Dreaming of a white Christmas?
In clear skies, optical satellite images reveal where snow lies. Researchers at the University of Zurich’s Department of Geography use radar sensors to gather additional information about snow conditions – even at night or through cloud cover.
When the radar signal issued from a Sentinel-1 satellite generates strong backscatter, the snow is usually dry; weak backscatter, by contrast, indicates wet snow. These data provide insights into our climate that improve safety forecasts and help manage vital water resources.
The University of Zurich chose this image from the Department of Geography for its festive card this year and wishes all students and staff relaxing holidays – and an inspiring 2026!
Literature
D. Small, C. Rohner, N. Miranda, M. Rüetschi and M. E. Schaepman, Wide-Area Analysis-Ready Radar Backscatter Composites in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing, vol. 60, pp. 1-14, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TGRS.2021.3055562.