Analyse von Ausaperungsmustern der saisonalen Scheedecke mit Fernerkundungsmethoden

Abstract. Remote sensing techniques allow to monitor the snow cover distribution during the melting season and is used to study the ablation process. Three Alpine basins in Switzerland have been selected in order to evaluate regional differences in the North-South and West-East direction. The variing snow cover distribution pattern during the melting process was derived from Landsat-MSS, -TM and SPOT-XS images. Utilizing a Geographical Information System (GIS) additional features influencing the snow distribution, such as glaciers, per mafrost, forest and Vegetation, have been taken into account and form a set of Snow Cover Units (SCU). In addition SCU maps were developed enabling an enhanced analysis ofthe snow cover distribution with regard to the mentioned ground properties. The mutual effect of snow cover and permafrost has been studied.