (deep) | T: 0.5 km G: 0.1 km |
T: 6 days G: 12 hrs |
T: 10% G: 7% |
T: 0.3-3 m G: 0.3-3 m |
| Fractional Snow Cover | T: 0.5 km G: 0.1 km |
T: 1 day G: 12 hrs |
T: 10% G: 5% |
T: 0-100% G: 0-100% |
| Snow Surface Temperature | T: 1 km G: 0.1 km |
T: 1 hr G: 30 min |
T: 1 K G: 0.1 K |
T: 200-275 K G: 200-275 K |
| Snow Albedo (broadband) | T: 8 km G: 5 km |
T: 1 hr G: 30 min |
T: 1% G: 0.5% |
T: 0-100% G: 0-100% |
World Meteorological Organization
WMO GCW – Global Cryosphere Watch
GTOS Snow Cover Documents
Armstrong, R, K. Steffen, M. Monteduro, R. Sessa. 2009. Snow Cover, ECV-T5: GTOS Assessment of the status of the development of standards for the Terrestrial Essential Climate Variables, ed., R. Sessa, FAO, Rome.
Summary Report of the Fifteenth Session of the GCOS/WCRP Terrestrial Observation Panel for Climate (TOPC), Geneva, Switzerland, 6-7 March 2013
LPV Focus Areas
Meetings
EGU 2017, 23-28 April 2017, Vienna, Austria. Abstract submission due 11 Jan 2017, details here.
ESA Annouces first gathering of the Sentinel-2 Validation Team (S2VT), 8-29 November 2016, at ESRIN, Frascati, Italy.
The Earthtemp initiative 35th EARSeL Symposium Stockholm, Sweden, June 15 to 19. Abstract Deadline is February 2015.
ISRSE36, Berlin, Germany, 11-15 May. Special Session on "Thermal Infrared data products for ecology and civil security".
The American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual fall meeting special session on "Taking the Temperature of the Earth: Challenges and Applications Across All Earth Surface Domains"
The European Geosciences Union (EGU) annual meeting in Vienna, Austria.
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