Mapping snow and vegetation coverage using multitemporal open satellite Imagery: the case study of the Maritime Alps.

This thesis investigates the automatic classification of vegetation and snow coverage in the Maritime Alps, Italy, using multitemporal open satellite imagery from the Sentinel-2 mission. The Maritime Alps, a region highly sensitive to climate fluctuations, has seen notable shifts in its snow and vegetation patterns in recent years. Through the analysis of Sentinel-2 data, this research aims to track the spatial and temporal variations in these natural features as indicators of broader environmental changes. By analyzing multi-temporal open satellite images, we evaluated the changes in snow extent and vegetation cover over several years (2016-2023), revealing patterns related to shifting climate conditions. The high-resolution data enabled precise detection of seasonal and inter-annual changes. In addition, land cover maps were generated to compare the extent of snow and vegetation coverage across different years. These maps provide a visual representation of the landscape's evolution, offering insights into how climate change is impacting the alpine environment over time.