ABSTRACT
Water stored in the snowpack represents an important component of the hydrologic balance in many regions of the world. Snow cover mapping is particularly important in mountains where an increased demand for water resources often leads to intense competition for water between human society and freshwater ecosystems. Moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) is an imaging spectroradiometer that employs a cross-track scan mirror, collecting optics, and a set of individual detector elements to provide imagery of the earth’s surface and clouds in 36 discrete, narrow spectral bands from approximately 0.4 to 14.4 µm. MODIS applications in hydrology-related studies include the assessment of interannual and seasonal snow cover variability and its relation to stream flow, subpixel and fractional snow cover estimation, support for snow water equivalent (SWE) interpolation, validation and parameterization of land surface and conceptual hydrologic models, and operational snowmelt runoff forecasting. The MODIS instruments were launched in 2000 and 2002.
