Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Comparing COSMO-CLM simulations and MODIS data of snow cover extent and distribution over Italian Alps

  • Published:
Climate Dynamics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Snow cover maps from Earth Observation (EO) satellites are valuable datasets containing large-scale information on snow cover extent, snow cover distribution and snow cover duration. In evaluating the performances of Regional Climate Models, EO data can be a valid piece of information alternative to in-situ measurements, which require a dense network of stations covering the entire altitudinal range and techniques for interpolating the values. In this context, MODIS snow products play a leading role providing several types of snow cover maps with high spatial and temporal resolutions. Here, we assess snow cover outputs of a high resolution Regional Climate Model (RCM) using MODIS maps of snow covered area over the Po river basin, northern Italy. The dataset consists of 9 years of MODIS data (2003–2011) cleaned from cloud cover by means of a cloud removal procedure. The maps have 500 m spatial resolution and daily temporal resolution. The RCM considered is COSMO-CLM, run at 0.0715° resolution (about 8 km) and coupled with the soil module TERRA_ML. The ERA-Interim reanalyses are used as initial and boundary conditions. The results show a good agreement between observed and simulated snow cover duration and extension. COSMO-CLM is able to reproduce the inter-annual variabilities of snow cover features as well as the seasonal trend of snow cover duration and extension. Limitations emerge when the RCM simulates the progressive depletion of the snow cover in spring. Simulated snowmelt occurs faster than the observed one. Then, we investigate the influence of the spatial resolution of the climate model. The simulation at 0.0715° (about 8 km) is compared to a simulation performed at 0.125° (about 14 km). The comparison highlights the benefits provided by the higher spatial resolution in the accumulation season, reflecting the improvements obtained in temperature and precipitation fields.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Agrawala S et al (2007) Climate change in the European Alps: adapting winter tourism and natural hazards management, vol 2. OECD publishing

  • Barnett T, Dümenil L, Schlese U, Roeckner E, Latif M (1989) The effect of Eurasian snow cover on regional and global climate variations. J Atmos Sci 46(5):661–686

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett TP, Adam JC, Lettenmaier DP (2005) Potential impacts of a warming climate on water availability in snow-dominated regions. Nature 438(7066):303–309

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bavay M, Lehning M, Jonas T, Löwe H (2009) Simulations of future snow cover and discharge in Alpine headwater catchments. Hydrol Process 23(1):95–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bavera D, De Michele C (2009) Snow water equivalent estimation in the Mallero basin using snow gauge data and MODIS images and fieldwork validation. Hydrol Process 23(14):1961–1972. doi:10.1002/hyp.7328

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M (2003) Climatic change in mountain regions: a review of possible impacts. In: Climate variability and change in high elevation regions: past, present and future. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 5–31. doi:10.1007/978-94-015-1252-7_2

  • Beniston M (2005) Mountain climates and climatic change: an overview of processes focusing on the European Alps. Pure Appl Geophys 162(8–9):1587–1606. doi:10.1007/s00024-005-2684-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M, Rebetez M (1996) Regional behavior of minimum temperatures in Switzerland for the period 1979–1993. Theoret Appl Climatol 53(4):231–243. doi:10.1007/BF00871739

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M, Keller F, Goyette S (2003) Snow pack in the Swiss Alps under changing climatic conditions: an empirical approach for climate impacts studies. Theoret Appl Climatol 74(1–2):19–31

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beniston M, Keller F, Koffi B, Goyette S (2003) Estimates of snow accumulation and volume in the Swiss Alps under changing climatic conditions. Theoret Appl Climatol 76(3–4):125–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brander D, Seidel K, Huggel C, Zurflueh M (2000) Snow cover duration maps in alpine regions from remote sensing data. In: Proceedings of EARSeL-SIG-Workshop Land Ice and Snow, vol 80, Dresden

  • Brown RD, Mote PW (2009) The response of northern hemisphere snow cover to a changing climate. J Clim 22(8):2124–2145. doi:10.1175/2008JCLI2665.1

