NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
Theoretical Accuracy of Global Snow-Cover Mapping Using Satellite Data in the Earth Observing System (EOS) EraFollowing the launch of the Earth Observing System first morning (EOS-AM1) satellite, daily, global snow-cover mapping will be performed automatically at a spatial resolution of 500 m, cloud-cover permitting, using Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data. A technique to calculate theoretical accuracy of the MODIS-derived snow maps is presented. Field studies demonstrate that under cloud-free conditions when snow cover is complete, snow-mapping errors are small (less than 1%) in all land covers studied except forests where errors are greater and more variable. The theoretical accuracy of MODIS snow-cover maps is largely determined by percent forest cover north of the snowline. Using the 17-class International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP) land-cover maps of North America and Eurasia, the Northern Hemisphere is classified into seven land-cover classes and water. Snow-mapping errors estimated for each of the seven land-cover classes are extrapolated to the entire Northern Hemisphere for areas north of the average continental snowline for each month. Average monthly errors for the Northern Hemisphere are expected to range from 5 - 10%, and the theoretical accuracy of the future global snow-cover maps is 92% or higher. Error estimates will be refined after the first full year that MODIS data are available.
Document ID
19990063644
Acquisition Source
Goddard Space Flight Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Hall, D. K.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Foster, J. L.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Salomonson, V. V.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, MD United States)
Klein, A. G.
(Texas A&M Univ. College Station, TX United States)
Chien, J. Y. L.
(General Sciences Corp. Laurel, MD United States)
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1998
Subject Category
Earth Resources And Remote Sensing
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available