The consequences of climate change on snow coverage are evident worldwide. In addition to tourism, these changes also affect water availability, vegetation, agriculture, animal populations, and the global radiation balance. Based on satellite data available daily at EOC, routine assessment of global snow cover is carried out in order to understand these processes and their relevance for society and the natural environment. The results of such analyses are consolidated in the “Global SnowPack” data set.
The 2017/2018 snow season was relatively poor in snow throughout most of Germany. The map shows the difference between snow cover duration in winter 2017/2018 compared with the long-term average (2000-2017). Especially southern Germany, the outskirts of the Alps, the Bayerischer Wald, and the north-eastern parts of the country had noticeably fewer days with snow cover than usual. The Alps themselves, however, experienced somewhat more snow than expected, which was explained by the relatively long period of low springtime temperatures.