GlobSnow v3.0: Northern Hemisphere Snow Water Equivalent, 1980-2018

Northern Hemisphere terrestrial snow water equivalent (SWE) data from 1980 to 2018. The dataset provides monthly and monthly-bias-corrected SWE estimates constructed by Kari Luojus and colleagues using a Bayesian data assimilation method that combines satellite-based passive microwave radiometer data with ground-based snow depth observations.

Use Cases

• Modeling seasonal snowmelt runoff based on monthly SWE estimates.
• Analyzing long-term snow cover trends in the Northern Hemisphere based on the 1980-2018 time series.
• Validating hydrological models using bias-corrected SWE data.
• Studying climate change impacts on terrestrial snow water storage.

Strengths

• Time series spans 39 years (1980-2018).
• Data is derived from a combination of satellite radiometer data and ground-based observations.
• Includes both raw monthly and monthly-bias-corrected SWE estimates.
• Methodology is documented in multiple peer-reviewed publications.

Limitations

• Dataset is limited to non-mountainous, terrestrial regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Last update date is unknown; freshness unverified.

Provenance

Source

European Space Agency (ESA) / Kari Luojus

Collection Method

Constructed by combining satellite-based passive microwave radiometer data (Nimbus-7 SMMR, DMSP SSM/I, DMSP SSMIS) with ground-based synoptic snow depth observations using Bayesian data assimilation.

Time Range

1980 to 2018

Geography

Northern Hemisphere terrestrial (non-mountainous) regions