Satellite observations of the date of snowmelt at 60º and 70º north latitude

J. L. Foster; D. A. Robinson; D. K. Hall; Tom Estilow

doi:10.1117/12.685126

17 October 2006 Satellite observations of the date of snowmelt at 60° and 70° north latitude

J. L. Foster, D. A. Robinson, D. K. Hall, Tom Estilow

Proceedings Volume 6359, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology VIII; 635904 (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685126
Event: SPIE Remote Sensing, 2006, Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

In this paper we show changes in the dates of snow disappearance in the Arctic between the late 1960s and the early 2000s, from arbitrary but consistent boundaries, using National Oceanic Atmospheric and Administration (NOAA) satellite observations. The date the snowline retreats during the spring (when it first moves north of the 60° and 70° parallels) has occurred approximately a week earlier in recent decades compared to the late 1960s, for many Arctic locations. During this same period, substantial portions of the Arctic have been experiencing higher temperatures and a conspicuous diminution of sea ice, especially in the past 10 years. Our results generally agree with these observations -- tendency toward earlier snowmelt was sustained until about 1990. Since that time, however, the date of snow disappearance has not been occurring noticeably earlier, and snow cover has actually been forming earlier in the autumn.

Citation Download Citation

J. L. Foster, D. A. Robinson, D. K. Hall, and Tom Estilow "Satellite observations of the date of snowmelt at 60° and 70° north latitude", Proc. SPIE 6359, Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Hydrology VIII, 635904 (17 October 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.685126

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