Long-Term Variability of Surface Albedo and Its Correlation with Climatic Variables over Antarctica

• Published in: Remote Sensing
• Main Authors: Minji Seo, Hyun-Cheol Kim, Morang Huh, Jong-Min Yeom, Chang Suk Lee, Kyeong-Sang Lee, Sungwon Choi, Kyung-Soo Han
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2016
• Subjects: Antarctica; ice sheet albedo; Antarctic oscillation index; in situ temperature; Science; Q; Arctic; Antarctic; The Antarctic; East Antarctica; West Antarctica; South Pole; albedo; Antarc*; Climate change; Ice Sheet; Sea ice; South pole
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8120981; https://doaj.org/article/59b0881614a141e2b92024c6268a090c

The cryosphere is an essential part of the earth system for understanding climate change. Components of the cryosphere, such as ice sheets and sea ice, are generally decreasing over time. However, previous studies have indicated differing trends between the Antarctic and the Arctic. The South Pole also shows internal differences in trends. These phenomena indicate the importance of continuous observation of the Polar Regions. Albedo is a main indicator for analyzing Antarctic climate change and is an important variable with regard to the radiation budget because it can provide positive feedback on polar warming and is related to net radiation and atmospheric heating in the mainly snow- and ice-covered Antarctic. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed long-term temporal and spatial variability of albedo and investigated the interrelationships between albedo and climatic variables over Antarctica. We used broadband surface albedo data from the Satellite Application Facility on Climate Monitoring and data for several climatic variables such as temperature and Antarctic oscillation index (AAO) during the period of 1983 to 2009. Time series analysis and correlation analysis were performed through linear regression using albedo and climatic variables. The results of this research indicated that albedo shows two trends, west trend and an east trend, over Antarctica. Most of the western side of Antarctica showed a negative trend of albedo (about −0.0007 to −0.0015 year−1), but the other side showed a positive trend (about 0.0006 year−1). In addition, albedo and surface temperature had a negative correlation, but this relationship was weaker in west Antarctica than in east Antarctica. The correlation between albedo and AAO revealed different relationships in the two regions; west Antarctica had a negative correlation and east Antarctica showed a positive correlation. In addition, the correlation between albedo and AAO was weaker in the west. This suggests that the eastern area is influenced by the atmosphere, but that the ...