scholarly journals The Determination of Snow Albedo from Satellite Measurements Using Fast Atmospheric Correction Technique

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 234 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kokhanovsky ◽  
Jason E. Box ◽  
Baptiste Vandecrux ◽  
Kenneth D. Mankoff ◽  
Maxim Lamare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Correction ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Correction Algorithm ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Snow Albedo ◽  
Single View ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Correction Technique

We present a simplified atmospheric correction algorithm for snow/ice albedo retrievals using single view satellite measurements. The validation of the technique is performed using Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on board Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite and ground spectral or broadband albedo measurements from locations on the Greenland ice sheet and in the French Alps. Through comparison with independent ground observations, the technique is shown to perform accurately in a range of conditions from a 2100 m elevation mid-latitude location in the French Alps to a network of 15 locations across a 2390 m elevation range in seven regions across the Greenland ice sheet. Retrieved broadband albedo is accurate within 5% over a wide (0.5) broadband albedo range of the (N = 4155) Greenland observations and with no apparent bias.

scholarly journals The Determination of Snow Albedo from Satellite Measurements Using Fast Atmospheric Correction Technique

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kokhanovsky ◽  
Jason E. Box ◽  
Baptiste Vandecrux ◽  
Kenneth Mankoff ◽  
Maxim Lamare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Correction ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Correction Algorithm ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Snow Albedo ◽  
Single View ◽  
French Alps ◽  
Correction Technique

We present a simplified atmospheric correction algorithm for the snow/ice albedo retrieval using single view satellite measurements. The validation of the technique is performed using Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) on board Copernicus Sentinel - 3 satellite and ground spectral or broadband albedo measurements from locations on the Greenland ice sheet and in the French Alps. Through comparison with independent ground observations, the technique is shown to perform accurately in a range of conditions from a 2100 m elevation mid-latitude location in the French Alps to a network of 15 locations across a 2390 m elevation range in seven regions across the Greenland ice sheet. Retrieved broadband albedo is accurate within 5% over a wide (0.5) broadband albedo range of the (N = 4,155) Greenland observations and with no apparent bias.

Evaluation the MOD10A1 daily snow albedo product (v. 6) on Livingston Island, Antarctica

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alejandro Corbea-Pérez ◽  
Javier Fernández-Calleja ◽  
Carmen Recondo ◽  
Susana Fernández
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Sensor Calibration ◽  
Satellite Measurements ◽  
Snow Albedo ◽  
Livingston Island ◽  
Increasing Trend

<p>One of the factors that can most influence climate changes on a global scale is the albedo decrease, associated with a temperature increase and a snow cover decrease, mainly in the polar areas, where the remote sensing data are essential because there is much difficulty access to obtain measurements in situ. Therefore, evaluations of satellite measurements are essential.</p><p>The daily MOD10A1 snow product provides daily measurements of albedo. Version 6 is currently available. In Antarctica, and more specifically on Livingston Island (South Shetland Archipelago), where one of the Spanish Antarctic bases is located, the daily snow albedo product of MODIS (MOD10A1) has been evaluated using version 5 data (Calleja et al. 2019). However, several authors have recommended updating the analyses based on version 6 data (Box et al. 2012, Casey et al. 2017), as they are more accurate.</p><p>In this work, we have analyzed the albedo behavior using MOD10A1 version 6 data between 2006 and 2015 and we have seen an increasing trend of albedo. Version 5 showed an increase of 0.07 per decade. However, version 6 data show less variability (0.04 per decade), and its results are closer to those obtained in the measurements in situ (0.03 per decade). In addition, the results obtained allow us to affirm that the MOD10A1 daily albedo product (v. 6) can be used to determine the albedo in the study area.</p><p>References:</p><p>Box, J. E., Fettweis, X., Stroeve, J. C., Tedesco, M., Hall, D. K., & Steffen, K. (2012). Greenland ice sheet albedo feedback: thermodynamics and atmospheric drivers. The Cryosphere, 6(4), 821-839.</p><p>Calleja, J. F., Corbea-Pérez, A., Fernández, S., Recondo, C., Peón, J., & de Pablo, M. Á. (2019). Snow Albedo Seasonality and Trend from MODIS Sensor and Ground Data at Johnsons Glacier, Livingston Island, Maritime Antarctica. Sensors, 19(16), 3569.</p><p>Casey, K. A., Polashenski, C. M., Chen, J., & Tedesco, M. (2017). Impact of MODIS sensor calibration updates on Greenland Ice Sheet surface reflectance and albedo trends. The Cryosphere, 11(4), 1781-1795.</p>

