Snødata

Snødata refers to measurements and observations related to snow, including snow depth, snow water equivalent (SWE), snow density, snow cover extent, and properties of the snowpack. It also encompasses related processes such as snowfall, melt, compaction, and avalanche risk indicators. In practice, snødata is gathered from weather stations, field observations, remote sensing, and model output to describe the state and evolution of snow in a given area.

Collection methods include manual observations at snow courses, snow pillows that measure SWE, ultrasonic snow depth sensors, and automated weather stations. Remote sensing methods use satellite optical imagery, radar, and lidar to estimate snow cover and SWE over large areas. Aerial surveys and drone-based mapping can provide high-resolution snow maps. Data are produced by national meteorological and hydrological services, research institutions, and transportation agencies, and are often combined with numerical models.

Applications include hydrology and flood forecasting, water resource management, avalanche forecasting, winter road maintenance planning, and climate research. Snødata contribute to understanding seasonal snowpack dynamics, snowmelt timing, and regional climate change impacts.

Data quality and access: Measurements follow standard procedures and units (depth in centimeters, SWE in millimeters). Time resolution ranges from hourly to daily. Data are shared through national data portals and international repositories, with formats such as NetCDF or CSV, and interoperable metadata to enable discovery and integration.