Seasonal multi-scale microwave measurements and modeling of sub-arctic snow for climatological dataset development

在加拿大的许多地区，积雪持续了很长一段时间，这通过融雪对区域气候、水文和生态产生了重大影响。尽管如此，对积雪覆盖的测量，特别是在加拿大北部，受到稀疏观测的限制。卫星测量可以解决这一观测差距，但需要开发算法来估计卫星观测的物理参数，如雪水当量（积雪以固体形式储存的液态水的量）。全球气候模式预测冬季降水增加，而春季融水是重要的国家资源，因此我们面临着积雪信息日益重要，但传统观测网络不足，现有卫星数据集受到高度不确定性的限制。该项目旨在开发新的卫星衍生积雪数据集。卫星数据记录可追溯到1978年，因此利用新数据开发的技术可用于追溯，以创建长度超过30年的时间序列。在一个完整的积雪季节，将使用类似于太空的仪器进行地面测量，以提供所需的“地面真实”观测。这些活动将使加拿大能够提供重要的新测量，以支持未来专门为测量雪而设计的国际卫星任务。

Snow cover persists for long periods of time over many parts of Canada, which significantly impacts regional climate, hydrology through snow melt, and ecology. In spite of this importance, measurements of snow cover, particularly across northern Canada, are limited by sparse observations. Satellite measurements can address this observational gap, but algorithms need to be developed to estimate physical parameters such as snow water equivalent (the amount of liquid water stored in solid form by a snowpack) from the satellite observations. Global climate models predict increases in winter season precipitation, and spring melt water is an important national resource, so we are faced with a scenario where information about snow cover is increasingly important, yet the conventional observation network is inadequate and existing satellite datasets are limited by high levels of uncertainty. This project seeks to develop new satellite derived snow cover datasets. The satellite data record extends back to 1978, so techniques developed with new data can be applied retrospectively to create time series over 30 years in length. Ground measurements with instruments similar to those in space will be acquired over a complete snow cover season to provide the required 'ground-truth' observations. These activities will position Canada to contribute important new measurements to support future international satellite missions designed specifically to measure snow.