Evaluation of snow depth from multiple observation-based, reanalysis, and regional climate model datasets over a low-altitude Central European region

Abstract This study evaluates snow depth (SD) from several data sources: a combined satellite-based and in situ water equivalent product the Copernicus Global Land Service (CGLS), dataset constructed temperature, precipitation, relative humidity using model (CARPATCLIM), two state-of-the-art reanalyses by ECMWF (ERA5 ERA5-Land), Weather Research Forecasting (WRF) regional climate simulations at grid spacings of 50 km 10 km. SD observations weather stations are used as reference for pointwise comparison. The area covers Pannonian Basin region (part Central Eastern Europe). Results presented 2006–2010 1985–2010 periods. All datasets adequately reproduce average day-to-day variation but with different error magnitudes. ERA5 reanalysis CGLS represent remarkably well, correlation coefficients above 0.9 mean errors close to zero. On other hand, ERA5-Land CARPATCLIM overestimate daily 2–3 cm some display lower correlations (0.7–0.9) during 26-year time span. WRF significantly melting period (February–March). Reduction spacing does not improve results. excessive cover might negatively impact land–atmosphere interactions lead biases like temperature underestimation found previous evaluation studies. results indicate that even regions where is major climatic factor, can be substantial should considered adaptation. Over Carpathian Mountain ranges, sources diverges extent sign monthly bias changes depending on choice dataset.