Inter-comparison of snow depth over Arctic sea ice from reanalysis reconstructions and satellite retrieval

Abstract. In this study, we compare eight recently developed snow depth products over Arctic sea ice, which use satellite observations, modeling, or a combination of and modeling approaches. These are further compared against various ground-truth including those from ice mass balance observations airborne measurements. Large mean discrepancies observed the Atlantic Canadian sectors. The differences between climatology early in winter could be part result delaying formation that reduces accumulation, leading to shallower snowpacks at start freeze-up season. persist through spring despite overall more accumulation reanalysis-based than climatologies. Among evaluated, University Washington (UW) product produces deepest (March–April) snowpacks, while Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) provides shallowest depths. Most show significant correlation with depths retrieved Operational IceBridge (OIB) correlations quite low buoy measurements, no very variability Bremen DMI products. Inconsistencies reconstructed among products, as well these situ can partially attributed effective footprint spatial–temporal coverage, insufficient for validation/bias adjustments. Our results highlight need targeted surveys different spatial temporal scales allow systematic comparison fusion airborne, remote sensing observations.