1. Snowpack indicator

2. Key message
Early accumulation of snowpack can decrease runoff and ground water recharge during the winter months
Lack on snowmelt can increase possibilities for drought during the spring and early summer
E.g. In Finland snowpack accumulation is from 10 to 30 % of yearly precipitation
The warming climate is predicted to increase variation in the snowpack

3. Relevance of the indicator
Snowpack is an essential part of water cycle in the northern parts of Europe and in the mountains
Snowpack is an indicator of drought risk (not sufficient by itself)
Snowpack can be used to predict the drought risk during the coming spring and summer
Human abstraction plays no role in the snowpack indicator

4. The indicator
Daily snowpack water equivalent (wq) in mm in water (=kg/m2) in the catchment
modelled, LTA, LTMI, LTMA, LTAMA (the average maximum annual snowpack)
Frequency of data collection
Static: Annual - data are collected for the previous winter season in e.g. August
Dynamic: Values of the snowpack wq are provided on a daily bases. This will make it possible to forecast droughts and develop early warning systems.

5. Snowpack water equivalent (mm) and snow depth (cm)
Lisää viraston nimi, tekijän nimi ja osasto

6. GlobSnow: Snow water equivalent for whole Europe www.globsnow.info
Near real time snow mapping through satellites available from October 2010
Used in Finland together with snowline measurements and modelling
Also long term datasets (15-30 years) available

7. = the average maximum annual snowpack
snowpack started to accumulate in December approx. one month later than average in the years
the accumulation was fast and the snowpack exceeded long term average of maximum annual snowpack before the end of February
the maximum value of snowpack was over 150 % of the LTAMA
the snowpack was completely melted approx. at the average melting date in the middle of April