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brutel-Vuilmet C, Ménégoz M, Krinner G (2013) An analysis of present and future seasonal Northern Hemisphere land snow cover simulated by CMIP5 coupled climate models. Cryosphere 7(1):67–80. doi:10.5194/tc-7-67-2013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucchignani E, Sanna A, Gualdi S, Castellari S, Schiano P (2013) Simulation of the climate of the XX century in the Alpine space. Nat Hazards 67(3):981–990. doi:10.1007/s11069-011-9883-8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bucchignani E, Montesarchio M, Zollo AL, Mercogliano P (2016) High resolution climate simulations with COSMO-CLM over Italy: performance evaluation and climate projections for the 21st century. Int J Climatol 36(2):735–756. doi:10.1002/joc.4379

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chai T, Draxler RR (2014) Root mean square error (RMSE) or mean absolute error (MAE)?—Arguments against avoiding RMSE in the literature. Geosci Model Dev 7(3):1247–1250. doi:10.5194/gmd-7-1247-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chang ATC, Gloersen P, Schmugge T, Wilheit TT, Zwally HJ (1976) Microwave emission from snow and glacier ice. J Glacio 16:23–39

  • Chang N, Hong Y (2012) Multiscale hydrologic remote sensing: perspectives and applications. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton

  • Christensen J, Christensen O (2007) A summary of the PRUDENCE model projections of changes in European climate by the end of this century. Clim Change 81(1):7–30. doi:10.1007/s10584-006-9210-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Christensen NS, Wood AW, Voisin N, Lettenmaier DP, Palmer RN (2004) The effects of climate change on the hydrology and water resources of the Colorado river basin. Clim Change 62(1–3):337–363

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clifford D (2010) Global estimates of snow water equivalent from passive microwave instruments: history, challenges and future developments. Int J Remote Sens 31(14):3707–3726. doi:10.1080/01431161.2010.483482

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen J, Rind D (1991) The effect of snow cover on the climate. J Clim 4(7):689–706

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Comola F, Schaefli B, Da Ronco P, Botter G, Bavay M, Rinaldo A, Lehning M (2015) Scale-dependent effects of solar radiation patterns on the snow-dominated hydrologic response. Geophys Res Lett 42(10):3895–3902. doi:10.1002/2015GL064075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Da Ronco P, De Michele C (2014) Cloud obstruction and snow cover in Alpine areas from MODIS products. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 18(11):4579–4600. doi:10.5194/hess-18-4579-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Davin E, Stöckli R, Jaeger E, Levis S, Seneviratne S (2011) COSMO-CLM2: a new version of the COSMO-CLM model coupled to the Community Land Model. Clim Dyn 37(9–10):1889–1907. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1019-z

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dee D, Uppala S, Simmons A, Berrisford P, Poli P, Kobayashi S, Andrae U, Balmaseda M, Balsamo G, Bauer P et al (2011) The ERA-Interim reanalysis: configuration and performance of the data assimilation system. Q J R Meteorol Soc 137(656):553–597

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dietz AJ, Kuenzer C, Gessner U, Dech S (2012) Remote sensing of snow-a review of available methods. Int J Remote Sens 33(13):4094–4134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doms G, Förstner J, Heise E, Herzog H, Mironov D, Raschendorfer M, Reinhardt T, Ritter B, Schrodin R, Schulz JP, Vogel G (2011) A description of the nonhydrostatic regional COSMO model. Part II: Physical parameterization. Deutscher Wetterdienst

  • Dozier J (1989) Spectral signature of alpine snow cover from the Landsat Thematic Mapper. Remote Sens Environ 28(0):9–22. doi:10.1016/0034-4257(89)90101-6

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dutra E, Kotlarski S, Viterbo P, Balsamo G, Miranda PMA, Schär C, Bissolli P, Jonas T (2011) Snow cover sensitivity to horizontal resolution, parameterizations, and atmospheric forcing in a land surface model. J Geophys Res Atmos 116(D21). doi:10.1029/2011JD016061

