ASAP6 - ASaG (2009-2012)

Preparation for a GMES Downstream Service for Snow and Glacier Monitoring in Alpine Regions. Financed by the FFG/ BMVIT, Austrian Space Applications Programme (ASAP) 6th Call, Prime Contractor ENVEO, Contract 819755.

The project is aimed at the implementation of a satellite-based service for monitoring of snow cover and glaciers in the context of GMES. The proposed service is very relevant to the key objective of GMES in providing timely and reliable information on the status and evolution of the environment with focus on snow and ice.

Snow cover and glaciers store large amounts of fresh water and are therefore critical components of the water cycle. Snow and ice play also an important role in the climate system, interacting with the atmosphere, the oceans and the land surfaces through complex mechanisms that tend to amplify climate change. Snow and ice are characterized by high spatial and temporal variability. Therefore in situ point measurements are not able to fulfil the information needs on these targets for hydrology, meteorology and climate monitoring, whereas satellites are capable of providing spatially detailed, up-to-date observations of snow and ice.

The demstration Snow Map Web Service is available at: asag.enveo.at