We are attempting to estimate the Snow Depth by using Remote Sensing Methods. We found that one of the methods that is used for this purpose is Altimetry and using Passive microwave data.
Is this possible to estimate snow depth using SAR data like Sentinel-1 with the high resolution (20 meter for example)? or is there satellite data or product that we can estimate snow depth with high spatial resolution?
Can we estimate snow depth with interferometry (by using for example different bands or images from two different dates)?
I think this publication on using MODIS for snow monitoring might be a useful starting point.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/305345937_MODSNOW-Tool_an_operational_tool_for_daily_snow_cover_monitoring_using_MODIS_data
Article MODSNOW-Tool: an operational tool for daily snow cover monit...
I think SLAR can be of help. Radar has more penetrative powers. it can penetrate several meters within the subsurface
There are problems using SAR: penetration being the primary one. A C-band SAR like Sentinel-1 can penetrate 10s of metres into dry snow. Hence the scattering phase centre is in fact more likely to be at the ground surface than the snow surface. This excludes interferometry. Passive microwave methods are a reasonable estimate: they use absorption by snow cover as a proxy for snow water equivalent but suffer from low spatial resolution and an insensitivity to deep or dense snow cover. Passive microwave methods are also ill suited to mountainous terrain as the algorithms are developed for boreal forest and tundra biomes. Modelling can provide a good complement: statistical modeling using snow covered area and historical snow depth or snow melt runoff data is a good starting point. Snow covered area can be mapped using optical data (in combination with SAR during snow melt). Sentinel-2 offers a wide swath (250km) at high spatial resolution (10-20m in Visible-NIR).
Hello Behrouz.
There are several ways to tackle the problem of snow water equivalent (SWE) and snow depth nowadays. The field is in constant evolution. Here is a bit of bibliography for you.
Enjoy,
Vincenzo
WMO, Global Cryosphere Watch: http://globalcryospherewatch.org/reference/snow_inventory.php
Sturm et al 2010: ftp://ftp.cira.colostate.edu/ftp/Liston/papers/co_author/2010.sturm.JHM.pdf
Derksen et al. 2016, IPWG-IWSSM meeting, Bologna: http://ipwg.isac.cnr.it/meetings/bologna-2016/Bologna2016_Orals/5-2_Derksen.pdf
Derksen once more: https://earth.esa.int/documents/700255/2126408/Derksen+LPVE+snow.pdf
Larson and Small 2015: http://xenon.colorado.edu/portal/publications/Larson_Small2016.pdf
Jin et al. 2016: https://www.google.it/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=30&ved=0ahUKEwjGgKGh9cDQAhVH0RQKHduWCKM4FBAWCGgwCQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mdpi.com%2F2072-4292%2F8%2F1%2F63%2Fpdf&usg=AFQjCNFirvjwXfjO45RneTInR2DkgIz2Ag&sig2=fjWqE3jS2k-RJLVy-6keqw&bvm=bv.139782543,d.d24
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Geoscience
- Remote Sensing