  • Elder K, Rosenthal W, Davis RE (1998) Estimating the spatial distribution of snow water equivalence in a montane watershed. Hydrol Process 12(10–11):1793–1808. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199808/09)12:10/11<1793::AID-HYP695>3.0.CO;2-K

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Elsasser H, Bürki R et al (2002) Climate change as a threat to tourism in the Alps. Clim Res 20(3):253–257

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erschbamer B, Kiebacher T, Mallaun M, Unterluggauer P (2009) Short-term signals of climate change along an altitudinal gradient in the South Alps. Plant Ecol 202(1):79–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldmann H, Schädler G, Panitz HJ, Kottmeier C (2013) Near future changes of extreme precipitation over complex terrain in Central Europe derived from high resolution RCM ensemble simulations. Int J Climatol 33(8):1964–1977. doi:10.1002/joc.3564

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fletcher CG, Kushner PJ, Hall A, Qu X (2009) Circulation responses to snow albedo feedback in climate change. Geophys Res Lett 36(9):L09702. doi:10.1029/2009GL038011

  • Foppa N, Seiz G (2012) Inter-annual variations of snow days over Switzerland from 2000–2010 derived from MODIS satellite data. Cryosphere 6(2):331–342. doi:10.5194/tc-6-331-2012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foppa N, Stoffel A, Meister R (2007) Synergy of in situ and space borne observation for snow depth mapping in the Swiss Alps. Int J Appl Earth Obs Geoinf 9(3):294–310. doi:10.1016/j.jag.2006.10.001

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Foster JL, Sun C, Walker JP, Kelly R, Chang A, Dong J, Powell H (2005) Quantifying the uncertainty in passive microwave snow water equivalent observations. Remote Sens Environ 94(2):187–203. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2004.09.012

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fowler HJ, Blenkinsop S, Tebaldi C (2007) Linking climate change modelling to impacts studies: recent advances in downscaling techniques for hydrological modelling. Int J Climatol 27(12):1547–1578. doi:10.1002/joc.1556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frei A, Tedesco M, Lee S, Foster J, Hall DK, Kelly R, Robinson DA (2012) A review of global satellite-derived snow products. Adv Space Res 50(8):1007–1029

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frei C, Christensen JH, Déqué M, Jacob D, Jones RG, Vidale PL (2003) Daily precipitation statistics in regional climate models: evaluation and intercomparison for the European Alps. J Geophys Res Atmos 108(D3). doi:10.1029/2002JD002287

  • Gafurov A, Bárdossy A (2009) Cloud removal methodology from MODIS snow cover product. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 13(7):1361–1373. 10.5194/hess-13-1361-2009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Y, Xie H, Yao T (2011) Developing snow cover parameters maps from MODIS, AMSR-E, and blended snow products. Photogramm Eng Remote Sens 77(4):351–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gascoin S, Hagolle O, Huc M, Jarlan L, Dejoux JF, Szczypta C, Marti R, Sánchez R (2015) A snow cover climatology for the Pyrenees from MODIS snow products. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 19(5):2337–2351. doi:10.5194/hess-19-2337-2015

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gesell G (1989) An algorithm for snow and ice detection using AVHRR data an extension to the APOLLO software package. Int J Remote Sens 10(4–5):897–905

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F, Lionello P (2008) Climate change projections for the Mediterranean region. Global Planet Change 63(2):90–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F, Hurrell JW, Marinucci MR, Beniston M (1997) Elevation dependency of the surface climate change signal: a model study. J Clim 10(2):288–296

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giorgi F, Christensen J, Hulme M, von Storch H, Whetton P, Jones R, Mearns L, Fu C, Arritt R, Bates B, Benestad R, Boer G, Buishand A, Castro M, Chen D, Cramer W, Crane R, Crossly J, Dehn M, Dethloff K, Dippner J, Emori S, Francisco R, Fyfe J, Gerstengarbe F, Gutowski W, Gyalistras D, Hanssen-Bauer I, Hantel M, Hassell D, Heimann D, Jack C, Jacobeit J, Kato H, Katz R, Kauker F, Knutson T, Lal M, Landsea C, Laprise R, Leung L, Lynch A, May W, McGregor J, Miller N, Murphy J, Ribalaygua J, Rinke A, Rummukainen M, Semazzi F, Walsh K, Werner P, Widmann M, Wilby R, Wild M, Xue Y (2001) Regional Climate Information- Evaluation and Projections, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis. In: [Houghton JT et al (eds)] Contribution of Working Group to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergouvernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, New York, p 881

