1 national hic/rh/hq meeting ● january 27, 2006 version: 20011128 focusfocus focusfocus focus...

1National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006version: 20011128

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New Snow Products from the National Operational Hydrologic

Remote Sensing Center

3National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Data Products

Interactive Maps

Time Series Plots

Text Discussions

Snow Information Products

Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation

Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Forcings

Gridded Snow Characteristics

U.S.

1-km2

Hourly

4National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

• National Weather Service– First-order Stations– Cooperatives

• Federal and State Agencies– NRCS SNOTEL and Snow Courses– USACE New England District Snow Surveys– Federal Aviation Administration– California Dept. of Water Resources

• Regional Mesonets– Maine Cooperative Snow Survey– PA, OK, IA, ND, NC State Mesonets– MESOWEST (150 smaller mesonets)

• International Agencies– St. John River Basin– Environment Canada– BC Hydro

• National Weather Service– First-order Stations– Cooperatives

• Federal and State Agencies– NRCS SNOTEL and Snow Courses– USACE New England District Snow Surveys– Federal Aviation Administration– California Dept. of Water Resources

• Regional Mesonets– Maine Cooperative Snow Survey– PA, OK, IA, ND, NC State Mesonets– MESOWEST (150 smaller mesonets)

• International Agencies– St. John River Basin– Environment Canada– BC Hydro

50,000+ stations in database

25,000+ actively reporting stations

10,000+ unique stations reporting snow observations

50,000+ stations in database

25,000+ actively reporting stations

10,000+ unique stations reporting snow observations

5National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

• Snow Water Equivalent Measurement– Attenuation of natural terrestrial gamma

radiation by water in snow

• Snow Water Equivalent Measurement– Attenuation of natural terrestrial gamma

radiation by water in snow

NWS Airborne Snow Survey Program

6National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

2,187 Flight Lines

31 States, 8 Provinces

2,187 Flight Lines

31 States, 8 Provinces

Airborne Snow Survey Program Flight Line Network

7National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Alaska Flight Line Network

191 Flight Lines

8National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

• Areal extent of snow cover is mapped using optical remote sensing data from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites.

• Cloud cover obscures surface – significant problem.• Sub-pixel percentage of snow cover (FSCA)

developed by ERDC/CRREL is in second year of testing in NWS/NOHRSC operations.

• Areal extent of snow cover is mapped using optical remote sensing data from geostationary and polar-orbiting satellites.

• Cloud cover obscures surface – significant problem.• Sub-pixel percentage of snow cover (FSCA)

developed by ERDC/CRREL is in second year of testing in NWS/NOHRSC operations.

Feb 9 2004 - NOHRSC

Satellite Areal Extent of Snow Cover

9National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Feb 9 2004 - NOHRSC

80%

80%

0%20%

20%

50%

50%

50%

Percent Snow Cover

100%

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR)

Fractional Snow Cover

1 km

1 km

1 km

1 km 1 km 1 km

10National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

AVHRR Fractional Snow Cover 2005 December 15

11National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Data Products

Interactive Maps

Time Series Plots

Text Discussions

Snow Information Products

Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation

Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Forcings

Gridded Snow Characteristics

U.S.

1-km2

Hourly

12National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)• Land Surface Model for Snow and Soil

– Domain: Continental U.S.– Resolution: 1km2, Hourly – Physics: 5-Layer Energy and Mass Balance

• Spatial implementation of modified 1-D SNTHERM model developed by ERDC/CRREL (Anderson/Jordan)

• Spatial implementation of Prairie Blowing Snow Model (Pomeroy et al.)

– Forcing: Mesoscale Weather Analyses• RUC2, Eta physically downscaled to 1 km2

– Snow State Variables: • Water Equivalent (SWE)• Total Depth• Surface Temperature• Average Temperature• Liquid Water Content (Snow Wetness)• Snow Melt

• Snow Data Assimilation System– Multi-sensor data fusion to update snow

states in model (SWE, snow depth)

• Land Surface Model for Snow and Soil – Domain: Continental U.S.– Resolution: 1km2, Hourly – Physics: 5-Layer Energy and Mass Balance

• Spatial implementation of modified 1-D SNTHERM model developed by ERDC/CRREL (Anderson/Jordan)

• Spatial implementation of Prairie Blowing Snow Model (Pomeroy et al.)

– Forcing: Mesoscale Weather Analyses• RUC2, Eta physically downscaled to 1 km2

– Snow State Variables: • Water Equivalent (SWE)• Total Depth• Surface Temperature• Average Temperature• Liquid Water Content (Snow Wetness)• Snow Melt

• Snow Data Assimilation System– Multi-sensor data fusion to update snow

states in model (SWE, snow depth)

Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation

Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Forcings

Gridded Snow Characteristics

U.S.

