Model investigations of backscatter for snow profiles related to avalanche risk

In this paper, the effects of multilayer structure of snowpack and its temporal evolution on backscattering are investigated by model simulations. The study is focused on layering structures of dry snow that may represent a risk of avalanches in Alpine regions. The implemented model has been validated using X-band Cosmo SkyMed (CSK ®) acquisitions collected in the winters between 2009 and 2013 on a test area located in the Eastern part of the Italian Alps, and corresponding direct measurements of the main snow parameters. After the validation, the models are applied to simulate the backscattering from snow profiles typical of snow covers characterized by a high risk of avalanches.