A EUROPEAN NETWORK FOR A HARMONISED MONITORING OF SNOW FOR THE BENEFIT OF CLIMATOLOGY, HYDROLOGY AND

NUMERICAL WEATHER PREDICTION

Contributors from 15 COST countries and 4 non-COST countries

CONTENTS• Importance of snow information • Reasons for the Action• Objectives and benefits of the Action• Scientific programme - tasks of the working

groups• Deliverables and milestones• Potential users and stakeholders• Organisation and dissemination• Early stage researcher plan and gender balance• Comments from EEP Consensus

Snow: It quenches our thirst/it cools our planet

Snow modifies the atmospheric and surface energy balance => impacts on weather, climate

and the water cycle

Changes in snow are projected to occur in the future as a response to temperature increase and either increases or decreases in precipitation, depending on the world region

Ref: Räisänen (2008)

Emissions

20-model mean changes in snow water equivalent under the A1B scenario

0

10

20

30

40

2000 2050 2100

Snow information is needed for understanding and predicting climate change

WEATHER FORECAST

OBSERVATIONS NWP MODEL

ROAD MODEL SNOW MODEL

SNOW ANALYSIS

FORECASTER WITH (STATISTICAL) TOOLS

AVALANCHE SNOW DRIFT

WARNING

(+SNOW ANALYSIS)

Snow information is necessary for forecasting weather and delivering natural hazard warnings => Strong socio-

economical relevance

Reasons for the Action

Hundreds of researchers and observers are measuring snow on the ground, from space, on the ice … in many different ways

Incr

easi

ng D

ifficu

lty to

Mea

sure

Increasing Uncertainty in Measurement

Snow depth

Snow densitySnow water equivalent

Snow temperature profile and ground temperature

Snow surface and air temperatureSnow surface roughness

Snow stratigraphy

Grain shape Grain size

Liquid water contentSoil moisture

Ground surface roughness

Soil temperature profileSnow grain bonds

Snow matrix structure (3-D)

Measurement location

Snow matrix structure (2-D, SMP)

Measuring is not easy …Measuring is not easy …

Courtesey ofKelly ElderRocky Mountain Research Station, US Forest Service, Fort Collins, CO, kelder@fs.fed.us

- micro scale - - macro scale - - regional/global scale -

Snow microphysics model (1D)

Snow physics model (1D)

NWP or climate model (3D)

Measurementsin-situ (campaigns)

remote sensing

Measurementsin-situ (regular)remote sensing

development,parameterization parameterization

developmentcalibrationvalidation

data assimilationvalidation

calibration

Snow processes need modelling over all scales

This COST Action on SNOW aims at building a better connection between snow measurements

and models, between snow observers, researchers and forecasters, for the benefit of

various stakeholders and the entire society

Aim of the Action:To enhance the capability of the research

community and operational services to provide and exploit quality-assured and comparable

regional and global observation-based data on the variability of the state and extent of snow.

Why COST ?• Snow occurrence, processes and issues concern most countries, even (and

even more so) if snow is not a recurrent phenomenon (e.g. winter 2012-13 in Western Europe) => Wide interest in many countries (and even more than at the time of the proposal).

• There are many issues which need preliminary deciphering and thus that can be solved only through networking and inclusiveness to share the various experience, expertise and situations.

• The activities coordinated by the Action are multidisciplinary, as the topics being addressed range from measurements (in situ and remote sensing), instrumentation, sensor data processing, data assimilation, data analyses and fusion to physical processes, numerical modelling, and climatic conditions.

• COST is the ideal instrument for such inclusive and broad collaboration, coordination and training. Specifically, the Action aims at providing significant progress on harmonising measurement practices and instrumentation for reliable snow data retrieval and collection, and on enhancing coherent subsequent analysis, use and interpretation for applications.

• The Action will be integrated in global initiatives (through eg.. WMO)

Complementarity with other research programmes

• EUMETSAT Hydro-SAF: Satellite Application Facility on support to operational hydrology and water management, 2005-2017

• The GMES/Copernicus Services on snow• DUE-GlobSnow, 2008-2014 (Data User Element project, European Space Agency)• Nordic Centre of Excellence SVALI (Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice): a major Nordic

collaborative venture for studies of climate, energy and the environment, 2011-2015• EuRuCAS: EU/FP7 European-Russian Centre for cooperation in the Arctic and Sub-Arctic

environmental and climate research, 2012-2015• SNAP (Snow, Ice and Avalanche Applications): EU Northern Periphery Programme, 2011-2014• WG “From quantitative stratigraphy to microstructure-based modelling of snow” of the

