Articles | Volume 12, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3775-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3775-2018
© Author(s) 2018. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
30 Nov 2018
Research article |
| 30 Nov 2018
| 30 Nov 2018
Evaluation of the CloudSat surface snowfall product over Antarctica using ground-based precipitation radars
Niels Souverijns
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Alexandra Gossart
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
Stef Lhermitte
Department of Geoscience and Remote Sensing, Delft University of Technology, Delft, the Netherlands
Irina V. Gorodetskaya
CESAM – Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Physics, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
Jacopo Grazioli
Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss, Locarno-Monti, Switzerland
Alexis Berne
Environmental Remote Sensing Laboratory, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Claudio Duran-Alarcon
Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
Brice Boudevillain
Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
Christophe Genthon
Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France
Claudio Scarchilli
Technical Unit for Energy and Environmental Modeling UTMEA, ENEA, Rome, Italy
Nicole P. M. van Lipzig
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Cited
33 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Evaluation of CloudSat's Cloud‐Profiling Radar for Mapping Snowfall Rates Across the Greenland Ice Sheet J. Ryan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031411
- The vertical structure of precipitation at two stations in East Antarctica derived from micro rain radars C. Durán-Alarcón et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-247-2019
- Evaluation of coastal Antarctic precipitation in LMDz6 global atmospheric model using ground-based radar observations F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2021-67-2-147-164
- Characterization of snowfall estimated by in situ and ground-based remote-sensing observations at Terra Nova Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica C. Scarchilli et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.70
- Demonstration of a Consistent Relationship between Dual-Frequency Reflectivity and the Mass-Weighted Mean Diameter in Measurements of Frozen Precipitation from GCPEX, OLYMPEX, and MC3E G. Duffy et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-20-0174.1
- Evaluation of CloudSat snowfall rate profiles by a comparison with in situ micro-rain radar observations in East Antarctica F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-943-2019
- Evaluation of Synoptic Snowfall on the Antarctic Ice Sheet Based on CloudSat, In-Situ Observations and Atmospheric Reanalysis Datasets Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11141686
- Microphysics of Snowfall Over Coastal East Antarctica Simulated by Polar WRF and Observed by Radar É. Vignon et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031028
- Assessing Snow Water Retrievals over Ocean from Coincident Spaceborne Radar Measurements M. Yin & C. Yuan https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15041140
- How to reduce sampling errors in spaceborne cloud radar-based snowfall estimates F. Scarsi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4875-2025
- Evaluation of the Microphysical Assumptions within GPM-DPR Using Ground-Based Observations of Rain and Snow R. Chase et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11060619
- Snowfall retrievals and uncertainties from spaceborne W-band radar in Xinjiang, Northwest China W. Xing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106779
- Decoupling between Precipitation Processes and Mountain Wave Induced Circulations Observed with a Vertically Pointing K-Band Doppler Radar S. Gonzalez et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11091034
- A Novel Approach to Validate Satellite Snowfall Retrievals by Ground-Based Point Measurements H. Jeoung et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030434
- Direct Comparisons between GPM-DPR and CloudSat Snowfall Retrievals R. Chase et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0081.1
- Spatial and temporal variability of snowfall over Greenland from CloudSat observations R. Bennartz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-8101-2019
- Seasonal Estimates and Uncertainties of Snow Accumulation from CloudSat Precipitation Retrievals G. Duffy et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030363
- Quantitative Precipitation Estimation over Antarctica Using Different Ze-SR Relationships Based on Snowfall Classification Combining Ground Observations A. Bracci et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14010082
- Satellite observations of snowfall regimes over the Greenland Ice Sheet E. McIlhattan et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4379-2020
- The surface mass balance and near-surface climate of the Antarctic ice sheet in RACMO2.4p1 C. van Dalum et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4061-2025
- Arctic Snowfall from CloudSat Observations and Reanalyses L. Edel et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0105.1
- Multi-year evaluation of CloudSat, ERA5, and IMERG global snowfall products Q. Ji et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131500
- Radar‐Derived Snowfall Microphysical Properties at Davis, Antarctica S. Alexander et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038389
- A Composite Analysis of Snowfall Modes from Four Winter Seasons in Marquette, Michigan C. Pettersen et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0099.1
- How Does Ground Clutter Affect CloudSat Snowfall Retrievals Over Ice Sheets? C. Palerme et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2018.2875007
- Satellite-Based Rainfall Datasets: A Global Systematic Review of Applications, Accuracy, and Research Gaps L. Conte et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3667060
- Proglacial streams runoff dynamics in Devil´s Bay, Vega Island, Antarctica J. Kavan et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2023.2195559
- CloudSat‐Inferred Vertical Structure of Snowfall Over the Antarctic Continent F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031399
- Evaluating seasonal and regional distribution of snowfall in regional climate model simulations in the Arctic A. von Lerber et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7287-2022
- Ice Aggregation in Low‐Level Mixed‐Phase Clouds at a High Arctic Site: Enhanced by Dendritic Growth and Absent Close to the Melting Level G. Chellini et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036860
- How much snow falls in the world's mountains? A first look at mountain snowfall estimates in A-train observations and reanalyses A. Daloz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3195-2020
