ARSET - Introduction to NASA Snow and Ice Data Products and Applications for Water Resources Management

Frozen water on or below the earth’s surface, known as the cryosphere, is a vital component of the Earth system and includes snow, glaciers, ice sheets, sea ice, and permafrost. Approximately 75% of the Earth's total freshwater is stored in glaciers, ice sheets, and permafrost (USGS). In many regions, snowmelt also serves as a major source of freshwater. Snow and ice play a crucial role by influencing albedo (the fraction of sunlight reflected back into space) which affects the Earth’s energy balance and temperature.. Snow coverfall also significantly influences weather patterns, ecosystems, transportation, recreational activities, and infrastructure (NSIDC). Mountain snowpack can lead to avalanches, and the timing and volume of melt can trigger flooding in snow-fed rivers. Conversely, reduced snowpackfall can result in snow droughts, impacting water availability. 

NASA provides regional and global snow and ice data products based on remote sensing observations. Additionally, NASA Earth system models can diagnose snowfall during winter and estimate snow water equivalent—a key parameter for assessing freshwater resources. This collaborative training between ARSET, NASA’s National Snow and Ice Data Center, and NASA's Western Water Applications Office, will introduce NASA’s snow and ice data products and snow water equivalence data, with a particular focus on snow data application to monitoring and forecasting snow-fed river flow and water availability.