International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS), 2012 – 2016• Expert Team on Land Surface Parameterisations and Data Assimilation in the EUMETNET

programme C-SRNWP (Coordination on Short-Range Numerical Weather Prediction)• Cryosphere-atmosphere interactions in a changing Arctic climate (CRAICC): a Nordic Centre of

Excellence project investigating the interactions between ice and the atmosphere.• ESF Research Networking Programme “Micro-Dynamics of Ice (Micro-DICE)”, 2010-2015.• Svalbard Integrated Arctic Earth Observing System –Preparatory Phase Project (SIOS-PP), EU

FP7-ESFRI Infrastructure, 2010-2014.• CLiC (Climate and Cryosphere) core project of the World Climate Research Programme WCRP.

Overall Objectives & Benefits1. Establish a European-wide science network on snow measurements for their

optimum use and applications benefitting on interactions across disciplines and expertise.

2. Assess and harmonise practices, standards and retrieval algorithms applied to ground, air- and space-borne snow measurements => Foster their acceptance by key snow network operators at the international level.

3. Develop a rationale and long term strategy for snow measurements, their dissemination and archiving.

4. Advance snow data assimilation in European NWP and hydrological models and show its benefit for relevant applications.

5. Establish a validation strategy for climate, NWP and hydrological models against snow observations and foster its implementation within the European modelling communities.

6. Training of a new generation of scientists on snow science and measuring techniques with a broader and more holistic perspective linked with the various applications.

Scientific Programme• The Action will scrutinise activities related to snow science in terms of (1) observations, (2) instrumentation and (3) data assimilation, aiming at better effectiveness, harmonisation and coverage of snow data.

• Harmonization activities will focus on the critical nodes of the measurement chain.

• Getting the best support from remote sensing for weather forecasts via data assimilation requires mastering the whole spectrum of scales and resolutions.

• The proposed Action will be based on a number of on-going development projects carried out by the participants, and will act as a platform for national and EU research and/or infrastructure proposals. • The Action will bring together diverse disciplines, applications and techniques to work together within the 3 focal activities by combining new techniques and applications in innovative ways, encouraging developments towards betterinter-compatibility, effective use of upgraded measurements, and cross-communityvalidations.

• Three WGs will be defined according to the 3 focuses in the scientific programme.

The Action focuses on observations and data assimilation

WG1: Physical Characterization of Snow properties

Task 1.1: Identifying and assessing the essential snow variables Task 1.2: Physical characterization of the essential snow variables

Task 1.3: Snow network optimization, data quality control and homogenization

Task 1.4: Harmonization of snow observations in terms of the measured variables

WG2: Instrument and Method Evaluation

Task 2.1: A review of existing space-borne and ground-based sensors/instrumentation applied for measurement of different snow characteristic, estimation of their uncertainties.

Task 2.2: Guidelines for in-situ snow observations and related training

Task 2.3: Spectroradiometry for snow studies

Task 2.4: Methods to measure snow grain size

Task 2.5: Methods to measure mechanical properties of snow

WG3: Snow data assimilation and validation methods for NWP and hydrological models

Task 3.1: An overview assessment for understanding the future perspectives of how the various snow observations are used in NWP, hydrology and climate studies.

Task 3.2: Development of methods to update non-observed forecasted physical snow properties (such as snow temperature, wetness, density profiles, and mechanical properties) based on the observed ones (such as snow depth and extent).

Task 3.3: Advance in the assimilation of new and developing satellite observations of different snow properties and their combination with conventional in-situ snow measurements.

Task 3.4: Finding ways towards more extended usage of conventional snow observations in NWP, hydrological and climate models, including observations from high-resolution national networks.

Task 3.5: Reaching better knowledge on model and observational errors relevant for data assimilation, by establishing links between model and measurement communities via WG1 and WG2.

Overall of Deliverables • A web-based overview/data portal of snow observations, measurements

and instruments with links to existing real-time snow databases• A review and practical guide on snow measurements considering different

user needs• A catalogue of snow measurement instrumentation and best practices• A review on snow data assimilation in European NWP and hydrological

models• Multidisciplinary articles in scientific journals (including above review

results)• A synthesis and strategic recommendations report.

Milestones Deliverables M1 Establishment of the MC, with nomination of Chair, vice-Chair, Grant-holder, website manager, ESR and Gender monitors. M2 Establishment of WGs and nomination of their leaders and co-leaders. M3 Definition of work plan; schedule and items of WGs’ meetings. M4 Definition of 2 Workshops’ topics and invitees. M5 Call, evaluation and approval of yearly STSMs for each year. M6 The Action’s webpage is operational.

