Global Seasonal Mountain Snow Mask from MODIS MOD10A2

A global geospatial dataset provides a seasonal mountain snow mask derived from MODIS MOD10A2 snow cover and GTOPO30 elevation data at 30 arcsecond resolution. It includes three classifications: mountain snow presence, general snow cover, and cool-season cloud percentages. The data was produced by Melissa L. Wrzesien of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for a manuscript submitted to Water Resources Research.

Use Cases

• Classifying mountain regions with ephemeral versus seasonal snow based on the MODIS_mtnsnow_classes scheme.
• Analyzing general snow cover persistence using the MODIS_snow_classes categories.
• Assessing cloud obscuration during the cool season using the MODIS_clouds percentage bands.
• Characterizing biases in global mountain snow accumulation estimates as referenced in the associated manuscript.

Strengths

• Provides three distinct classification products (snow mask, snow classes, cloud percentages) for multi-faceted analysis.
• Derived from established MODIS MOD10A2 and GTOPO30 data sources, suggesting a foundation in operational remote sensing.
• Classification schemes are explicitly defined, including categories for little-to-no snow, ephemeral snow, seasonal snow, and cloud indeterminacy.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred from the description after download.
• Row count and file size are unknown, which may limit suitability assessment for large-scale projects.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

MODIS MOD10A2 snow cover product and GTOPO30 digital elevation model.

Collection Method

Derived classification products produced at 30 arcsecond spatial resolution.

Geography

Global