GLASNOWMAP

The project proposed to define and implement an information service for monitoring of glacier and snow cover changes in Alpine regions. It was based on the combined use of radar and optical satellite multi-scale observations, ground data and geographic information. As a value added product, a dynamic snow-melt runoff model fed by remote sensing derived information for water resource management was tested and validated.

The project achieved the following results:

• Provision of a system for glacier monitoring through the combined use of ASAR observation at 30 m resolution, Landsat TM images and the Digital Terrain model; monitoring includes the identification of accumulation and ablation basin, and the snow transient line (equilibrium line)
• Quantification of the annual variations of the Lys, Adamello and Allalin glaciers by computing glaciological parameters
• Provision of a system for generating snow-cover accumulation maps in winter and snow cover depletion maps in Spring and Summer using ENVISAT data for input into catchment scale discharge models
• An on-line system that can be used to generate, download and integrate remote sensing data with other information for use by end-users engaged in the above activities