Influence of snowpack properties and local incidence angle on SAR signal depolarization: a mathematical model for high-resolution snow depth estimation

Mariani, Alberto; Borsotti, Jacopo; Livio, Franz; Villa, Giacomo; Metzger, Martin; Monti, Fabiano

doi:10.5194/tc-20-963-2026

Articles | Volume 20, issue 2

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-963-2026

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

https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-963-2026

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

Articles | Volume 20, issue 2

Research article

|

04 Feb 2026

Research article |

| 04 Feb 2026

Influence of snowpack properties and local incidence angle on SAR signal depolarization: a mathematical model for high-resolution snow depth estimation

Alberto Mariani, Jacopo Borsotti, Franz Livio, Giacomo Villa, Martin Metzger, and Fabiano Monti

Data sets

Photogrammetric Drone Data Dorfberg Y. Bühler et al. https://doi.org/10.16904/envidat.376

Snow observations Varsom Regobs https://regobs.no/?SelectedNumberOfDays=3&&NWLat=72.47527631092942&NWLon=-21.621093750000004&SELat=55.178867663282006&SELon=89.384765625

Vall dataset ARPA Lombardia https://www.arpalombardia.it/temi-ambientali/meteo-e-clima/form-richiesta-dati/

Copernicus Browser Copernicus https://browser.dataspace.copernicus.eu/?zoom=5&lat=50.16282&lng=20.78613&themeId=DEFAULT-THEME&visualizationUrl=U2FsdGVkX1\%2FUoSuL6eKzKziKrUW9wityFi8H7G\%2BVZd6v4xK\%2Bv4bFpx\%2Fn4NoTSqx8d\%2BvEQK\%2FwZFyd93iNrEO1qFZh\%2BikB1Pxd12Nbefbz32zhK1kvVuQSktnA1

Short summary

We developed a new model to estimate snow depth using radar satellite data. By correcting for how the viewing angle affects signal reflection, we reduced errors by nearly 40 %. Tested in the Alps and Norway, the method improves fine-scale snow monitoring, supporting avalanche forecasting and water management.