  • Giorgi F, Jones C, Asrar GR et al (2009) Addressing climate information needs at the regional level: the CORDEX framework. World meteorological organization (WMO). Bulletin 58(3):175

    Google Scholar 

  • Gobiet A, Kotlarski S, Beniston M, Heinrich G, Rajczak J, Stoffel M (2013) 21st century climate change in the European Alps—A review. Sci Total Environ 493:1138–1151. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.07.050

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grasselt R, Schüttemeyer D, Warrach-Sagi K, Ament F, Simmer C (2008) Validation of TERRA-ML with discharge measurements. Meteorol Z 17(6):763–773. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2008/0334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli W, Beniston M (1998) Climate change and its impacts on glaciers and permafrost in the Alps. Ambio 27(4):258–265

  • Hall A (2004) The role of surface albedo feedback in climate. J Clim 17(7):1550–1568. doi:10.1175/1520-0442(2004)017<1550:TROSAF>2.0.CO;2

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA (2007) Accuracy assessment of the MODIS snow products. Hydrol Process 21(12):1534–1547

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV (1995) Development of methods for mapping global snow cover using moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer data. Remote Sens Environ 54(2):127–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV, Barton J, Casey K, Chien J, DiGirolamo N, Klein A, Powell H, Tait A (2001) Algorithm theoretical basis document (ATBD) for the MODIS snow and sea ice-mapping algorithms. NASA GSFC

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA, Salomonson VV, DiGirolamo NE, Bayr KJ (2002) MODIS snow-cover products. Remote Sens Environ 83(1):181–194

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall DK, Riggs GA, Foster JL, Kumar SV (2010) Development and evaluation of a cloud-gap-filled MODIS daily snow-cover product. Remote Sens Environ 114(3):496–503. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2009.10.007

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hantel M, Hirtl-Wielke LM (2007) Sensitivity of Alpine snow cover to European temperature. Int J Climatol 27(10):1265–1275

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hantel M, Maurer C (2011) The median winter snowline in the Alps. Meteorol Z 20(3):267–276. doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2011/0495

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hantel M, Maurer C, Mayer D (2012) The snowline climate of the Alps 1961–2010. Theoret Appl Climatol 110(4):517–537. doi:10.1007/s00704-012-0688-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haslinger K, Anders I, Hofstätter M (2013) Regional climate modelling over complex terrain: an evaluation study of COSMO-CLM hindcast model runs for the Greater Alpine Region. Clim Dyn 40(1–2):511–529. doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1452-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hüsler F, Jonas T, Riffler M, Musial J, Wunderle S (2014) A satellite-based snow cover climatology (1985–2011) for the European Alps derived from AVHRR data. Cryosphere 8(1):73–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Im ES, Coppola E, Giorgi F, Bi X (2010) Local effects of climate change over the Alpine region: a study with a high resolution regional climate model with a surrogate climate change scenario. Geophys Res Lett 37(5). doi:10.1029/2009GL041801,

  • Isotta FA, Frei C, Weilguni V, Perčec Tadić M, Lassègues P, Rudolf B, Pavan V, Cacciamani C, Antolini G, Ratto SM, Munari M, Micheletti S, Bonati V, Lussana C, Ronchi C, Panettieri E, Marigo G, Vertačnik G (2014) The climate of daily precipitation in the Alps: development and analysis of a high-resolution grid dataset from pan-Alpine rain-gauge data. Int J Climatol 34(5):1657–1675. doi:10.1002/joc.3794

