Global Seasonal Snow Classification System  View Catalog Page
Identification Information:
Dataset Identifier:
ARCSS045
Citation:
Citation Information:
Originator: Glenn E. Liston and Matthew Sturm
Publication Date: 19950101
Title: Global Seasonal Snow Classification System
Publication Information:
Publication Place: Boulder, Colorado USA
Publisher: NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Online Linkage: http://nsidc.org/data/arcss045.html
Description:
Abstract:
The data file defines a global seasonal snow classification system. Based on the physical properties of the snow (depth, density, thermal conductivity, number of layers, degree of wetting, etc.), the world's seasonal snow covers were divided into six classes, plus classes for water and ice fields. Each class was defined by its physical properties, then empirically related to climate using three variables (precipitation, wind, and air temperature). A vegetation proxy was used for wind data: tall vegetation equals low wind, short vegetation equals high wind.
The snow classification data are formatted into an array of integers, each value representing a 0.5-degree latitude by 0.5-degree longitude cell. The data set was developed and tested for the Northern Hemisphere. Results for the Southern Hemisphere are untested and have not been evaluated. The Southern Hemisphere suffers from a reduced density of meteorological data which may well have influenced the quality of the snow classification in that area. Also note that much of Antarctica is inappropriately defined as water (the vegetation data set did not extend that far south). A 0.5- x 0.5-degree land-sea mask could be used to set the Antarctica region to the ice classification if this region is of interest.
Purpose: scientific research
Time Period of Content:
Time Period Information:
Range of Dates/Times:
Beginning Date: 19930719
Ending Date: 19930816
Currentness Reference: publication date
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance and Update Frequency: Unknown
Spatial Domain:
Bounding Coordinates:
West Bounding Coordinate: -180°
East Bounding Coordinate: 180°
North Bounding Coordinate: 90°
South Bounding Coordinate: -90°
Keywords:
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Alpine Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Ephemeral Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Ice
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Maritime Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Prairie Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Snow Classification
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Taiga Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Tundra Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Cryosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Water
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Alpine Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Ephemeral Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Ice
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Maritime Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Prairie Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Snow Classification
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Taiga Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Tundra Snow
Theme Keyword: EARTH SCIENCE Terrestrial Hydrosphere Snow/Ice Snow Cover Water
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
Theme Keyword: ARCSS/LAII/FLUX Arctic System Science/Land-Atmosphere-Ice Interaction/fluxes
Theme:
Theme Keyword Thesaurus: None
Theme Keyword: ADCC
Theme Keyword: ARCSS045
Theme Keyword: Arctic System Science Data Coordination Center
Theme Keyword: National Science Foundation
Theme Keyword: NSF
Theme Keyword: NSIDC
Theme Keyword: OPP9415386
Theme Keyword: OPP-9415386
Theme Keyword: Seasonal Snow Cover
Theme Keyword: Snow Density
Theme Keyword: Snow Depth
Theme Keyword: Snow Wetness
Place:
Place Keyword Thesaurus: NASA Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
Place Keyword: Geographic Region Global
Access Constraints:
None
Use Constraints:
None
Point of Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: NSIDC User Services
Contact Organization: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Contact Address:
Address Type: mailing
Address:
- CIRES, 449 UCB
- University of Colorado
City: Boulder
State or Province: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
Contact Voice Telephone: 1 303 492-6199 x
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 1 303 492-2468 x
Contact Electronic Mail Address: nsidc@nsidc.org
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Distribution Information:
Distributor:
Contact Information:
Contact Organization Primary:
Contact Organization: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Contact Person: NSIDC User Services
Contact Address:
Address Type: mailing
Address:
- National Snow and Ice Data Center
- CIRES, 449 UCB
- University of Colorado
City: Boulder
State or Province: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
Contact Voice Telephone: 1 303 492-6199
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 1 303 492-2468
Contact Electronic Mail Address: nsidc@nsidc.org
Resource Description:
ARCSS045
Distribution Liability:
NSIDC cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NSIDC makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty.
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Metadata Reference Information:
Metadata Date:
20120918
Metadata Review Date:
20120918
Metadata Contact:
Contact Information:
Contact Person Primary:
Contact Person: NSIDC User Services
Contact Organization: National Snow and Ice Data Center
Contact Address:
Address Type: mailing
Address:
- National Snow and Ice Data Center
- CIRES, 449 UCB
- University of Colorado
City: Boulder
State or Province: CO
Postal Code: 80309-0449
Country: USA
Contact Voice Telephone: 1 303 492-6199
Contact Facsimile Telephone: 1 303 492-2468
Contact Electronic Mail Address: nsidc@nsidc.org
Metadata Standard Name:
FGDC Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata:
Extensions for Remote Sensing Metadata
Metadata Standard Version:
FGDC-STD-012-2002
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