Global Daily Snow Cover and Surface Properties from MODIS

October 2025 to present daily snow data derived from MODIS/Terra satellite imagery. The dataset contains parameters like snow fraction, grain size, dust concentration, and albedo, processed using the SPIReS spectral mixture analysis model by researchers including Rittger and Bair. It is spatially and temporally complete after interpolation and is provided in netCDF-4 format.

Use Cases

• Model snowmelt runoff by analyzing daily snow_fraction and snow_cover_duration across watersheds.
• Estimate radiative forcing impacts on regional climate using the dust_concentration and snow_albedo fields.
• Track snow property evolution over time by examining time-series of snow_grain_size and days_since_last_clear_sky_observation.
• Assess snow albedo on complex terrain by comparing snow_albedo_on_horizontal_surface with snow_albedo_on_sloped_surface.

Strengths

• Data are spatially and temporally complete after interpolation, filling gaps in observations.
• Derived from version 6.1 of the MOD09GA surface reflectance product, a well-characterized input.
• Includes multiple validated snow properties (fraction, grain size, dust, albedo) from a single processing chain.

Limitations

• Initial geographic coverage is limited to specific MODIS tiles in the Western/Midwest US and New Zealand.
• Historical data prior to October 2025 requires a separate dataset, limiting long-term trend analysis with this version.
• Relies on clear-sky observations, with a quality layer tracking days_since_last_clear_sky_observation indicating potential temporal gaps in source data.

Provenance

Source

NSIDC (National Snow and Ice Data Center), using MODIS/Terra surface reflectance inputs (MOD09GA v6.1).

Collection Method

Derived using the Snow Property Inversion from Remote Sensing (SPIReS) spectral mixture analysis model, which solves for snow fraction, grain size, and dust concentration simultaneously.

Time Range

From 01 October 2025 to present.

Freshness

Near real-time, updated daily from October 2025 onward.

Geography

Covers specific MODIS tiles in the Western and Midwest United States and New Zealand, with plans to expand to western North America and other regions.