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Dataset Overview | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)

NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Northern Hemisphere (NH) Snow Cover Extent (SCE), Version 1

Snow Cover Extent (Northern Hemisphere)

browse graphicNOAA NCEI Climate Data Record of Snow Cover Extent - Northern Hemisphere: Week ending 1993-04-12
This NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) is a record for the Northern Hemisphere (NH) Snow Cover Extent (SCE) spanning from October 4, 1966 to present, updated monthly after the 10th of each month. Data prior to June 1999 in the NH SCE CDR are based on satellite-derived maps of NH SCE produced weekly by trained NOAA meteorologists. In June 1999 weekly NOAA NH SCE maps ceased production, and were replaced by daily SCE output from the Interactive Multisensor Snow and Ice Mapping System (IMS). The weekly SCE maps are digitized to an 88x88 (cells) Cartesian grid laid over a NH polar stereographic projection. Each grid cell in the NH SCE CDR has a binary value, indicating snow covered or snow free. The NH SCE CDR has been used in international assessments of climate variability and change, and in investigations regarding the role of snow cover in the climate system. Mapping accuracy is such that this product is considered suitable for continental-scale climate studies. The data are updated monthly in netCDF file format with variables including SCE and National Meteorological Center (NMC) grid (88x88 cell) coordinates.
  • Cite as: Robinson, David A.; Estilow, Thomas W.; and NOAA CDR Program (2012): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Northern Hemisphere (NH) Snow Cover Extent (SCE), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5N014G9 [access date].
gov.noaa.ncdc:C00756
Download Data
Distribution Formats
  • XML
  • HTML
  • NetCDF (Version: 4)
Ordering Instructions Contact NCEI for other distribution options and instructions.
Distributor NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
ncei.info@noaa.gov
Dataset Point of Contact NOAA Climate Data Record Program Office
DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
+1 828-271-4800
snow_cover_extent_contacts@noaa.gov
Time Period 1966-10-04 to Present (time interval: 1-month)
Spatial Bounding Box Coordinates
West: -180
East: 180
South: -1
North: 89
Spatial Coverage Map
General Documentation
Processing Documents
  • Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR Source Code
    • CDR Source Code (download)
      This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
  • Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR Flowchart
  • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR
Associated Resources
Publication Dates
  • publication: 2012-01-01
Edition v01r01
Data Presentation Form Digital image
Dataset Progress Status Ongoing - data is continually being updated
Data Update Frequency Monthly
Purpose This dataset provides advanced scientific researchers a high quality Climate Data Record (CDR) of Upper Atmospheric Layer Temperatures.
Use Limitations
  • See the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for a description of use limitations.
Dataset Citation
  • Cite as: Robinson, David A.; Estilow, Thomas W.; and NOAA CDR Program (2012): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Northern Hemisphere (NH) Snow Cover Extent (SCE), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5N014G9 [access date].
Cited Authors
  • Robinson, David A.
    RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
  • Estilow, Thomas W.
    RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
  • NOAA CDR Program
Principal Investigators
  • Robinson, David A.
    RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
Collaborators
  • Estilow, Thomas W.
    RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
  • NOAA CDR Program
Publishers
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
Theme keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science Keywords
  • Earth Science > Cryosphere > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover
  • Earth Science > Terrestrial > Snow/Ice > Snow Cover
Data Center keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
  • RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
Platform keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
  • ESSA > Environmental Science Services administration
  • NOAA-2 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-2
  • NOAA-3 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-3
  • NOAA-4 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-4
  • NOAA-5 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-5
  • NOAA-6 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-6
  • NOAA-7 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-7
  • NOAA-9 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-9
  • NOAA-11 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-11
  • NOAA-14 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-14
  • NOAA-15 > National Oceanic & atmospheric Administration-15
  • SMS > Synchronous Meteorological satellites
  • DMSP > Defense Meteorological Satellite program
  • GOES > NOAA Geostationary Operational environmental Satellites
  • GOES-7 > Geostationary Operational environmental Satellite 7
  • GOES-8 > Geostationary Operational environmental Satellite 8
  • GOES-9 > Geostationary Operational environmental Satellite 9
  • TIROS-N > Television Infrared Observation satellite-N
  • GMS > Japan Geostationary Meteorological satellite
  • GMS-4 > Geostationary Meteorological satellite-4
  • GMS-5 > Geostationary Meteorological satellite-5
  • METEOSAT
  • METEOSAT-5 > METEOSAT Operational programme 2 (MOP-1)
  • METEOSAT-6 > METEOSAT Operational programme 3 (MOP-1)
  • Terra > Earth Observing System, Terra (AM-1)
  • METOP > Meteorological Operational satellite
  • Aqua > Earth Observing System, Aqua
Instrument keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
  • Video Camera
  • VAS > VISSR Atmospheric Sounder
  • SSMI/S > Special Sensor Microwave imager/Sounder
  • VHRR > Very High Resolution Radiometer
  • VISSR > Visible And Infrared Spin Scan radiometer
  • AVHRR > Advanced Very High Resolution radiometer
  • SEVIRI > Spinning Enhanced Visible And infrared Imager
  • MODIS > Moderate-Resolution Imaging spectroradiometer
  • AMSR > Advanced Microwave Scanning radiometer
  • AMSU-B > Advanced Microwave Sounding Unit b (AMSU-B)
  • ASCAT
Unknown
  • MVIRI > METEOSAT Visible And Infra-red imager
Place keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Geographic Region > Northern Hemisphere
Project keywords Keyword Thesaurus Title
  • NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) Program
Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Project Keywords
  • NOAA OneStop Project
Stratum keywords Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
  • Vertical Location > Land Surface
Use Constraints
  • Cite as: Robinson, David A.; Estilow, Thomas W.; and NOAA CDR Program (2012): NOAA Climate Data Record (CDR) of Northern Hemisphere (NH) Snow Cover Extent (SCE), Version 1. [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. doi:10.7289/V5N014G9 [access date].
  • See the Use Agreement for this CDR available on the CDR page.
  • Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
Access Constraints
  • Distribution liability: NOAA and NCEI make no warranty, expressed or implied, regarding these data, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NOAA and NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in these data. If appropriate, NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Fees
  • In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free. However, fees may apply for custom orders, data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Lineage information for: dataset
Lineage Statement The data were produced at Rutgers University and are archived at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center (NCDC).
Processor
  • RUTGERS/CLIMATE/GSL > Global Snow Lab, Climate Lab, Rutgers University
Processing Steps
  • For a description of the processing steps, see the Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document and Data Flow Diagram for this dataset.
Processing Documents
    • Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR Source Code
      • CDR Source Code (download)
        This source code is for reference only. The source code is provided to maintain transparency of the algorithm and processes used in creating the Climate Data Record (CDR). The source code is not intended to be portable to any computer system(s) beyond that of the original CDR producer's environment.
    • Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR Flowchart
    • Climate Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document for Northern Hemisphere Snow Cover Extent CDR
Lineage information for: repository
Processing Steps
  • 2015-04-22T00:00:00 - NOAA created the National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) by merging NOAA's National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC), and National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC), including the National Coastal Data Development Center (NCDDC), per the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015, Public Law 113-235. NCEI launched publicly on April 22, 2015.
Last Modified: 2023-08-10
For questions about the information on this page, please email: ncei.info@noaa.gov