The Microwave Alpine Snow Melting Experiment (MASMEx 2002): a contribution to the ENVISNOW project

A study of the melting cycle of snow was carried out by combining microwave radiometric measurements with conventional micrometeorological data and snow modelling. The experiment took place in the eastern Italian Alps. The high sensitivity of microwave emission at 19 and 37 GHz to the melting refreezing-cycles of snow was confirmed. Moreover, micro-meteorological data provided additional insight on the processes. Simulations obtained with electromagnetic and hydrological models were consistent with experimental data.