A compilation of multitemporal TLS snow depth distribution maps at the Weisssee snow research site (Kaunertal, Austria)

The study presents a data set of the interannual and intraannual snow depth distribution recorded by terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) scans at Weisssee snow research site in Austria between November 2014 and May 2018. The data set comprises 23 snow‐on digital elevation models, one snow‐off digital elevation model, and the difference raster calculated between a snow‐off and snow‐on scans. The relative accuracy of the TLS scans was determined by measuring the distance between snow‐free planes from the snow‐on and snow‐off scans and shows mean values smaller than 0.03 m and standard deviations ranging between 0.02 and 0.1 m. The reliability of the snow depths derived from TLS was further assessed by comparing snow depths from snow probing, Global Navigation Satellite System measurements, and continuous snow depth measurements from the weather station. Comparison of the different measurement methods shows average deviations of less than 0.1 m. The data can be used for analysis and modeling of snow distribution or for assessing the representativeness of snow sensors or other remote sensing products. Key Points The 23 TLS snow depth maps from 11.2014 to 05.2018 show the spatial distribution of snow depth around an alpine weather and snow station The average deviations between snow depth measurements generated from TLS and observations used for validation are lower than 0.1 m The data can be used for interannual and intraannual snow distribution analysis and snow hydrological modeling