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob D, Petersen J, Eggert B, Alias A, Christensen O, Bouwer L, Braun A, Colette A, Déqué M, Georgievski G, Georgopoulou E, Gobiet A, Menut L, Nikulin G, Haensler A, Hempelmann N, Jones C, Keuler K, Kovats S, Kröner N, Kotlarski S, Kriegsmann A, Martin E, van Meijgaard E, Moseley C, Pfeifer S, Preuschmann S, Radermacher C, Radtke K, Rechid D, Rounsevell M, Samuelsson P, Somot S, Soussana JF, Teichmann C, Valentini R, Vautard R, Weber B, Yiou P (2014) EURO-CORDEX: new high-resolution climate change projections for European impact research. Reg Environ Change 14(2):563–578. doi:10.1007/s10113-013-0499-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jonas T, Rixen C, Sturm M, Stoeckli V (2008) How alpine plant growth is linked to snow cover and climate variability. J Geophys Res Biogeosci 113(G3):G03013. doi:10.1029/2007JG000680

  • Keller F, Goyette S, Beniston M (2005) Sensitivity analysis of snow cover to climate change scenarios and their impact on plant habitats in alpine terrain. Clim Change 72(3):299–319

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klehmet K, Geyer B, Rockel B (2013) A regional climate model hindcast for Siberia: analysis of snow water equivalent. Cryosphere 7(4):1017–1034

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein AG, Stroeve J (2002) Development and validation of a snow albedo algorithm for the MODIS instrument. Ann Glaciol 34(1):45–52

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein AG, Hall DK, Riggs GA (1998) Improving snow cover mapping in forests through the use of a canopy reflectance model. Hydrol Process 12(10–11):1723–1744. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199808/09)12:10/11<1723::AID-HYP691>3.0.CO;2-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Koenig U, Abegg B (1997) Impacts of climate change on winter tourism in the Swiss Alps. J Sustain Tour 5(1):46–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotlarski S, Bosshard T, Lüthi D, Pall P, Schär C (2012) Elevation gradients of European climate change in the Regional Climate Model COSMO-CLM. Clim Change 112(2):189–215. doi:10.1007/s10584-011-0195-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kotlarski S, Keuler K, Christensen OB, Colette A, Déqué M, Gobiet A, Goergen K, Jacob D, Lüthi D, van Meijgaard E, Nikulin G, Schär C, Teichmann C, Vautard R, Warrach-Sagi K, Wulfmeyer V (2014) Regional climate modeling on European scales: a joint standard evaluation of the EURO-CORDEX RCM ensemble. Geosci Model Dev Discuss 7(4):1297–13333. doi:10.5194/gmd-7-1297-2014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krause P, Boyle DP, Bäse F (2005) Comparison of different efficiency criteria for hydrological model assessment. Adv Geosci 5:89–97. doi:10.5194/adgeo-5-89-2005

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kunstmann H, Stadler C (2005) High resolution distributed atmospheric-hydrological modelling for Alpine catchments. J Hydrol 314(1–4):105–124. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2005.03.033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laternser M, Schneebeli M (2003) Long-term snow climate trends of the Swiss Alps (1931–99). Int J Climatol 23(7):733–750. doi:10.1002/joc.912

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee S, Klein AG, Over TM (2005) A comparison of MODIS and NOHRSC snow-cover products for simulating streamflow using the Snowmelt Runoff Model. Hydrol Process 19(15):2951–2972. doi:10.1002/hyp.5810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • López-Moreno JI, Goyette S, Beniston M (2008) Climate change prediction over complex areas: spatial variability of uncertainties and predictions over the Pyrenees from a set of regional climate models. Int J Climatol 28(11):1535–1550. doi:10.1002/joc.1645

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Magnusson J, Jonas T, Lopez-Moreno I, Lehning M (2010) Snow cover response to climate change in a high alpine and haif-glacierized basin in Switzerland. Hydrol Res 41(3–4):230–240. doi:10.2166/nh.2010.115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin E, Etchevers P (2005) Impact of climatic changes on snow cover and snow hydrology in the French Alps. In: Huber UM, Bugmann HKM, Reasoner MA (eds) Global change and mountain regions: An overview of current knowledge, Part II. Advances in global change research, vol 23. Springer, Netherlands, pp 235–242. doi:10.1007/140203508X24

