A Possible Forecasting Technique for Winter Snow Cover in the Northern Hemisphere and Eurasia

Abstract

Winter season snow and ice charts of the Northern Hemisphere based on satellite data from 1966 through 1975 were examined to determine the extent and area of snow cover in Eurasia and North America Graphical analysis indicates no significant overall increase in North American winter snow cover for the 9-year period of data, whereas over the same period a large fluctuation occurred in Eurasia. Regression analysis yielded several equations with correlation coefficients significant enough to have possible applications for 30-, 60-, and 90-day forecasting of seasonal, hemispheric, and continental snow cover.