We incorporate a subgrid snow cover parameterization, Subgrid SNOW Distribution (SSNOWD) model, into the land surface model MATSIRO. SSNOWD assumes the subgrid snow water equivalent depth distribution following the lognormal distribution function, and accounts for the subgrid snow physical processes. The 29-year simulation is conducted forced by the observation and reanalysis based meteorological data. The results are compared with satellite based observational dataset and the intra- and inter-annual snow cover fraction variations are validated. The effects of incorporating SSNOWD on hydrological properties are also evaluated. The results show that SSNOWD improves the intra- and inter-annual variability of snow cover area in Northern Hemisphere especially in the accumulation season and the effect of those changes in snow cover on the other land surface properties are not negligible.