  • Meehl GA, Covey C, Taylor KE, Delworth T, Stouffer RJ, Latif M, McAvaney B, Mitchell JF (2007) The WCRP CMIP3 multimodel dataset: a new era in climate change research. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 88(9):1383–1394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Middelkoop H, Daamen K, Gellens D, Grabs W, Kwadijk JC, Lang H, Parmet BW, Schädler B, Schulla J, Wilke K (2001) Impact of climate change on hydrological regimes and water resources management in the Rhine basin. Clim Change 49(1–2):105–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montesarchio M, Zollo AL, Bucchignani E, Mercogliano P, Castellari S (2014) Performance evaluation of high-resolution regional climate simulations in the Alpine space and analysis of extreme events. J Geophys Res Atmos 119(6):3222–3237. doi:10.1002/2013JD021105

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nash J, Sutcliffe J (1970) River flow forecasting through conceptual models part I—A discussion of principles. J Hydrol 10(3):282–290. doi:10.1016/0022-1694(70)90255-6,

  • Parajka J, Blöschl G (2006) Validation of MODIS snow cover images over Austria. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 10(5):679–689. doi:10.5194/hess-10-679-2006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parajka J, Blöschl G (2008a) Spatio-temporal combination of MODIS images – potential for snow cover mapping. Water Resour Res 44(3). doi:10.1029/2007WR006204

  • Parajka J, Blöschl G (2008b) The value of MODIS snow cover data in validating and calibrating conceptual hydrologic models. J Hydrol 358(3–4):240–258. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2008.06.006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parajka J, Pepe M, Rampini A, Rossi S, Blöschl G (2010) A regional snow-line method for estimating snow cover from MODIS during cloud cover. J Hydrol 381(3–4):203–212. doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2009.11.042

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paudel KP, Andersen P (2011) Monitoring snow cover variability in an agropastoral area in the Trans Himalayan region of Nepal using MODIS data with improved cloud removal methodology. Remote Sens Environ 115(5):1234–1246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pauli H, Gottfried M, Grabherr G (1996) Effects of climate change on mountain ecosystems—upward shifting of alpine plants. World Resour Rev 8(3):382–390

    Google Scholar 

  • Payne JT, Wood AW, Hamlet AF, Palmer RN, Lettenmaier DP (2004) Mitigating the effects of climate change on the water resources of the Columbia river basin. Clim Change 62(1–3):233–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pepe M, Brivio P, Rampini A, Nodari FR, Boschetti M (2005) Snow cover monitoring in Alpine regions using ENVISAT optical data. Int J Remote Sens 26(21):4661–4667

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Räisänen J (2008) Warmer climate: less or more snow? Clim Dyn 30(2–3):307–319. doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0289-y

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Räisänen J, Eklund J (2012) 21st century changes in snow climate in northern Europe: a high-resolution view from ENSEMBLES regional climate models. Clim Dyn 38(11–12):2575–2591. doi:10.1007/s00382-011-1076-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramsay BH (1998) The interactive multisensor snow and ice mapping system. Hydrol Process 12(10):1537–1546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rango A, Chang A, Foster J (1979) The utilization of spaceborne microwave radiometers for monitoring snowpack properties. Nord Hydrol 10(1):25–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Rango A, Gomez-Landesa E, Bleiweiss M, Havstad K, Tanksley K (2003) Improved satellite snow mapping, snowmelt runoff forecasting, and climate change simulations in the upper Rio Grande basin. World Resour Rev 15:25–41

    Google Scholar 

  • Riggs G, Hall DK, Salomonson VV (2006) MODIS snow products user guide to collection 5. http://modis-snow-ice.gsfc.nasa.gov

  • Rittger K, Painter TH, Dozier J (2013) Assessment of methods for mapping snow cover from MODIS. Adv Water Resour 51:367–380

