Operational Snow Monitoring using MODSNOW in Central and South Asia

Operational Snow Monitoring using MODSNOW in Central and South Asia

USAID

Start date (month/year): November 2022

Completion date (month/year): Ongoing

Role on the Assignment: Consultant

The project focuses on the importance of snow in hydrological processes in Central Asia (later in South Asia), highlighting its significant contribution to total water formation in some river basins. Within this project we monitor the snow accumulation and melt to improve hydrological forecasting and early drought warning in the region. The study presents a simple approach for developing an operational snow monitoring system, successfully implemented at the hydrometeorological service of Tajikistan. Our approach within this project enables daily monitoring of snow in mountainous regions, utilizing data from MODIS for snow cover area, Snow Water Equivalent (SWE), snow depth, and daily snowmelt.

• Conducted research and analysis on the significance of snow in hydrological processes and its impact on water formation in Central Asia (later in South Asia)
• Developed a simple approach for operational snow monitoring system, tailored to the needs of the region and capable of utilizing remote sensing data from MODIS.
• Provided support for the implementation of the snow monitoring systems.
• Integrated data sources such as MODIS for snow cover area, SWE, snow depth, and daily snowmelt into the monitoring system, ensuring comprehensive coverage and accuracy.
• Conducted training sessions and capacity building activities for personnel at the hydrometeorological service of Central and South Asian countries.
• Implemented measures for quality assurance and validation of the monitoring system outputs, ensuring reliability and accuracy of the data provided for hydrological forecasting and drought early warning.
• Prepared comprehensive documentation and reports detailing the approach, implementation process, and outcomes of the operational snow monitoring system for Central Asia.
• Provided ongoing support and maintenance for the monitoring system, including troubleshooting, updates, and enhancements as needed to optimize its performance and reliability.