- Radar and ground-level measurements of clouds and precipitation collected during the POPE 2020 campaign at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica A. Ferrone & A. Berne https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1115-2023
- A statistical study of precipitation on the eastern antarctic plateau (Dome-C) using remote sensing and in-situ instrumentation M. Del Guasta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2024.101106
33 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Evaluation of CloudSat's Cloud‐Profiling Radar for Mapping Snowfall Rates Across the Greenland Ice Sheet J. Ryan et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031411
- The vertical structure of precipitation at two stations in East Antarctica derived from micro rain radars C. Durán-Alarcón et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-247-2019
- Evaluation of coastal Antarctic precipitation in LMDz6 global atmospheric model using ground-based radar observations F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2021-67-2-147-164
- Characterization of snowfall estimated by in situ and ground-based remote-sensing observations at Terra Nova Bay, Victoria Land, Antarctica C. Scarchilli et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.70
- Demonstration of a Consistent Relationship between Dual-Frequency Reflectivity and the Mass-Weighted Mean Diameter in Measurements of Frozen Precipitation from GCPEX, OLYMPEX, and MC3E G. Duffy et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAS-D-20-0174.1
- Evaluation of CloudSat snowfall rate profiles by a comparison with in situ micro-rain radar observations in East Antarctica F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-943-2019
- Evaluation of Synoptic Snowfall on the Antarctic Ice Sheet Based on CloudSat, In-Situ Observations and Atmospheric Reanalysis Datasets Y. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11141686
- Microphysics of Snowfall Over Coastal East Antarctica Simulated by Polar WRF and Observed by Radar É. Vignon et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031028
- Assessing Snow Water Retrievals over Ocean from Coincident Spaceborne Radar Measurements M. Yin & C. Yuan https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15041140
- How to reduce sampling errors in spaceborne cloud radar-based snowfall estimates F. Scarsi et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4875-2025
- Evaluation of the Microphysical Assumptions within GPM-DPR Using Ground-Based Observations of Rain and Snow R. Chase et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos11060619
- Snowfall retrievals and uncertainties from spaceborne W-band radar in Xinjiang, Northwest China W. Xing et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jastp.2026.106779
- Decoupling between Precipitation Processes and Mountain Wave Induced Circulations Observed with a Vertically Pointing K-Band Doppler Radar S. Gonzalez et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs11091034
- A Novel Approach to Validate Satellite Snowfall Retrievals by Ground-Based Point Measurements H. Jeoung et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14030434
- Direct Comparisons between GPM-DPR and CloudSat Snowfall Retrievals R. Chase et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0081.1
- Spatial and temporal variability of snowfall over Greenland from CloudSat observations R. Bennartz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-8101-2019
- Seasonal Estimates and Uncertainties of Snow Accumulation from CloudSat Precipitation Retrievals G. Duffy et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos12030363
- Quantitative Precipitation Estimation over Antarctica Using Different Ze-SR Relationships Based on Snowfall Classification Combining Ground Observations A. Bracci et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14010082
- Satellite observations of snowfall regimes over the Greenland Ice Sheet E. McIlhattan et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4379-2020
- The surface mass balance and near-surface climate of the Antarctic ice sheet in RACMO2.4p1 C. van Dalum et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4061-2025
- Arctic Snowfall from CloudSat Observations and Reanalyses L. Edel et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-19-0105.1
- Multi-year evaluation of CloudSat, ERA5, and IMERG global snowfall products Q. Ji et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.131500
- Radar‐Derived Snowfall Microphysical Properties at Davis, Antarctica S. Alexander et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD038389
- A Composite Analysis of Snowfall Modes from Four Winter Seasons in Marquette, Michigan C. Pettersen et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-19-0099.1
- How Does Ground Clutter Affect CloudSat Snowfall Retrievals Over Ice Sheets? C. Palerme et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2018.2875007
- Satellite-Based Rainfall Datasets: A Global Systematic Review of Applications, Accuracy, and Research Gaps L. Conte et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2026.3667060
- Proglacial streams runoff dynamics in Devil´s Bay, Vega Island, Antarctica J. Kavan et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/02626667.2023.2195559
- CloudSat‐Inferred Vertical Structure of Snowfall Over the Antarctic Continent F. Lemonnier et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019JD031399
- Evaluating seasonal and regional distribution of snowfall in regional climate model simulations in the Arctic A. von Lerber et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-22-7287-2022
- Ice Aggregation in Low‐Level Mixed‐Phase Clouds at a High Arctic Site: Enhanced by Dendritic Growth and Absent Close to the Melting Level G. Chellini et al. https://doi.org/10.1029/2022JD036860
- How much snow falls in the world's mountains? A first look at mountain snowfall estimates in A-train observations and reanalyses A. Daloz et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3195-2020
- Radar and ground-level measurements of clouds and precipitation collected during the POPE 2020 campaign at Princess Elisabeth Antarctica A. Ferrone & A. Berne https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-1115-2023
- A statistical study of precipitation on the eastern antarctic plateau (Dome-C) using remote sensing and in-situ instrumentation M. Del Guasta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polar.2024.101106
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 23 Jun 2026
Short summary
Snowfall observations over Antarctica are scarce and currently limited to information from the CloudSat satellite. Here, a first evaluation of the CloudSat snowfall record is performed using observations of ground-based precipitation radars. Results indicate an accurate representation of the snowfall climatology over Antarctica, despite the low overpass frequency of the satellite, outperforming state-of-the-art model estimates. Individual snowfall events are however not well represented.
Snowfall observations over Antarctica are scarce and currently limited to information from the...