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rockel B, Will A, Hense A (2008) The regional climate model COSMO-CLM (CCLM). Meteorol Z 17(4):347–348

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rodell M, Houser P (2004) Updating a land surface model with MODIS-derived snow cover. J Hydrometeorol 5(6):1064–1075

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salomonson V, Appel I (2004) Estimating fractional snow cover from MODIS using the normalized difference snow index. Remote Sens Environ 89(3):351–360

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salomonson VV, Appel I (2006) Development of the Aqua MODIS NDSI fractional snow cover algorithm and validation results. Geosci Remote Sens IEEE Trans 44(7):1747–1756

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaefli B, Hingray B, Musy A et al (2007) Climate change and hydropower production in the Swiss Alps: quantification of potential impacts and related modelling uncertainties. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci Dis 11(3):1191–1205

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schaper J, Martinec J, Seidel K (1999) Distributed mapping of snow and glaciers for improved runoff modelling. Hydrol Process 13(12–13):2023–2031. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1099-1085(199909)13:12/13<2023::AID-HYP877>3.0.CO;2-A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scherrer SC, Appenzeller C, Laternser M (2004) Trends in Swiss Alpine snow days: the role of local- and large-scale climate variability. Geophys Res Lett 31(13). doi:10.1029/2004GL020255,

  • Van der Schrier G, van den Besselaar EJM, Klein Tank AMG, Verver G (2013) Monitoring European average temperature based on the E-OBS gridded data set. J Geophys Res Atmos 118(11):5120–5135. doi:10.1002/jgrd.50444

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scott D, McBoyle G (2007) Climate change adaptation in the ski industry. Mitig Adapt Strat Glob Change 12(8):1411–1431

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seidel K, Martinec J (2002) Hydrological applications of satellite snow cover mapping in the Swiss Alps. In: Proceedings of EARSeL-LISSIG-Workshop Observing our Cryosphere from Space, vol 80

  • Seidel K, Martinec J (2004) Remote sensing in snow hydrology: runoff modelling, effect of climate change. Springer-Praxis books in geophysical sciences. Springer, Praxis Pub., Berlin, New York, Chichester, UK, p 150

  • Steger C, Kotlarski S, Jonas T, Schär C (2013) Alpine snow cover in a changing climate: a regional climate model perspective. Clim Dyn 41(3–4):735–754. doi:10.1007/s00382-012-1545-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steiger R, Mayer M (2008) Snowmaking and climate change: future options for snow production in Tyrolean ski resorts. Mt Res Dev 28(3):292–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Steppeler J, Doms G, Schättler U, Bitzer HW, Gassmann A, Damrath U, Gregoric G (2003) Meso-gamma scale forecasts using the nonhydrostatic model LM. Meteorol Atmos Phys 82(1–4):75–96. doi:10.1007/s00703-001-0592-9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun C, Walker JP, Houser PR (2004) A methodology for snow data assimilation in a land surface model. J Geophys Res Atmos 109(D8). doi:10.1029/2003JD003765

  • Takala M, Luojus K, Pulliainen J, Derksen C, Lemmetyinen J, Kärnä JP, Koskinen J, Bojkov B (2011) Estimating northern hemisphere snow water equivalent for climate research through assimilation of space-borne radiometer data and ground-based measurements. Remote Sens Environ 115(12):3517–3529. doi:10.1016/j.rse.2011.08.014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor KE, Stouffer RJ, Meehl GA (2012) An overview of CMIP5 and the experiment design. Bull Am Meteorol Soc 93(4):485–498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tedesco M, Narvekar P (2010) Assessment of the NASA AMSR-E SWE product. Selected topics in applied earth observations and remote sensing. IEEE J 3(1):141–159. doi:10.1109/JSTARS.2010.2040462

    Google Scholar 

  • Tedesco M, Kelly R, Foster J, Chang A (2004) AMSR-E/Aqua daily l3 global snow water equivalent EASE-Grids V002. National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder

