NOAA’s National Snow Analyses

Tom Carroll National Operational Hydrologic Remote Sensing Center Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services National Weather Service, NOAA U.S. Department of Commerce Minneapolis, Minnesota

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 1 Outline • NOHRSC National Snow Analyses (NSA) – NOHRSC Clients and Stakeholders – Snow Observations • Ground-based, Airborne, and Satellite – Snow Modeling and Data Assimilation • Snow Data Assimilation System (SNODAS) – Snow Information Products • RFC Benefits of NSA Products • NOHRSC NSA Web-based Products – Modeled Snow Products – Observed Snow Products – Climate Snow Products – 3-D Visualization Products

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 2 Snow Economics “The Value of Snow and Snow Information Services” (2004) Dr. Richard Adams Dr. Laurie Houston Dr. Rodney Weiher Professor, Agricultural and Research Assistant Chief Economist Resource Economics Oregon State University National Oceanic and Oregon State University Atmospheric Administration U.S. Dept. of Commerce Economic Benefits of Snow Economic Costs of Snow Winter tourism Exceeds $8 New Snow removal Exceeds $2 U.S. billion / yr England and billion / yr Rocky Road closures that Exceeds $10 Eastern Mountains cause lost retail trade, billion / day U.S. Cold water Exceeds $2.3 New wages, and tax fishing (snow is billion / yr England revenue cold water Flight delays $3.2 billion / U.S. source) yr carriers Damage to utilities Up to $2 Snowpack water Up to $348 Western billion / event storage billion / yr U.S. Flooding from $4.3 billion 1997 U.S. snowmelt floods

“… improved snow information and services “… investments that make only modest have potential benefits greater than $1.3 improvements in snow information will have billion annually.” substantial economic payoffs.”

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 3 NOHRSC NWS Clients

NWRFC NCRFC NERFC MBRFC CNRFC MARFC NCEP CBRFC OHRFC ABRFC

LMRFC SERFC WGRFC

APRFC 13 NWS RFCs and NCEP

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 4 NOHRSC NWS Clients

61 NWS WFOs

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 5 NOHRSC External Stakeholders (selected) • United States – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Bureau of Reclamation – Natural Resources Conservation Service – Montana Department of Emergency Services – San Francisco Public Utilities Commission – University of Albany ASRC/CESTM – University of Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute – National Snow and Ice Data Center – Baron Advanced Meteorological Systems, LLC – Meteorlogix, Inc. – Weather Decision Technologies, Inc. – General Public • Canada – Manitoba Department of Natural Resources – New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 6 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Multi-sensor Snow Modeling and Snow Information Snow Observations Data Assimilation Products

Numerical Weather Data Products Ground Prediction Model Forcings Interactive Gridded Snow Maps Characteristics Airborne Time Series U.S. Plots 1-km2 Text Satellite Hourly Discussions

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 7 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

•• NationalNational WeatherWeather ServiceService Multi-sensor –– First-order First-order StationsStations Snow Observations –– Cooperatives Cooperatives •• FederalFederal andand StateState AgenciesAgencies –– NRCS NRCS SNOTELSNOTEL andand SnowSnow CoursesCourses –– USACE USACE NewNew EnglandEngland DistrictDistrict SnowSnow SurveysSurveys Ground –– Federal Federal AviationAviation AdministrationAdministration –– California California Dept.Dept. ofof WaterWater ResourcesResources •• RegionalRegional MesonetsMesonets –– Maine Maine CooperativeCooperative SnowSnow SurveySurvey –– PA, PA, OK,OK, IA,IA, ND,ND, NCNC StateState MesonetsMesonets –– MESOWEST MESOWEST (150(150 smallersmaller mesonets)mesonets) Airborne •• InternationalInternational AgenciesAgencies –– St. St. JohnJohn RiverRiver BasinBasin –– Environment Environment CanadaCanada –– BC BC HydroHydro