XXV.—The Determination of Temperature Gradients over the Greenland Ice Sheet by Optical Methods

1957 ◽  
Vol 64 (4) ◽  
pp. 381-397
Author(s):  
R. A. Hamilton
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Gradient ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Temperature Gradients ◽  
Lower Atmosphere ◽  
Optical Methods ◽  
Snow Surface ◽  
Vertical Angle ◽  
Gradient Measurements

SynopsisThe temperature gradient in the lower atmosphere can be directly determined by measuring the optical refractive index of the air. This method is suitable for use on the Greenland ice sheet where errors introduced by water vapour are small, and where the strong solar radiation reflected by the snow surface makes it difficult to measure temperature differences over height differences of about I metre.The refraction was measured by observing the apparent vertical angle of each of a set of targets at distances up to 4 km. from a theodolite. The refraction was found to vary linearly with the distance of the target. The true vertical angle to the targets was determined when a second theodolite was available and reciprocal sights could be taken with it from the site of target to the fixed theodolite. The true vertical angle varied with time due to slow descent of the theodolite as the firn slumped; a correction for this was made. The standard error of the temperature gradient measurements was about 1.5 × 10−2 C.° per metre. It is considered that the method could be developed and improved so that over a range of only 100 metres temperature gradients could be measured to an accuracy of about 0·1° C. per metre.

Evaluation of a new snow albedo scheme in RACMO2 for the Greenland ice sheet

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christiaan van Dalum ◽  
Willem Jan van de Berg ◽  
Stef Lhermitte ◽  
Michiel van den Broeke
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Snow Albedo ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Snow And Ice

<p>Snow and ice albedo schemes in present day climate models often lack a sophisticated radiation penetration scheme and are limited to a broadband albedo. In this study, we evaluate a new snow albedo scheme in the regional climate model RACMO2 that uses the two-stream radiative transfer in snow model TARTES and the spectral-to-narrowband albedo module SNOWBAL for the Greenland ice sheet. Additionally, the bare ice albedo parameterization has been updated. The snow and ice albedo output of the updated version of RACMO2, referred to as RACMO2.3p3, is evaluated using PROMICE and K-transect in-situ data and MODIS remote-sensing observations. Generally, the RACMO2.3p3 albedo is in very good agreement with satellite observations, leading to a domain-averaged bias of only -0.012. Some discrepancies are, however, observed for regions close to the ice margin. Compared to the previous iteration RACMO2.3p2, the albedo of RACMO2.3p3 is considerably higher in the bare ice zone during the ablation season, as atmospheric conditions now alter the bare ice albedo. For most other regions, however, the albedo of RACMO2.3p3 is lower due to spectral effects, radiation penetration, snow metamorphism or a delayed firn-ice transition. Furthermore, a white-out effect during cloudy conditions is captured and the snow albedo shows a low sensitivity to low soot concentrations. The surface mass balance of RACMO2.3p3 compares well with observations. Subsurface heating, however, now leads to increased melt and refreezing in south Greenland, changing the snow structure.</p>

Remote sensing of snow and atmosphere properties using Ocean and Land Colour Instrument on board Copernicus Sentinel-3 mission