D1 Review report on identifying and assessing the essential snow variables. D2 Summary of physical characterization and harmonized definition of snow variables. D3 Priority assessment of snow characteristics for various applications D4 Handbook on standardized methods for snow data quality control. D5 Assessment of measurement errors and inter-calibration of measurement techniques. D6 Report on spatial and temporal representativeness errors of snow measurements for data assimilation in NWP and hydrological models.

Milestones & Deliverables

Milestones Deliverables M7 Questionnaire on measurements and instrumentation completed (i.e. drafted, sent and analysed). M8 Questionnaire on data assimilation techniques completed. M9 Essential snow variables identified. M10 Physical characterization of essential snow variables completed. M11 1st Field campaign for inter-comparison of instruments and exchange of methods completed. M12 2nd Field campaign for testing the developed snow measurements protocols. M13 Links to peer-reviewed papers on international journals written by the Action participants collected to the Action web site.

D7 Peer-reviewed publications on advanced assimilation techniques for NWP and hydrological models D8 Measurement reports and manuals to standardize measurement protocols will be issued based on the field campaign results. D9 Two specific workshop for addressing the different focuses of the Action (1. emphasis on characterization and measurements, 2. emphasis on snow data assimilation in NWP models). D10 Training school on snow measurements and data assimilation organized. D11 Each of the three working groups will produce a review paper by the end of the Action. D12 Final workshop to summarise, promote and disseminate achievements of the Action, and involving users and stake holders.

Milestones & Deliverables

Year Activities/Milestones/Deliverables

1

Q1 Establishment of MC, with nomination of Chair, vice-Chair, Grant-holder, website manager, ESR and Gender monitors (M1).

Establishment of WGs and nomination of their leaders and co-leaders (M2). Q2 Definition of work plan; schedule and items of WGs’ meetings (M3), workshop#1

(M4) and STSMs (M5) Internal and external web sites are set up for further development (M6) Design and identification of addressees for the questionnaire on measurements,

instrumentation and data assimilation practices (M7) Q3 Plans for participation to 1st field campaign in Year 2.

Q4 End of Year 1’s review and short reports from WGs meetings, workshop and STSMs.

TIMELINES

Year Activities/Milestones/Deliverables

2

Q1 Assessing achievements against work plan: setting new steps for implementing the MoU;

Schedule and items of WGs’ meetings, workshop#2(M4) and STSMs (M5) Analyses of the questionnaires (D1, D2) Essential snow variables identified (M9) Plans of training school on snow measurements and data assimilation in Year 3

Q2 1st Workshop (D9) with emphasis on characterization and measurements of snow 1st Field campaign of snow measurements (M11)

Q3 Review report on 1st field campaign (D8)

Q4 Preparing plans for 2nd field campaign in Year 3 End of Year 2’s review and short reports from WGs meetings, workshop and STSMs

TIMELINES

Year Activities/Milestones/Deliverables

3

Q1 Assessing achievements against work plan: setting new steps for implementing MoU Schedule and items of WGs’ meetings, Final workshop and STSMs (M5) 2nd Workshop with emphasis on snow data assimilation in NWP models (D9) Physical characterization of essential snow variables completed (M10)

Q2 2nd field campaign of snow measurements (M12)

Q3 Review report on 2nd field campaign including guidelines for in-situ snow measurement techniques and protocol (D8)

Q4 Training school on snow measurements and data assimilation (D10) End of Year 3’s review and short reports from WGs meetings, workshop and STSMs

TIMELINES

Year Activities/Milestones/Deliverables

4

Q1 Assessing achievements against work plan: setting new steps for implementing MoU Schedule of WGs meetings, workshops and STSMs (M5)

Q2 Report on instrumental and representativeness errors of snow measurements for data assimilation in NWP and hydrological models (D6)

Q3 Measurement reports and manuals to standardize measurement protocols will be issued based on the field campaign results (D8)

Q4 Final Workshop/Conference with presentation of results to a broad multi-disciplinary audience (D12).

