Operational monitoring of snow cover in the Swiss Alps using real-time NOAA-AVHRR data

A system to operationally monitor snow cover in the Swiss Alps using NOAA-AVHRR data is presented. The data are calibrated and normalised to allow the application of physically based classification thresholds. The results of the analysis of two time series of images dating from the years 1992 and 1996 are displayed. First experiences gathered during the real-time application in 1999 are reported.