1-km2

Hourly

13National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

NOHRSC Model Physics

14National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

NSA ProductGeneration

Interactive MapsDigital DataDiscussions

NSA ProductGeneration

Interactive MapsDigital DataDiscussions

TemperatureRelative Humidity

Wind SpeedSolar Radiation

Atmos. RadiationPrecipitation

Precipitation Type

Hourly InputGridded Data (1 km)

Hourly InputGridded Data (1 km)

Soils PropertiesLand Use/Cover

Forest Properties

Static GriddedData (1 km)

Static GriddedData (1 km)

Snow Energy and Mass Balance Model

Snow Energy and Mass Balance Model

Blowing Snow ModelBlowing Snow Model

Radiative Transfer ModelRadiative Transfer Model

State Variables forMultiple Vertical

Snow & Soil LayersSnow Water Equivalent

Snow DepthSnow Temperature

Liquid Water ContentSnow Sublimation

Snow Melt

State Variables forMultiple Vertical

Snow & Soil LayersSnow Water Equivalent

Snow DepthSnow Temperature

Liquid Water ContentSnow Sublimation

Snow Melt

Snow Modeling Framework

1

1

Data Assimilation2

3

Snow Observations

Snow Water Equivalent

Snow Depth

Snow Cover

Snow Observations

Snow Water Equivalent

Snow Depth

Snow Cover

15National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Over 25,000 Reporting Stations

16National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Interactive Snow Information Systemwww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

17National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Interactive Snow Information System

ModeledObserved

SWE

Density

Depth

18National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Ground

Airborne

Satellite

Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Data Products

Interactive Maps

Time Series Plots

Text Discussions

Snow Information Products

Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation

Numerical Weather Prediction Model

Forcings

Gridded Snow Characteristics

U.S.

1-km2

Hourly

19National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)

High-resolution Daily and Hourly Gridded Snow Data Sets of Fused Model and Observations

• Snow Water Equivalent

• Snow Density

• Snow Sfc. Temperature

• Snow Avg. Temperature

• Snow Melt

• Sublimation

• Snow Wetness

Local Information (1 km2)

Continental U.S. Information

• Snow Depth

• Archived at NCDC, NSIDC, and NDFD (soon)

Data Products

Interactive Maps

Time Series Plots

Text Discussions

Snow Information Products

20National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

National Snow Analyses (NSA)Integrated Modeled / Observed Snowpack State Variables

Daily Basin-by-Basin SHEF Products Shipped to AWIPS

1. Snow Water Equivalent *

2. Snow Depth *

3. Areal Extent of Snow Cover *

4. Blowing Snow Sublimation

5. Surface Sublimation

6. Snowmelt

7. Average Snowpack Temperature

8. Rain plus Melt

* Includes assimilated snow observations

21National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Over 12 million hits per month

22National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

23National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

24National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Physical Element Map Options

25National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Examples of Observed Snow Products• NWS Cold Region Workshop: November 2004• No modeled snow information is contained in the

observed snow product maps.• Observed snow product maps include:

– Snow depth– Snow water equivalent– Total snowfall– Interpolated total snowfall

• Each product is generated for previous 24, 48, and 72 hour periods (i.e.,12 total).

• Each product is updated every 2 hours to include most recent snow observations.

• Associated alphanumeric data are posted to NOHRSC web site.

26National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Interactive Snow Information System1-2-3 Day Snow Depth

Observations

27National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Interactive Snow Information System1-2-3 Day Snow Water

Equivalent Observations

28National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

1-2-3 Day Snowfall Observations

29National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

30National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

31National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

32National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

• Interactive climatological information in SNOW-Info

– New capability added last year

• Two types of information

– Maps: Monthly Normal Snow Depth

• NCDC 1961-1990 Climate Atlas for U.S.

– October through April

– 4 km resolution

– Based on 5525 stations used in the NCDC U.S. Snow Climatology (TD-9641M)

– Stations: Daily Snow Depth Climatologies • NCDC TD3200 Cooperative Summary of the Day

– 4000 first-order and cooperative observer stations

– SNOW-Info database currently extends to 1970, eventually to 1948

New Climate Diagnostic Tools

33National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Monthly Normal Snow Depth 1961-1990

New Climate Diagnostic Tools

OCT NOV DEC

JAN FEB MAR

APR

• SNOW-Info includes

– Monthly-normal maps

– Daily NSA departure-from-normal maps

34National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

New Climate Diagnostic Toolswww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Snow Depth

35National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

New Climate Diagnostic Toolswww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Normal Snow Depth November (1961-

1990)

36National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

New Climate Diagnostic Toolswww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Daily Deviation from Monthly Normal Snow Depth November

(1961-1990)

37National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

New Climate Diagnostic Toolswww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Modeled and Observed SWE and Depth

38National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

New Climate Diagnostic Toolswww.nohrsc.noaa.gov

39National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

40National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Snow Water Equivalent Snow Depth

Snowpack Temperature Surface Sublimation

41National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Snowpack Temperature

Snowmelt

42National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

10,000 Snow Reporting Stations

NOHRSC NSA Time

Series

43National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Snow Reporting Station Metadata

44National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Snow Reporting Station Metadata

Land Use / Land Cover

Forest Density

45National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

In Summary

46National HIC/RH/HQ Meeting ● January 27, 2006

Thank You !Thank You !www.nohrsc.noaa.gov