High temporal resolution monitoring of snow cover using oblique view ground-based pictures

• DOI: 10.1017/s0032247411000519
• Publication Date: 2011-11-30T14:36:27Z
• Authors: D. Laffly; É. Bernard; M. Griselin; F. Tolle; J-M. Friedt; G. Martin; C. Marlin
• Keywords: 550; 13. Climate action; [SDU.STU] Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; [SDU.STU]Sciences of the Universe [physics]/Earth Sciences; 01 natural sciences; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences

ABSTRACTDue to poor weather conditions including common heavy cloud cover at polar latitudes, daily satellite imaging is not always accessible. Nevertheless, fast events including heavy rainfall inducing floods appear as significant in the ice and snow budget while being ignored by satellite based studies since the slower sampling rate is unable to observe such short phenomena. We complement satellite imagery with a set of ground based autonomous automated high resolution digital cameras. The recorded oblique views, acquired at a rate of 3 images per day, are processed for comparison with the spaceborne imagery. Delaunay triangulation based mapping using a dense set of reference points provides the means for an accurate projection by applying a rubber sheeting algorithm. The measurement strategy of identifying binary information of ice and snow cover is illustrated through the example of a particular flood event. We observe a snow cover evolution from 100% to 44.5% and back to 100% over a period of 2 weeks.