Global Snow-Water-Equivalent Depth Coefficient-of-Variation Classification https://data.eol.ucar.edu/dataset/106.ARCSS138 Summary This data set provides a global distribution of nine subgrid snow-depth-variability categories and a coefficient of variation applicable to each category, as the result of the Subgrid SNOW Distribution (SSNOWD) submodel that defines subgrid snow-depth and snow-cover variability. This data set provides the distribution of those nine categories and their coefficient-of-variation values on a global, 2.5 arc-min latitude-longitude (approximately 5-km) grid. The time period covered is 1 January 1994 through 1 January 2004. The SSNOWD submodel was formulated to improve the depiction of autumn through spring land-atmosphere interactions and feedbacks within global weather, climate, and hydrologic models. From both atmospheric and hydrologic perspectives, the subgrid snow-depth distribution is an important quantity to account for within large-scale models. In the natural system, these subgrid snow-depth distributions are largely responsible for the mosaic of snow-covered and snow-free areas that develop as the snow melts, and the impacts of these fractional areas must be quantified in order to realistically simulate grid-averaged surface fluxes. SSNOWD's formulation incorporates observational studies showing that snow distributions can be described by a lognormal distribution and the snow-depth coefficient-of-variation (CV). Using an understanding of the physical processes that lead to these observed snow-depth variations, a global distribution of nine subgrid snow-depth-variability categories was developed, and coefficient-of-variation values were assigned to each category based on published measurements. Data are in binary format. Identifiers * Local archive identifier: 106.ARCSS138 * doi:10.5065/D6GF0RMX https://doi.org/10.5065/D6GF0RMX Versions 1.0 Citation Liston, G., Liston, G. 2009. Global Snow-Water-Equivalent Depth Coefficient-of-Variation Classification. Version 1.0. UCAR/NCAR - Earth Observing Laboratory. https://doi.org/10.5065/D6GF0RMX Accessed 20 Apr 2024. Additional citation styles can be generated by entering the DOI at CrossCite (https://citation.crosscite.org/). Acknowledgement In addition to the citation reference and any other acknowledgements, please acknowledge NCAR/EOL in your publications with text such as: Data provided by NCAR/EOL under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation. https://data.eol.ucar.edu/ Related projects * ARCSS: NSF Arctic System Science https://data.eol.ucar.edu/project/ARCSS Additional information * Spatial Type: grid * Language: English Grant Code 9415386, 0229973, 9732077 ISO Topic Categories * climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere Categories * Arctic * Hydrology * Models/Analyses * Snow and Land Ice Platforms * Models Instruments * Computer GCMD Science Keywords * EARTH SCIENCE SERVICES > MODELS > CRYOSPHERE MODELS * EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW DEPTH * EARTH SCIENCE > CRYOSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW MELT * EARTH SCIENCE > TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW WATER EQUIVALENT Documentation * ARCSS138.html [13 KiB] https://data.eol.ucar.edu/file/download/41A62E91F24/ARCSS138.html * readme.txt [5 KiB] https://data.eol.ucar.edu/file/download/41A624E5301/readme.txt Related links * download: NSF Arctic Data Center https://doi.org/10.5065/D6GF0RMX * info: ARCSS Data Policy https://data.eol.ucar.edu/arctic_projects/arcss/Data_Policy.html * homepage: ARCSS EOL Webpage https://www.eol.ucar.edu/field_projects/arcss Temporal coverage * Begin datetime: 1994-01-01 00:00:00 * End datetime: 2004-01-01 23:59:59 Spatial coverage * Maximum (North) Latitude: 90.00 * Minimum (South) Latitude: -90.00 * Minimum (West) Longitude: -180.00 * Maximum (East) Longitude: 180.00 Primary contact information * pointOfContact: Glen E. Liston https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/780 Additional contact information * principalInvestigator: Larry Mahrt https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/240 * author: Glen E. Liston https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/780 * principalInvestigator: Matthew Sturm https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/336 * principalInvestigator: Glen E. Liston https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/780 * principalInvestigator: Charles H. Racine https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/1134 * originator: Glen E. Liston https://data.eol.ucar.edu/contact/show/780 Alternate metadata formats * DataCite: https://data.eol.ucar.edu/dataset/106.ARCSS138?format=datacite * ISO/TC 211: https://data.eol.ucar.edu/dataset/106.ARCSS138?format=isotc211