Influence of snow properties on directional surface reflectance in Antarctica

• Main Author: Carlsen, Tim
• Other Authors: Universität Leipzig
• Format: Doctoral or Postdoctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: Atmospheric science; reflection; snow properties; Antarctica; remote sensing; Atmosphärenforschung; Reflexion; Schneeeigenschaften; Antarktis; Fernerkundung; info:eu-repo/classification/ddc/551; ddc:551; Austral; Kohnen; Antarc*; Antarktis*
• Online Access: https://nbn-resolving.org/urn:nbn:de:bsz:15-qucosa2-319046; https://ul.qucosa.de/id/qucosa%3A31904; https://ul.qucosa.de/api/qucosa%3A31904/attachment/ATT-0/

The significance of the polar regions for the Earth’s climate system and their observed amplified response to climate change indicate the necessity for high temporal and spatial coverage for the monitoring of the reflective properties of snow surfaces and their influencing factors. Therefore, the specific surface area (SSA, as a proxy for snow grain size) and the hemispherical directional reflectance factor (HDRF) of snow were measured for a 2-month period in central Antarctica (Kohnen research station) during austral summer 2013/14. The SSA data were retrieved on the basis of ground-based spectral surface albedo measurements collected by the COmpact RAdiation measurement System (CORAS) and airborne observations with the Spectral Modular Airborne Radiation measurement sysTem (SMART). The snow grain size and pollution amount (SGSP) algorithm, originally developed to analyze spaceborne reflectance measurements by the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), was modified in order to reduce the impact of the solar zenith angle on the retrieval results and to cover measurements in overcast conditions. Spectral ratios of surface albedo at 1280 and 1100 nm wavelength were used to reduce the retrieval uncertainty. The retrieval was applied to the ground-based and airborne observations and validated against optical in situ observations of SSA utilizing an IceCube device. The SSA retrieved from CORAS observations varied between 29 and 96 m2 kg-1. Snowfall events caused distinct relative maxima of the SSA which were followed by a gradual decrease in SSA due to snow metamorphism and wind-induced transport of freshly fallen ice crystals. The ability of the modified algorithm to include measurements in overcast conditions improved the data coverage, in particular at times when precipitation events occurred and the SSA changed quickly. SSA retrieved from measurements with CORAS and MODIS agree with the in situ observations within the ranges given by the measurement uncertainties. However, SSA retrieved from the ...