Satellite 50,000+50,000+ stationsstations inin databasedatabase 30,000+30,000+ activelyactively reportingreporting stationsstations 10,000+10,000+ uniqueunique stationsstations reportingreporting snowsnow observationsobservations

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 8 Ground-Based Snow Observations

BC Hydro NWS SNOTEL COOP NRCS OBS SNOTEL & Snow Course

CDWR SNOTEL Federal, state, & Over private 30,000 sources reporting Snow Water Equivalent and stations Snow Depth NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 9 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Multi-sensor Snow Observations NWS Airborne Snow Survey Program

Ground

Airborne

•• SnowSnow WaterWater EquivalentEquivalent MeasurementMeasurement –– Attenuation Attenuation ofof naturalnatural terrestrialterrestrial gammagamma Satellite radiationradiation byby waterwater inin snowsnow

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 10 Airborne Snow Survey Program Aero Commander

SurveySurvey aircraftaircraft flyfly atat 500500 feetfeet agl.agl.

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 11 Airborne Snow Survey Program TurboTurbo CommanderCommander usedused inin thethe WestWest andand inin AlaskaAlaska

19841984 TurboTurbo CommanderCommander

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 12 Natural Terrestrial Gamma Radiation

background 40 (no snow) K spectrum

background spectrum is 208Tl one-time measurement Counts/min over snow spectrum

123 Energy (MeV) NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 13 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Multi-sensor Snow Observations Airborne Snow Survey Program Flight Line Network

Ground

Airborne

Satellite 2,1872,187 FlightFlight LinesLines 3131 States,States, 88 ProvincesProvinces

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 14 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Alaska Flight Line Network Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Ground

Airborne

Satellite 191 Flight Lines

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 15 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Satellite Areal Extent of Snow Cover Multi-sensor Snow Observations

Ground

Feb 9 2004 - NOHRSC Airborne •• Areal Areal extentextent ofof snowsnow covercover isis mappedmapped usingusing opticaloptical remoteremote sensingsensing datadata fromfrom geostationarygeostationary andand polar-polar- orbitingorbiting satellites.satellites. •• Cloud Cloud covercover obscuresobscures surfacesurface –– significant significant problem.problem. Satellite •• Sub-pixel Sub-pixel percentagepercentage ofof snowsnow covercover (FSCA)(FSCA) developeddeveloped byby ERDC/CRRELERDC/CRREL isis inin secondsecond yearyear ofof testingtesting inin NWS/NOHRSCNWS/NOHRSC operations.operations.

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 16 National Snow Analyses (NSA) Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) Multi-sensor Fractional Snow Cover Snow Observations

1 km 100% 80% 50% Ground

1 km 80% 50% 20% Feb 9 2004 - NOHRSC Airborne 1 km 50% 20% 0%

Satellite 1 km 1 km 1 km Percent Snow Cover

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 17 AVHRR Fractional Snow Cover 2005 December 15

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 18 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Multi-sensor Snow Modeling and Snow Information Snow Observations Data Assimilation Products

Numerical Weather Data Products Ground Prediction Model Forcings Interactive Gridded Snow Maps Characteristics Airborne Time Series U.S. Plots 1-km2 Text Satellite Hourly Discussions

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 19 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Features Major Products Product Formats Energy-and-mass-balance Snow water equivalent National and regional map snow model animations Implemented for CONUS Snow depth Interactive map: user only selects time and place Run at hourly time steps Average snowpack Alphanumeric text: spatial temperature averages 1 km2 spatial resolution Snowmelt Time-series: modeled and observed Incorporates all available Snowpack sublimation Gridded: GIS and spatial data and condensation applications Generates hourly and 24-hour change products Text discussions on daily snow products snowpack conditions

