Snow Cover Data

Snow Cover Duration

Data descriptions:

Global 0.05 × 0.05 deg gridded snow cover duration data. Data type is binary (data type: uint8). A netcdf4 file is also available storing scd of float type.

Array size: 7200 x 3601 (equal lon-lat grid same as the JASMES grid, https://www.eorc.jaxa.jp/JASMES/docs/CSF_gl_data.html)

Size of pixel: 0.05 degree (same as grid interval)

Latitude and longitude of four corners of the global image (center of each corner pixel):
  Upper left: Lon: 0.0deg.E, Lat: 90.0deg.N
  Lower right: Lon: 359.95deg.E (-0.05deg.W), Lat: 90.0deg.S

Meaning of values:
0-240: snow cover duration counted as the number of half-months x 10.
　　　"240" means that the pixel is covered with snow during the whole year (24 half-months).)
250: ocean without snow cover
251: land without snow cover
255: fill value

The detailed analysis method and accuracy estimations of snow cover detection are found in Hori et al. (2017).

Reference:

Hori, M., Sugiura, K., Kobayashi, K., Aoki, T., Tanikawa, T., Kuchiki, K., Niwano, M., Enomoto, H., 2017: A 38-year (1978–2015) Northern Hemisphere daily snow cover extent product derived using consistent objective criteria from satellite-borne optical sensors. Remote Sensing Environment, 191, 402-418, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2017.01.023.