Snow surveys and bulk snowpack isotopic composition in the south of the Western Siberia (Russia)
Description
Climate change has a profound impact on seasonal snow cover, yet obtaining robust snowpack data remains a challenge. There is a significant lack of ground-based observations to validate remote sensing and model outputs. In Siberia, observation networks are sparse, and snow station locations do not always accurately represent the region's diverse landscapes. This study aimed to expand the observational coverage of climate stations and assess snowpack variability across different ecosystems. Our focus was on capturing snow conditions in various ecosystem types within the southern West Siberian Plain and the Altai low mountain region. We conducted our research in two primary catchments: Kasmala (forest-steppe) and Mayma (low mountains). Observations were carried out during peak snow accumulation (late February – early March). Data collection in the Kasmala catchment took place from 2011 to 2014 and 2017 to 2019, while in the Mayma catchment, observations were conducted from 2015 to 2019. These efforts were supported by state-funded projects at the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems SB RAS. In 2019, the 3S (South Siberian Snowpack) project, funded by RFBR (N 19-35-60006, 2019–2022) at Lomonosov Moscow State University, further expanded the observation network. As part of this project, we extended observations to cover the entire winter season of 2019–2020 in three catchments: Kuchuk (steppe), Kasmala (forest-steppe), and Mayma (low mountains). Additionally, the 3S project consolidated existing data into a unified snow property dataset, including snow depth, density, and SWE (snow water equivalent). Observation Methods Until 2019, observations were conducted along snow courses and small snow sites: Snow courses ranged from 500 m to 2 km, with depth measurements every 20 m and density measurements every 100–200 m. Snow sites consisted of two perpendicular transects (20 or 50 m), with 20 depth and 5 density measurements per site. From 2019 to 2022, under the 3S project, the observation scheme was revised: All measurements were conducted at snow sites using a standardized sampling approach proposed by Jost et al. (2007). Each site included 61 depth and 13 density measurements. Over three winter seasons (2019–2022), we conducted 26,360 depth and 5,616 density measurements across the three catchments. For data consistency, we strongly recommend aggregating measurements by snow courses, sites, or catchments rather than using individual values. Latest Updates (v5 2025): Snow observations from the 2021/2022 season are now included. The complete 2019–2022 database has been finalized. A new dataset on bulk snowpack isotopic composition (2019–2022) has been added.
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Steps to reproduce
Observation Points and Coordinates: Almost every observation point has recorded latitude (Lat), longitude (Lon), and elevation (Elevation) derived from the SRTM model. However, some points in the Mayma catchment lack coordinates due to GPS errors. In such cases, only the starting point of a snow course may be specified. Each observation point (within a course or site) has a unique index (Point_index). The indexing system for observation points varies by year, and the number of points differs slightly across years. For aggregation purposes (e.g., calculating mean and median values), we recommend using the course and site indexes (Snow_course). Course and site numbering: Kasmala catchment: Courses are numbered 1 to 9. Mayma catchment: Courses are numbered 1 to 10, and sites are numbered 110 to 154. 3S project (2019–2020): Sites are labeled using a catchment index + number format (e.g., K-9). Kuchuk catchment: KH Kasmala catchment: K Mayma catchment: M Monitoring frequency: 3 to 6 sites in each catchment were surveyed monthly. To filter data, use the date of observation. Spatial Data: The dataset includes ESRI shapefiles (shp) marking the location of snow courses and sites for each year. Within the 3S project (2019–2022), observation points remained fixed for consistency. Snow Property Measurements: Snow depth was measured using a standard probe. Snow density was measured using the Russian/Soviet VS-43 sampler. More details on the VS-43 sampler are available in the European Snow Booklet (2019). Measurement units: Snow depth: cm Density: kg/m³ SWE (snow water equivalent): mm 3S project (2019–2020): SWE was calculated for each depth measurement based on the average site density. Snow Profiles: Traditional snow profiles were created following the International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground (2009). These profiles are available as CAAML and PNG files. Isotopic Composition Database: The dataset includes bulk snowpack isotopic composition (oxygen 18, deuterium) data collected at each sampling point (one sample per site). Similar to SWE measurements, some sites have monthly isotopic observations covering the November–March period. Details on sampling methods (equipment, probe treatment, etc.) can be found in: Pershin et al., 2023: DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010160 This paper also includes isotopic data for snow courses in the Kasmala catchment (2017–2019).