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 20 National Snow Analyses (NSA) •• LandLand SurfaceSurface ModelModel forfor SnowSnow andand SoilSoil Snow Modeling and –– Domain: Domain: ContinentalContinental U.S.U.S. Data Assimilation –– Resolution: Resolution: 1km1km22,, HourlyHourly –– Physics: Physics: 5-Layer5-Layer EnergyEnergy andand MassMass BalanceBalance •• Spatial Spatial implementationimplementation ofof modifiedmodified 1-D1-D SNTHERMSNTHERM modelmodel developeddeveloped byby Numerical Weather ERDC/CRRELERDC/CRREL (Anderson/Jordan)(Anderson/Jordan) Prediction Model •• Spatial Spatial implementationimplementation ofof PrairiePrairie BlowingBlowing Forcings SnowSnow ModelModel (Pomeroy(Pomeroy etet al.)al.) –– Forcing: Forcing: MesoscaleMesoscale WeatherWeather AnalysesAnalyses Gridded Snow •• RUC2, RUC2, EtaEta physically physically downscaleddownscaled toto 11 kmkm22 –– Snow Snow StateState VariablesVariables:: Characteristics •• Water Water EquivalentEquivalent (SWE)(SWE) •• Total Total DepthDepth U.S. •• Surface Surface TemperatureTemperature •• Average Average TemperatureTemperature 1-km2 •• Liquid Liquid WaterWater ContentContent (Snow(Snow Wetness)Wetness) •• Snow Snow MeltMelt Hourly •• SnowSnow DataData AssimilationAssimilation SystemSystem –– Multi-sensor Multi-sensor datadata fusionfusion toto updateupdate snowsnow statesstates inin modelmodel (SWE,(SWE, snowsnow depth)depth)

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 21 NOHRSC Snow Model Physics

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 22 NOHRSC Operations

Ground-based Product Snow Data Generation and Distribution METAR, SNOTEL, NOHRSC Database CADWR, HADS, Elements: NWS Coop, etc. Management System Data ingest, quality Daily National Airborne Snow control, pre-processing Snow Analyses: Water Equivalent (water equivalent, snow depth, Satellite Snow temperature, Data and sublimation, Cover Data Product condensation, GOES, AVHRR, Archive snow melt) SSM/I, MODIS Formats: Interactive map, NEXRAD Radar NOHRSC Snow Data time-series plots, Data Assimilation System text discussions, alphanumeric and Numerical Energy-and-mass- gridded products balance snow modeling Weather Model and observed snow data Distribution: Data assimilation NOHRSC Web Site, Eta, RUC2, MAPS AWIPS, direct FTP, NSIDC, NCDC NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 23 Snow Modeling Framework 2 HourlyHourly InputInput SnowSnow EnergyEnergy andand MassMass Data Assimilation GriddedGridded DataData (1(1 km)km) BalanceBalance ModelModel SnowSnow Temperature BlowingBlowing SnowSnow ModelModel Relative Humidity 1 ObservationsObservations Wind Speed Solar Radiation RadiativeRadiative TransferTransfer ModelModel SnowSnow WaterWater Atmos. Radiation EquivalentEquivalent Precipitation StateState VariablesVariables forfor Precipitation Type SnowSnow DepthDepth MultipleMultiple VerticalVertical SnowSnow && SoilSoil LayersLayers SnowSnow CoverCover Snow Water Equivalent Static Gridded Snow Water Equivalent Static Gridded SnowSnow DepthDepth Data (1 km) Data (1 km) 1 SnowSnow TemperatureTemperature NSANSA ProductProduct LiquidLiquid WaterWater ContentContent GenerationGeneration Soils Properties 3 SnowSnow SublimationSublimation InteractiveInteractive MapsMaps Land Use/Cover SnowSnow MeltMelt DigitalDigital DataData Forest Properties DiscussionsDiscussions

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 24 Over 30,000 Reporting Stations

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 25 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Multi-sensor Snow Modeling and Snow Information Snow Observations Data Assimilation Products

