Reconstructed North American Snow Extent, 1900-1993

Data Contributors FREI, ALLAN ROBINSON, DAVID A. Parameters SNOW COVER > Snow Extent, Snow Extent Instruments AVHRR : ADVANCED VERY HIGH RESOLUTION RADIOMETER VHRR : VERY HIGH RESOLUTION RADIOMETER

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This data set contains reconstructed monthly North American snow extent values for November through March, 1900-1993. Investigators used a combination of satellite and station observations and based the reconstruction on linear regressions between the two types of observations. The data also includes standard errors of estimates as well as the observed values upon which the regressions were based.

Station-based snow observations are available for dates since the early twentieth century but lack comprehensive spatial coverage. A remotely sensed product based on visible-band imagery provides more complete spatial coverage but has only been available since the early 1970s. Since the reconstructed values are based on regression, variability is underestimated and therefore the magnitude of some extreme values is underestimated.

Data are available via FTP.

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Data Citation

Frei, A., and D. Robinson. 2002. Reconstructed North American snow extent, 1900-1993. Boulder, CO: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.

See Also

• Reconstructed North American, Eurasian, and Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent, 1900-1997
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