Final reports, guidelines, training or dissemination materials from each WGs (D11) All links to peer-reviewed papers on international journals written by the Action

participants available at the Action web site (M13)

TIMELINES

Measurement sites/facilities:SODANKYLÄ, FMI Arctic Research Centre

Micrometeorological mast Spectrometer mast

Snow temperature profile

Snow depth

Measurement sites/facilities:DAVOS, Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and

Avalanche Research

Snow profiling

Variety of measuring systems

Measurement sites/facilities:COL DU PORT, Snow research Centre,

CNRS/Meteo France

Measurement sites/facilities:Longyearbyen (Svalbard),

University Centre in Svalbard (Norway)

Potential Users & StakeholdersInternational organizations:International organizations:

•ESA•EUMETSAT•EUMETNET

• WMO• IPCC• ECMWF

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, can be a The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, can be a potential user, since they are interested in road snow potential user, since they are interested in road snow cover and snow structure evolution; they are also in cover and snow structure evolution; they are also in the project as observing participants. (Dr.Tibor Fulop the project as observing participants. (Dr.Tibor Fulop ,GOODYEAR Innovation Center *Luxembourg),GOODYEAR Innovation Center *Luxembourg)

Contacts between the Action and Users/Stakeholders Contacts between the Action and Users/Stakeholders wwill be based on mutual representation and existing

contacts of the Action partners

National bodies:National bodies:

•National Weather Services•National Hydrological Services•National road authorities

• IACS• GCW

Dissemination I• A large number of European National Meteorological and

Hydrological Institutes will be involved in the Action and invited to participate to the meetings more broadly as well as experts on snow-related matters from outside the Action.

• The recommendations of the Action will be disseminated to ECMWF, WMO, EUMSETSAT, ESA, European Meteorological/Hydrological Services/Agencies , as well as to the Joint Research Centre (Institute for Environment and Sustainability) and its European Floods Awareness System (EFAS), the EEA (European Environment Agency) and national/regional environmental agencies.

Dissemination II• Conference proceedings and journal publications will be made about

scientific and technical results of the Action and its WGs.

• All deliverable DOCUMENTS will be posted on the publicly accessible part of the Action web site.

• Create brochures that explain the importance of snow monitoring

• The Snow field training school and dedicated workshops will also address a younger generation of scientists who hopefully will find through the activities of the Action motivation to embrace a career dealing with snow-related issues.

Organisation- The Action is planned for 4 years- MC will comply with COST rules (COST 4159/10)- STSMs for early stage researchers - The Action invites experts from key institutions, e.g.

WMO, EUMETSAT, ECWMF, ESA, the scientific community (e.g., IACS)

- MC twice a year, WGs semi-annually, all the Action meetings combined with other workshops, measurement campaigns or training courses, if possible

- 2 workshops, 2 measurement campaigns, 1 training school, internal website linked to public website

Early Stage Researcher Plan- ESRs will be supported to act as national delegates- At least 8 short term scientific missions / year- Up to 3 support grants to non COST conferences- A training course for ESRs- Facilitating ESR network- ESR mentoring program- ESR meetings prior to Action workshop- Rotation of MC/WG meetings in the participating

countries to allow ESRs easy participation without financial support

Gender Balance- Specific members of the MC will monitor the gender

balance - At least 40% female members in WGs- Chairing positions in MC and WGs will be assigned

with a gender-balance approach- The Action will encourage networking between

female researchers- The Action will offer a mentoring programme

targeted to female researchers

Non-COST participants(already partners in several projects)

RUSSIA:•Dr. Leonid Bobylev, Nansen International Environmental and Remote Sensing Centre, St. Petersburg.Expertise: polar meteorology, remote sensing data analysis, polar climate.•Prof. Vladimir Kotlyakov, Dr. Nikolai Osokin, and Dr. Valeria Popova, Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences , Moscow.

Expertise: glaciology. •Prof. Vadim Kuzmin, Russian State Hydrometeorological University, St. Petersbourg.

Expertize: hydrologyCHINA:•Prof. Zhang Zhanhai, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai.

Expertise: atmosphere-ice-snow interactions. JAPAN:•Dr. Teruo Aoki, Meteorological Research Institute, Tsukuba.

Expertise: snow measurements and modelling, radiative transfer in snow, black carbon.Prof. Kouichi Nishimura, Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University

Expertise: snow avalanche.USA: •Prof. Mark Flanner, University of Michigan.

Expertise: snow metamorphism, black carbon in snow, cryosphere-climate feedbacks.

USA, CANADA: NASA SNOW REMOTE SENSING WORKING GROUP

The transfer of knowledge after the ACTION

• The results will not stop one library shelf in 4 years but will live on through other activities (such as WMO for the measurements and instruments), assimilation of new/better data (with ECMWF and Hydrological institiutes), remote sensing programmes (ESA, EUMETSAT) and climate series harmonisation (IPCC, WMO/WCRP)

Thank your for your attention!