Snow water equivalent (SWE) values on a 50-meter resolution UTM grid, derived from airborne lidar snow depth surveys and modeled snow density. The data were collected by the NASA/JPL Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) aircraft survey campaigns. The dataset was last updated in July 2019.
Use Cases
- Model seasonal water yield by analyzing the spatial distribution of SWE values across a watershed.
- Validate satellite-based SWE products by comparing them with this high-resolution airborne lidar-derived grid.
- Assess snowpack change over time by comparing SWE grids from different ASO survey campaigns.
- Calibrate hydrological models using the 50-meter gridded SWE data as a key initial condition input.
Strengths
- Data is derived from high-resolution airborne lidar surveys providing detailed spatial information.
- Provides a physically modeled product (SWE) combining measured snow depth with density modeling.
Limitations
- Temporal coverage is limited to specific ASO aircraft survey campaign dates, not continuous monitoring.
- Spatial coverage is restricted to the specific watersheds and flight lines where ASO surveys were conducted.
- Data recency is a limitation, with the last update noted in 2019.
Provenance
- Source
- NASA/JPL Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) aircraft surveys, processed by NSIDC_CPRD.
- Collection Method
- Derived from ASO L4 Lidar Snow Depth 50m UTM Grid data product combined with modeled snow density.
- Time Range
- Specific to ASO survey campaign dates (not provided in input).
- Freshness
- Last updated 2019-07-16; update frequency is not specified.
- Geography
- Covers watersheds surveyed by ASO aircraft campaigns (specific regions not listed in input).