Multi-sensor analysis of monthly gridded snow precipitation on alpine glaciers

Abstract. Accurate and reliable solid precipitation estimates for high mountain regions are crucial many research applications. Yet, measuring snowfall at elevation remains a major challenge. In consequence, observational coverage is typically sparse, the validation of spatially distributed products complicated. This study presents novel approach using daily snow water equivalent (SWE) by cosmic ray sensor on two Swiss glacier sites to assess performance various gridded products. The ground observations available during four winter seasons. three readily-available data based different sources (gauge-based, remotely-sensed, re-analysed) assessed in terms their accuracy compared reference. Furthermore, we include set, which corresponds remotely-sensed product with local adjustment independent SWE measurements. We find large bias all monthly seasonal resolution, also shows trend. Moreover, largely depends situ wind direction events. varying can be partly explained compilation background underlying basis.