| CEOS EO HANDBOOK – MEASUREMENTS
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Measurements > Snow and Ice >
Snow cover, edge and depth
  | Regular measurements of terrestrial snow cover are important because snow dramatically influences surface albedo, thereby making a significant impact on the global climate, as well as influencing hydrological properties and the regulation of ecosystem biological activity. Snow forms a vital component of the water cycle. In order to make efficient use of meltwater runoff, resource agencies must be able to make early predictions of the amount of water stored in the form of snow. Snow cover information has a range of additional applications such as detecting areas of winterkill in agriculture that result from lack of snow cover to insulate plants from freezing temperatures. Locally, monitoring of snow parameters is important for meteorology and for enabling warnings of when melting is about to occur – which is crucial for hydrological research and for forecasting the risk of flooding. | |
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* Description adapted from WMO.
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