Global Snow Grain Size Maps from ADEOS-II Satellite

Global monthly maps of snow grain size derived from the GLI sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) produced this data, which has a spatial resolution of 1/12 degree and includes statistics for 16-day and 1-month periods. The dataset was last updated in October 2003.

Use Cases

• Model snow albedo and radiative forcing in climate simulations using the snow grain size parameter.
• Validate snow physics models by comparing simulated grain size against the retrieved 865nm band measurements.
• Analyze spatial and temporal trends in snowpack metamorphism from the 1-month and 16-day statistical products.
• Study the impact of pollution on snow reflectance by utilizing the principle linking visible range reflectance to pollution and near-infrared reflectance to grain size.

Strengths

• Global spatial coverage with generation units for the world and both hemispheres.
• Data derived from a dedicated optical sensor (GLI) with a 1600 km swath, designed for environmental monitoring.
• Provides snow grain size in micrometers, a specific physical quantity based on near-infrared reflectance principles.

Limitations

• Data is temporally stale, with the last update in 2003, limiting analysis of recent climate trends.
• The spatial resolution of 1/12 degree may be too coarse for regional or watershed-scale studies.
• Unknown sample size and row count for the underlying binned products used to generate the map.

Provenance

Source

Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

Collection Method

Retrieved from the GLI (Global Imager) sensor onboard the ADEOS-II satellite using channels 5 (0.46 μm) and 19 (0.865 μm), with values estimated from Level 3 binned products and projected onto a map.

Time Range

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Freshness

Last updated 2003-10-25; update frequency is null.

Geography

Global coverage, with separate products for the North and South Hemispheres.