ALPSNOW 2

The INARCH (International Network for Alpine Research Catchment Hydrology) group is currently conducting a Common Observing Period Experiment (COPE) from 2022 to 2024. This extensive project involves over 40 mountain research sites worldwide, where detailed snow data and atmospheric parameters are being collected using state-of-the-art sensors and drones.

To bolster these critical efforts, the European Space Agency (ESA), the founding agency of ALPSNOW-2, has commissioned the generation of AlpSnow products for all COPE research sites and basins. This collaboration is designed for mutual benefit: the INARCH community gains access to consistent, spatially distributed time series of snow products for their study basins, while the wealth of in-situ observations from the INARCH sites provides a unique opportunity to evaluate and validate the new AlpSnow products. This dense network of ground-truth data helps refine the product performance across diverse mountain environments. As part of this initiative, Eurac Research is providing albedo maps, further enriching the dataset and contributing to the project success.

This partnership is more than a simple data exchange; it is a strategic effort to improve the next generation of snow monitoring. The insights gained will be instrumental in developing an enhanced, Sentinel-based snow monitoring system that can significantly improve water management, snowmelt runoff modeling, and forecasting for mountain regions globally.

Contact: Riccardo Barella riccardo.barella@eurac.edu