Snow Cover Climatology from Meteosat-8

The Global Climate Observing System (GCOS) was established in 1992 to ensure that the observations necessary to address climate-related issues are defined, obtained and made available to all potential users. The Swiss GCOS Office at the Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss is responsible to coordinate all climate relevant measurements on the national level in Switzerland. Given the long tradition of ground-based in-situ measurement networks in Switzerland since the middle of the 19th century, these data provide a unique opportunity to analyze the development of the climate over the last 150 years, in particular the regional climate change in the Alpine region. Snow properties are