All the problems for the future investigations in snow cover may apparently be reduced to the following study areas.

1. Measurement technique and accuracy. The main problem is how to retrieve the virtual picture of snow cover distribution from a satellite imagery. Due to lacking a coupled satellite and land-based observations, we cannot evaluate true snow water equivalent only by brightness temperature. Therefore, we consider that two ways can aid: first is to carry out the conjoint investigations in snow physics first of all in snow re-crystallization by snow melting, second is to examine the landscape peculiarities of snow cover distribution inside a pixel of a satellite imagery. One of the possible way can be based upon the above mentioned INFOMAP-analysis.
2. Climate modification and sensitivity of snow cover. A study program to estimate the role of snow cover for climate must be consisted of: long-term incessant monitoring of the snow covered area form satellite platforms; evaluation of energy budget of the snow covered surface by land-based actinometrical and profile measurements and by satellite observation of radiation and surface temperature. Satellite derived surface albedo is the most convenient to term and elucidate the feedback mechanism "increasing albedo - cooling atmosphere - more intensive snowfalls". Sensitivity of the snow cover to the climatic changes can be obtained as the tendency in moving the snow cover boundaries. It needs to specify them for several regions which are the most sensitive. They can also be attached with long-range peculiarities in atmospheric circulation such as the "jet streams" and block-up situations and immovable anti-cyclones which restrict latitudinal air mass transfer.
3. Simulation and forecasting of snow-induced floods. Satellite based data will contend with land survey ones. Visual band imagery are to provide the snow covered area, and microwave ones are to prospect for more exact snow water equivalent over the river drainage basins subjected to runoff forecasting. Infra-red radiation data can discover the boundaries where the snow cover is persistent and where it begins to melt. Moreover, the radiation-derived temperature, surface albedo and solar radiation income will be an input for a heat balance estimation of snowmelt. The observation must be proceeded of heat budget of snow using an automated system for data acquisition. Radar-based precipitation measurements should be improved as they cannot be available to retrieve true snow cover distribution unless the reliable data on the local aeolian drifting will be obtained. However, they can serve just now as suitable input to runoff simulation at forest-covered areas.
4. Applied research and snow management problems. Of those the applications will be required which appertain to environmental monitoring and environmental impact assessment. There is the complex interaction between the crystals structured in a snow pack and chemical compounds such as sulfur dioxide or heavy metals delivered mainly from the atmosphere. This problem is apparently to chase for sources of industrial contaminants which release and can spread far away or retain within a snow pack. They can migrate then to the soil bottom and particularly to stream waters. In the latter case their input together with melt water can be so flash as an "environmental shock". Besides, at the last years in Russia and abroad the agro-ecological problems and phenomena has been steadily requested. Thereafter, it could be of very interest to undertake special investigations to evaluate how snow ridging may protect water bodies from accidental contaminant releases.

We thus have an endeavor to inquire into the snow cover and we have to infer on what the problems are relevant to it, and how skillful and competent the explorer must be to understand the processes, which are liable for snow cover origin and its distribution, and to use all the knowledge received. You must be well educated in mathematics including some special issues such as partial differential equations and advanced statistical approaches, as well as in physics, chemistry, climatology, hydrology and landscape geography. You must also be well posted on the environmental problems and those business areas which depend on the reliable snow cover data.

Hydrosphere © 1990 — 2005 Vladimir A. Shutov
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