NOAA satellite snow cover data

Since 1966, NOAA satellites have been used to create weekly Northern Hemisphere snow cover maps. This 24-year database is available on digital tape and is annually updated. The digital data can be used to calculate snow cover area and create snow cover frequency and anomaly maps. It is the only known long-term record of hemispheric snow cover. In 1993, the new NOAA-K,L,M series of satellites will have a radiometer with a channel at 1.6 μm which will provide a more accurate assessment of global snow cover as it can discriminate snow from clouds. In addition, the NOAA-K,L,M satellites will have microwave sensors capable of detecting snow cover through clouds. During this decade, climatologists will have a global monitoring system for snow cover based on operational NOAA satellite sensors.