Ground-Based Oblique-View Photogrammetry and Sentinel-1 Spaceborne RADAR Reflectivity Snow Melt Processes Assessment on an Arctic Glacier

The snowpack evolution during the melt season on an Arctic glacier is assessed using ground-based oblique-view cameras, spaceborne imaging and spaceborne RADAR. The repeated and systematic Synthetic Aperture RADAR (SAR) imaging by the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 spaceborne RADARs allows for all-weather, all-illumination condition monitoring of the snow-covered fraction of the glacier and hence assessing its water production potential. A comparison of the RADAR reflectivity with optical and multispectral imaging highlights the difference between the observed quantities-water content in the former, albedo in the latter-and the complementarity for understanding the snow melt processes. This work highlights the temporal inertia between the visible spring melting of the snowpack and the snow metamorphism. It was found that the snowpack exhibits that approximately 30 days before it starts to fade.

Automated summary

The evolution of snowpack during the melt season on an Arctic glacier is assessed using ground-based cameras, spaceborne imaging, and spaceborne RADAR. Repeated and systematic RADAR imaging by Sentinel-1 RADARs allows for all-weather monitoring of the snow-covered fraction and its water production potential. Comparisons between RADAR reflectivity and optical/multispectral imaging highlight the differences in observed quantities and their complementarity in understanding snow melt processes. The study reveals a temporal inertia between visible spring melting and snow metamorphism, with the snowpack starting to fade approximately 30 days in advance.