The main objective of the European Space Agency (ESA) Data User Element (DUE) funded GlobSnow-1
and GlobSnow-2 projects was the development and implementation of methodologies for producing
long-term records of snow cover information at the global scale intended primarily for climate research
purposes. The efforts were focused on developing and adapting algorithms for the derivation of snow
extent (SE) and snow water equivalent (SWE) from satellite data. The project has resulted in two new
hemispheric records of SE and SWE extending 17 and 35 years respectively.

The European Space Agency (ESA) funded GlobSnow-1 project was active from 2008 to 2012 while the GlobSnow-2 project was a direct continuation of the GlobSnow-1 and continued through tp May 2014.

GlobSnow-1 resulted in two long-term datasets at the hemispherical scale (not available at CEDA). Information on two essential snow parameters: snow water equivalent (SWE) and areal snow extent (SE), were provided for a period of 33 years and 17 years respectively. The Final report of GlobSnow-1 gives additional information on the accomplishments and recommendations from GlobSnow-1 project.

The objective of the GlobSnow-2 project is further enhancement of the retrieval methodologies for SE and SWE products and a re-processing of the long term datasets utilizing the improved retrieval algorithms. In addition to the further development of methodologies for the legacy sensor families of GlobSnow-1, the consortium investigated the utilization of AVHRR and NPP Suomi VIIRS data as gap fillers before the launch of the Sentinel-3 SLSTR-sensor.

The European Space Agency (ESA) funded GlobSnow project is coordinated by the Finnish Meteorological Institute (FMI). Other project partners involved are NR (Norwegian Computing Centre), ENVEO IT GmbH, GAMMA Remote Sensing AG, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), Environment Canada (EC), Northern Research Institute (Norut), University of Bern, Meteoswiss and ZAMG.

The GlobSnow Principal Investigator is professor Jouni Pulliainen (FMI).
The GlobSnow Project Manager is Dr. Kari Luojus (FMI).
The GlobSnow Technical Officer is Dr. Simon Pinnock (ESA).