Improved workflow for customized ICESat-2 ATL06 elevations captures seasonal mountain snow depths at sub-kilometer scale

Zikan, Karina; Enderlin, Ellyn M.; Marshall, Hans-Peter; O'Neel, Shad

doi:10.5194/tc-20-3051-2026

Articles | Volume 20, issue 5

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3051-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3051-2026

© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.

Articles | Volume 20, issue 5

Research article

|

26 May 2026

Research article |

| 26 May 2026

Improved workflow for customized ICESat-2 ATL06 elevations captures seasonal mountain snow depths at sub-kilometer scale

Karina Zikan, Ellyn M. Enderlin, Hans-Peter Marshall, and Shad O'Neel

Data sets

ICESat-2 ATL06_SR derived snow depth transects of Idaho watersheds: Reynolds Creek, Banner Summit, Mores Creek, and Dry Creek (2018–2024) Karina Zikan and Ellyn Enderlin https://doi.org/10.18122/cryogars_snow_data.6.boisestate

Model code and software

CryoGARS-Glaciology/ICESat2-AlpineSnow: ICESat2-AlpineSnow (v1.0) Karina Zikan and Ellyn Enderlin https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17101987

RaineyAbe/glacier-snow-cover-analysis: First release (0.0.1) R. Aberle and E. Enderlin https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14868024

Short summary

We present an improved method for measuring mountain snow depth using NASA’s ICESat-2 satellite that accounts for steep terrain. By comparison to weather station and helicopter measurements, we show that ICESat-2 captures snow depth both over a season and across a mountain ridge. ICESat-2 works best when slopes are less than 20°. Enough mountain terrain falls within this slope range that ICESat-2 could dramatically expand snow depth observation and provide critical data for water management.