Microwave signatures of the natural snow cover at Weissfluhjoch

Abstract

The natural snow cover on a high altitude alphine test site was monitored with a multi-frequency radiometer for more than three years. Some measurements were also made with a 10.5 GHz scatterometer. The microwave observations are supported by a large set of ground truth data. From year to year a wide variation in the development of the snowpack above and below average was observed. Typical microwave data are presented for the different snow conditions in view of the applicability as signatures for remote sensing.