Snow depth and snow cover over the Tibetan Plateau observed from space in against ERA5: matters of scale

Abstract There has been a statement that the satellite and reanalyses significantly overestimate snow depths (SDs) as compared with in-situ observations over Tibetan Plateau (TP). The inconsistency may be partly due to representations related different spatial resolutions. To further clarify matters of scale, this work estimates compares fractional cover (FSC) from MODIS (500 m), SDs Sentinel-1 C-band SAR (1 km), ERA5-Land (9 km) ERA5 (31 together ground GHCN-D at 6 newly-established stations in Namco watershed. SD FSC MERRA-2 (50 are also discussed comparison ERA5s. Results indicate fine resolution reanalysis better consistency TP. matches measurements than MERRA-2. Overestimates likely for shallow snowpack. However, underestimates found deep particularly late season. Improvements displayed ERA5-Land, while increased is attributed by altitude resolution. Overall have similar distributions annual cycle patterns TP, consistent satellite-based datasets. A notable defect ERA5s delayed ablation snowpack during spring early summer. It causes cold temperature biases surface impact on land-atmosphere interaction. Snow analysis combines information into demonstrated data. potential improve