Definitions#
- Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer#
The Copernicus Imaging Microwave Radiometer or CIMR mission by ESA includes a wide-swath conically-scanning multi-frequency microwave radiometer with launch planned for 2028.
- Dry snow#
Snowpack with liquid water content equal to zero.
- Equal-Area Scalable Earth Grid#
Northern and Southern Hemisphere projections of EASE-Grid 2.0 are based on polar aspect Lambert azimuthal equal-area projections, as defined by Brodzik et al. [2012].
- Scattering signature#
Difference in brightness temperature between two different frequency channels for snow-covered ground due to volume scattering.
- Signal saturation#
Scattering signature cannot be used to estimate snow depths for snow depths above about 1.25m because maximum volume scattering has been reached.
- Snow water equivalent#
Snow water equivalent or SWE describes the equivalent amount of liquid water contained within a snowpack, and is defined as the product between snow depth and snow density. It is measured as a water column that would result if the whole snowpack was melted instantaneously.
- Terrestrial snow area#
The terrestrial snow area or TSA describes the extent of snow-covered land.