Snow detection (snow mask) MTG/FCI by VIS/IR radiometry

The MTG/FCI Snow Extent (H43) product is intended mainly for numerical weather prediction (NWP) and hydrological and meteorological applications which need information of presence of snow on surface (and possibly on trees). In these applications the focus is on the presence of snow which is important for the radiative properties of the surface.

• Satellites: MTG-I (i.e., Meteosat Third Generation, Imager satellites)
• Instrument type: Multi-purpose imaging VIS/IR radiometer
• Coverage/cycle: MTG FCI Disk / Every 10 min. Limited areas in correspondingly shorter time intervals
• Cycle: Daily
• Resolution: 2 km at nadir
• Timeliness: ~2 hours
• Format: NetCDF

The H43 product algorithms are based on the methods used in earlier operational products e.g., H31, H32 and H34. These methods together with actual FCI observations have been used to develop single scene (RC) snow detection algorithms (two variants: flatland and mountain) which are used to generate single scene intermediate snow products. These are then combined into daily flatland and mountain snow detection variants and daily merged product variant. The H43 MTG/FCI snow extent product is a Day 1 product which is available when the FCI instrument is operational.