    Google Scholar 

  • Theurillat JP, Guisan A (2001) Potential impact of climate change on vegetation in the European Alps: a review. Clim Change 50(1–2):77–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tiedtke M (1989) A comprehensive mass flux scheme for cumulus parameterization in large-scale models. Mon Weather Rev 117(8):1779–1800

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tong J, Déry SJ, Jackson PL (2009) Topographic control of snow distribution in an alpine watershed of western Canada inferred from spatially-filtered MODIS snow products. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci 13(3):319–326. doi:10.5194/hess-13-319-2009

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Uppala SM, KÅllberg PW, Simmons AJ, Andrae U, Bechtold VDC, FiorinoM, Gibson JK, Haseler J, Hernandez A, Kelly GA, Li X, Onogi K,Saarinen S, Sokka N, Allan RP, Andersson E, Arpe K, Balmaseda MA,Beljaars ACM, Berg LVD, Bidlot J, Bormann N, Caires S, Chevallier F,Dethof A, Dragosavac M, Fisher M, Fuentes M, Hagemann S, Hólm E,Hoskins BJ, Isaksen L, Janssen PAEM, Jenne R, Mcnally AP, MahfoufJF, Morcrette JJ, Rayner NA, Saunders RW, Simon P, Sterl A, Trenberth KE, Untch A, Vasiljevic D, Viterbo P, Woollen J (2005) The ERA-40 re-analysis. Q J R Meteorol Soc 131(612):2961–3012. doi:10.1256/qj.04.176

  • Vanham D (2012) The Alps under climate change: implications for water management in Europe. J Water Clim Change 3(3):197–206

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vavrus S (2007) The role of terrestrial snow cover in the climate system. Clim Dyn 29(1):73–88. doi:10.1007/s00382-007-0226-0

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viviroli D, Dürr HH, Messerli B, Meybeck M, Weingartner R (2007) Mountains of the world, water towers for humanity: typology, mapping, and global significance. Water Resour Res 43(7). doi:10.1029/2006WR005653

  • Voigt T, Füssel HM, Gärtner-Roer I, Huggel C, Marty C, Zemp M (2010) Impacts of climate change on snow, ice, and permafrost in Europe: observed trends, future projections, and socio-economic relevance. ETC/ACC Technical Paper 2010/13, The European Topic Centre on Air and Climate Change, Bilthovan, The Netherlands, p 117

  • Walther GR, Post E, Convey P, Menzel A, Parmesan C, Beebee TJ, Fromentin JM, Hoegh-Guldberg O, Bairlein F (2002) Ecological responses to recent climate change. Nature 416(6879):389–395

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber RO, Talkner P, Auer I, Böhm R, Gajić-Čapka M, Zaninović K, Brazdil R, Faško P (1997) 20th-century changes of temperature in the mountain regions of central Europe. Clim Change 36(3–4):327–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wielke LM, Haimberger L, Hantel M (2004) Snow cover duration in Switzerland compared to Austria. Meteorol Z 13(1):13–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilby RL, Wigley TML, Conway D, Jones PD, Hewitson BC, Main J, Wilks DS (1998) Statistical downscaling of general circulation model output: a comparison of methods. Water Resour Res 34(11):2995–3008. doi:10.1029/98WR02577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wood A, Leung L, Sridhar V, Lettenmaier D (2004) Hydrologic implications of dynamical and statistical approaches to downscaling climate model outputs. Clim Change 62(1–3):189–216. doi:10.1023/B:CLIM.0000013685.99609.9e

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zaitchik BF, Rodell M (2009) Forward-looking assimilation of MODIS-derived snow-covered area into a land surface model. J Hydrometeorol 10(1):130–148

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The research leading to these results has received funding from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research and the Italian Ministry of Environment, Land and Sea under GEMINA and NEXTDATA projects.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Pierfrancesco Da Ronco.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Da Ronco, P., De Michele, C., Montesarchio, M. et al. Comparing COSMO-CLM simulations and MODIS data of snow cover extent and distribution over Italian Alps. Clim Dyn 47, 3955–3977 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-3054-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-016-3054-2

Keywords

Navigation