Unlocking the full potential of Copernicus data and infrastructure to improve meltwater monitoring in the Andes

The current Copernicus snow water equivalent (SWE) service lacks coverage in mountains and the southern hemisphere.

The SNOWCOP addresses this gap by proposing an innovative re-analysis approach that assimilate the data from the Copernicus program into a physically based snow model. SNOWCOP will produce high-resolution maps of SWE and ice melt rates.

The maps, which are produced for the last 20+ years over the extra-tropical Andes, will have a spatial resolution of 50 m and a daily temporal resolution.

SNOWCOP will leverage on the Copernicus Data Space Ecosystem (CDSE) platform to perform the processing directly where the data is stored. SNOWCOP commits to open science making all results and code available.

SNOWCOP will push the use of EGNSS technology to power snow station able to measure simultaneously SWE and liquid water content (LWC).The overall aim of SNOWCOP is to improve the quantification of meltwater from snow and ice in the Andes by unlocking the full potential of EU Copernicus Data and Infrastructure through four specific objectives:-Develop and evaluate new SWE and ice melt reanalysis datasets.-Promote the use of CDSE to foster innovation and excellence in the development of Copernicus solutions.-Raise awareness of Copernicus and EGNSS technologies among water management stakeholders.-Attract investment for developing innovative water management solutions.By achieving these objectives SNOWCOP is expected to open an innovative window for stakeholders, showcasing meltwater resources in the Andes and beyond with unprecedented spatial and temporal detail.

By harnessing the power of Copernicus data and infrastructure, and developing innovative processing tools, the project unlocks the accessibility of such information to all the interested users.

This empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions about water resource management, open new marketing opportunities for SME and significantly impacting human well-being in mountainous regions.