The Detection Of Melting Snow And Analysis Of Melting-Refreezing Cycles Using Microwave Radiometry

The study addresses the problem of characterizing different seasonal conditions of snow cover by using ground-based and satellite radiometry.Experimental data collected with ground based radiometers to correlate microwave emission from snow to its physical conditions, and in particular to liquid water content were carried out by our group since '90s. Now we have reconsidered a long series of data collected during two winter-spring seasons on the Italian Alps with the aim of further studying the temporal evolution of single melting refreezing cycles. Moreover, looking at operational aspects, the potential of AMSR-E/2 radiometers in detecting the beginning of snow melting has been evaluated using data collected in both ascending and descending orbits. This investigation takes advantage of the two passes (in the morning and the afternoon), which correspond approximately to a minimum and maximum of surface temperature and therefore to the expected snow freezing and melting situations, respectively. In particular, a detailed study is in progress on the Mendoza River Basin in Argentina. Indeed, the melting of snow accumulated in the upper Mendoza river basin, during winter is the main water supply for agriculture, industry and human consumption in the area.