Geoinformation analysis of the period of a stable snow cover in the Baikal region

Abstract

From 2000 to 2010, we carried out mapping and spatiotemporal analysis of the period of the stable snow cover (SSC) in the Baikal region and assessed the influence of various environmental factors on it. The dates of the onset and destruction of SSC were determined using the eight-day MODIS “snow cover” composites with a spatial resolution of 500m (MODIS/Terra Snow Cover 8-Day L3 Global 500m Grid, Version 6), and the duration was calculated as the difference of dates. We also carried out a multiple regression analysis of the relationship of the SSC period and environmental factors: the altitude, slope, potential total incoming solar radiation (kWh/m2 per day) (according to digital elevation model from the WorldClim dataset) as well as land surface temperature (according to MODIS data). The results revealed a high positive linear relationship between the SSC period and the altitude of the entire area. In general, in the entire area, the calculated increment in the SSC period with the altitude is approximately 12 days every 100 m. There is no linear relationship between the SSC duration and the incoming solar radiation that is determined by the steepness and orientation of slopes. The SSC duration and temperature show the average negative linear relationship.