GCW Website Snow Material http://globalcryospherewatch.org/ For presentation and discussion at 2nd Snow Watch Team meeting, Columbus, OH, June 13-14, 2016 Ross Brown and Jeff Key Updated July 8, 2016 to correct error

Current GCW Website Snow Content: Cryosphere in the News e.g. Low ice, low snow, both poles 7 June 2016, 10:30 amnsidc.org Cryosphere Now FMI and CMC Snow Trackers Assessments e.g. 2015-2016 Alaska: Winter Temperatures and Snowpack, Rick Thoman NOAA National Weather Service Alaska Region, Fairbanks, Alaska, USA [18 March 2016] Interesting events Extremes e.g. Unusually fast NH spring snow cover retreat in 2013 (A. Slater) Satellite Sensors and Variables – queriable table of satellite by snow cover variable Activities Snow Watch – snow reporting, snow dataset inventory (queriable table) Outreach Snow Watch poster, forum, ask an expert Reference Glossary Snow dataset inventory (queriable table) Observational requirements

Issues for discussion: 1. Snow trackers : The current CMC global analysis being replaced by a new land surface assimilation scheme in 2018; discussions are in progress to ensure the tracker is supported [updated July 8, 2016 based on new information] Request for regional trackers in support of WMO Polar Regional Climate Centres What potential is there for developing trackers from other real-time or NRT products? (5-10 day latency would probably still be acceptable) Regional trackers may require more careful validation as there is greater potential for issues to appear at the regional scale (e.g. model bias, resolution issues, treatment of perennial snow etc). 2. Jeff: Expert Input needed for occasional assessments of snow cover (SCE and SWE) for various regions including the Southern Hemisphere which is a major gap at present. Would be “scaled-down” versions of the Arctic Report Card. 3. Jeff: We have a Snow Watch page under "Activities" on the GCW website, but nothing new has been added in quite a while. Suggestions are welcome. Help is even more welcome 4. Any gaps in GCW snow content? Any comments? Any volunteers to provide material?