University of Waterloo|Université de Waterloo

Purpose

To improve water resource management in places that rely on snowmelt, there is a need for high spatial resolution observations that are accurate. Radar observations of snow are sensitive to snow water equivalent (SWE) but there is uncertainty in how these observations should be used to estimate accumulation. The purpose of this study is to develop and demonstrate improved methods to estimate snow accumulation, or SWE, in a Canadian prairie and alpine environment using airborne radar remote sensing observations combined with numerical models. Benefits are that a feasible high resolution SWE mapping mission concept can be developed and demonstrated that can improve snowmelt flood prediction and meltwater resource management across many parts of Canada.