Andrew Yee[_1_]
April 12th 07, 04:54 AM
ESA News
http://www.esa.int
5 April 2007
Snowmelt monitored in the Baltic Sea watershed region in near real time
As spring melt of winter snow is underway in the Baltic Sea watershed
region, satellites are monitoring and mapping the snow melting process to
help local authorities manage water supplies and predict and prepare for
floods. Remote sensing is the only technique capable of providing a
comprehensive view over such a large area.
Within the context of ESA's Polar View programme, funded through the
Earthwatch GMES Service Element (GSE), the Finnish Environment Institute
(SYKE) is using images from Earth observation satellites to provide snow
maps of Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and parts of Western
Russia and Belarus from the beginning of March until the end of May.
Satellite images are downlinked to the Arctic Research Centre of the Finnish
Meteorological Institute (FMI) and then passed on to SYKE, which takes the
image data and processes it further to create the snow maps.
SYKE's snow-mapping method produces information on fractional snow coverage
for all non-mountainous areas, even heavily forested spots, with fine
resolution. The maps are published on the SYKE website as soon as they are
compiled, usually within four to five hours of satellite overpass.
Because snow is vital to the water cycle, predicting when and how snow will
melt and be released into local ecosystems is very useful. For instance
several Finnish regional environment centres and the Estonian Meteorological
Institute are using the snow maps on a daily basis for hydrological
modelling, flood forecasting and water resources management.
The snow maps are also used by the commercial sector for activities such as
managing hydroelectric power production and estimating how much time is left
in the season for winter sports.
In 2008, the mapping project will expand to include parts of Poland.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZ2B7DWZE_index_1.html ]
http://www.esa.int
5 April 2007
Snowmelt monitored in the Baltic Sea watershed region in near real time
As spring melt of winter snow is underway in the Baltic Sea watershed
region, satellites are monitoring and mapping the snow melting process to
help local authorities manage water supplies and predict and prepare for
floods. Remote sensing is the only technique capable of providing a
comprehensive view over such a large area.
Within the context of ESA's Polar View programme, funded through the
Earthwatch GMES Service Element (GSE), the Finnish Environment Institute
(SYKE) is using images from Earth observation satellites to provide snow
maps of Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and parts of Western
Russia and Belarus from the beginning of March until the end of May.
Satellite images are downlinked to the Arctic Research Centre of the Finnish
Meteorological Institute (FMI) and then passed on to SYKE, which takes the
image data and processes it further to create the snow maps.
SYKE's snow-mapping method produces information on fractional snow coverage
for all non-mountainous areas, even heavily forested spots, with fine
resolution. The maps are published on the SYKE website as soon as they are
compiled, usually within four to five hours of satellite overpass.
Because snow is vital to the water cycle, predicting when and how snow will
melt and be released into local ecosystems is very useful. For instance
several Finnish regional environment centres and the Estonian Meteorological
Institute are using the snow maps on a daily basis for hydrological
modelling, flood forecasting and water resources management.
The snow maps are also used by the commercial sector for activities such as
managing hydroelectric power production and estimating how much time is left
in the season for winter sports.
In 2008, the mapping project will expand to include parts of Poland.
[NOTE: Images and weblinks supporting this release are available at
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZ2B7DWZE_index_1.html ]