SSM/I based model inversion of snow depth and temporal and spatial distribution of snow cover on the on the eastern QinghaiTibet Plateau

Snow disaster is one of the main meteorological disasters restricting the livestock production and sustainable development of pastoral area. The snow depth model was inversed and the distribution and snow depth of snow cover were estimated in eastern QinghaiTibet Plateau by using SSM/I daily brightness temperature data and corresponding measured ground snow depth from 79 meteorological stations in the research area from October to next March during 1995 to 1996, 2000 to 2001 and 2005 to 2006. Results showed that the area of snow cover increased at intervals of one month or ten days in 3 snow seasons and reached the maximum during December to January, and then reduced. The depth of snowcover in each snow season was less than 5 cm, and basically, it was not over 10 cm in October, next February and March. Based on the snow depth data at intervals of ten days in 3 snow seasons, the snow cover area normally increased at the beginning and then decreased, in which, the change of snow area that snow depth was below 5 cm was the largest, and that above 10 cm was the smallest. In 3 snow seasons, the snow cover areas with depth from 5 to 10 cm mainly distributed in Yushu and Guoluo prefectures in the south of Qinghai Province.