The SNOWBALL project explores how Arctic snow-covered lake and sea ice are changing in response to a warming climate, focusing on their critical role in regulating global energy transfer and climate feedbacks. Snow, as a natural insulator and reflector, significantly impacts the Earth's climate system, yet its rapid transformation in the Arctic is poorly understood. To address this, the project combines advanced numerical modelling with satellite and field observations. Using state-of-the-art tools — SnowModel for snow evolution and the Snow Microwave Radiative Transfer (SMRT) model for microwave interactions — the research will analyse snow and ice properties from data collected in Arctic environments, including Finland, Svalbard, and international airborne campaigns. The findings will improve the accuracy of satellite monitoring, enhance our understanding of climate change impacts, and support sustainable policies for environmental conservation.

2025

2029