Numerical Weather Data Products Ground Prediction Model Forcings Interactive Gridded Snow Maps Characteristics Airborne Time Series U.S. Plots 1-km2 Text Satellite Hourly Discussions

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 26 National Snow Analyses (NSA)

Snow Information Products High-resolution Daily and Hourly Gridded Snow Data Sets of Fused Model and Observations Data Products Local Information (1 km2) • Snow Water Equivalent Interactive • Snow Depth Maps • Snow Density • Snow Sfc. Temperature Time Series • Snow Avg. Temperature Plots • Snow Melt • Sublimation Text • Snow Wetness

Discussions Continental U.S. Information

• Archived at NCDC, NSIDC, and NDFD (soon)

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 27 Unique Users per Month UniqueSNODAS Users per Data Month: from SNODAS NSIDC Data from NSIDCArchive Archive 200 560 180 544 160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0 Jun-04 Aug-04 Oct-04 Dec-04 Feb-05 Apr-05 Jun-05 Aug-05 Oct-05 Dec-05 Feb-06 Month (Courtesy of NSIDC)

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 28 National Snow Analyses (NSA) Integrated Modeled / Observed Snowpack State Variables

Daily Basin-by-Basin NSA Products Shipped to Web

1. Snow Water Equivalent * 2. Snow Depth * 3. Areal Extent of Snow Cover * 4. Blowing Snow Sublimation 5. Surface Sublimation 6. Snowmelt 7. Average Snowpack Temperature 8. Rain plus Melt 6,500 NWS forecast basins * Includes assimilated snow observations

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 29 National Snow Analyses (NSA) Integrated Modeled / Observed Snowpack State Variables

Daily Basin-by-Basin NSA Products Shipped to Web

1. Snow Water Equivalent * 2. Snow Depth * 3. Areal Extent of Snow Cover * 4. Blowing Snow Sublimation 5. Surface Sublimation 6. Snowmelt 7. Average Snowpack Temperature 8. Rain plus Melt

* Includes assimilated snow observations

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 30 Benefits of NSA Products Use of NSA Information Products at NCRFC NWS River Forecast System N. Raccoon River, Des Moines River Basin 2004 February 12 - March 11

NWSRFS without NOHRSC NSA data NWSRFS updated with NOHRSC NSA data

Original Snow-17 SWE Increased Snow-17 SWE

Observed Stage Corrected Forecast Stage Underestimated Forecast Stage

Example: Two river discharge peaks were observed but underestimated by NWSRFS

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 31 www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Ov er h 12 m its il per lion mo nth

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 32 NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 33 NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 34 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Snow Water Equivalent

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 35 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Snow Water Equivalent

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 36 Interactive Snow Information System

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Snow Water Equivalent

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 37 Physical Element Map Options

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 38 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

24 Hour Change Snow Water Equivalent

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 39 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Mean Snowpack Temperature

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 40 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Station Time Series

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 41 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 42 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Mo de led SWE Ob ser Density ved Depth

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 43 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

. cip pre ed del Mo p. eci pr ved ser Ob

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 44 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Snowpack Temperature

Snowpack Density

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 45 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 46 Interactive Snow Information System

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 47 Interpolated Snowfall – last 72 hours

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 48 Interpolated Snowfall – last 72 hours

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 49 New Climate Diagnostic Tools

www.nohrsc.noaa.gov

Daily Deviation from Monthly Normal Snow Depth November (1961-1990)

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 50 NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 51 NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 52 Snow Water Equivalent Snow Depth

Snowpack Temperature Surface Sublimation

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 53 Snowpack Temperature

Snowmelt

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 54 10,000 Snow Reporting Stations

NOHRSC NSA Time Series

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 55 Thank You !

For more information on NOAA’s National Snow Analyses and the NOHRSC, contact:

Tom Carroll [email protected] (952) 361-6610 ex 225

NOAA’s National Snow Analyses www.nohrsc.noaa.gov 56