Comparasion on snow depth algorithms over China using AMSR-E passive microwave remote sensing

Using the brightness temperature data measured by an Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer (AMSR-E) and the in-situ measurement, this paper compared the accuracy and applicability of five snow-depth retrieval algorithms (Chang algorithm, GSFC 96 algorithm, AMSR-E SWE algorithm, the improved algorithm for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and atmosphere-correction algorithm) in the regions of Xinjiang, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, Inner Mongolia, Northeast China, Northwest China and the North China Plain. Generally, over the whole China area, the results of the study show that, the improved algorithm for Qinghai-Tibet Plateau shows a relatively higher accuracy, with a root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 9.16, 9.96 and 9.63cm and a mean relative error (MRE) of 59.77%, 52.79% and 48.47%. According to regional verification respectively, the accuracy algorithm for Xinjiang region is the GSFC 96 algorithm, the RMSE of which is 6.85cm~7.48cm; For Inner Mongolia, it is the QTP algorithm, the RMSE of which is 5.9, 6.11 and 5.46cm; and For Northeast China, it is also the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau algorithm, the RMSE of which is from 6.21cm to 7.83cm. None of the five algorithms is in a good quality for Northwest China and the North China plain regions. For the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau region, the author is not able to obtain the results of statistical verification due to a lack of actually measured data.