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Kokhanovsky ◽  
Jason Box ◽  
Baptiste Vandecrux ◽  
Michael Kern
Keyword(s):  
Remote Sensing ◽  
Atmospheric Correction ◽  
European Space Agency ◽  
Satellite Observations ◽  
Snow Properties ◽  
Retrieval Technique ◽  
Space Agency ◽  
Correction Technique ◽  
Cloud Screening

<p><span>In this work we propose a simple technique to derive snow and atmosphere properties from satellite top-of-atmosphere spectral reflectance observations using asymptotic radiative transfer theory valid for the case of weakly absorbing and optically thick media. The following snow properties are derived and analyzed: ice grain size, snow specific surface area, snow pollution load, snow spectral and broadband albedo. The developed retrieval technique includes both atmospheric correction and cloud screening routines and is based on Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) measurements on board Sentinel-3A, B. The spectral aerosol optical thickness, total ozone and water vapour column are derived fitting the measured and simulated OLCI-registered spectral reflectances at 21 OLCI channels.</span></p><p><span>The derived results are validated using ground - based observations. It follows that satellite observations can be used to study time series of spectral and broadband albedo over Greenland. The deviations of satellite and ground observations are due to problems with cloud screening over snow and also due to different spatial scale of satellite and ground observations (Kokhanovsky et al., 2020).</span></p><p>Acknowledgements</p><p>The work has been supported by the European Space Agency in the framework of ESRIN contract No. 4000118926/16/I-NB ‘Scientific Exploitation of Operational Missions (SEOM) Sentinel-3 Snow (Sentinel-3 for Science, Land Study 1: Snow’) and ESRIN contract 4000125043 – ESA/AO/1-9101/17/I-NB EO science for society ‘Pre-operational Sentinel-3 snow and ice products’.</p><p><span>References</span></p><p>Kokhanovsky, A.A., et al. (2020), The determination of snow albedo from satellite observations using fast atmospheric correction technique, Remote Sensing, 12 (2), 234,  https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12020234.</p>

scholarly journals Evaluation of a new snow albedo scheme for the Greenland ice sheet in the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO2)

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 3645-3662
Author(s):  
Christiaan T. van Dalum ◽  
Willem Jan van de Berg ◽  
Stef Lhermitte ◽  
Michiel R. van den Broeke
Keyword(s):  
Climate Models ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Atmospheric Conditions ◽  
Snow Albedo ◽  
In Situ Data ◽  
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer ◽  
Regional Atmospheric Climate Model ◽  
Snow And Ice

Abstract. Snow and ice albedo schemes in present-day climate models often lack a sophisticated radiation penetration scheme and do not explicitly include spectral albedo variations. In this study, we evaluate a new snow albedo scheme in the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO2) for the Greenland ice sheet, version 2.3p3, that includes these processes. The new albedo scheme uses the Two-streAm Radiative TransfEr in Snow (TARTES) model and the Spectral-to-NarrOWBand ALbedo (SNOWBAL) module, version 1.2. Additionally, the bare-ice albedo parameterization has been updated. The snow and ice broadband and narrowband albedo output of the updated version of RACMO2 is evaluated using the Programme for Monitoring of the Greenland Ice Sheet (PROMICE) and Kangerlussuaq transect (K-transect) in situ data and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) remote-sensing observations. Generally, the modeled narrowband and broadband albedo is in very good agreement with satellite observations, leading to a negligible domain-averaged broadband albedo bias for the interior. Some discrepancies are, however, observed close to the ice margin. Compared to the previous model version, RACMO2.3p2, the broadband albedo is considerably higher in the bare-ice zone during the ablation season, as atmospheric conditions now alter the bare-ice broadband albedo. For most other regions, however, the updated broadband albedo is lower due to spectral effects, radiation penetration or enhanced snow metamorphism.

Evaluation of the MODIS (MOD10A1) daily snow albedo product over the Greenland ice sheet

2006 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-171 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julienne C. Stroeve ◽  
Jason E. Box ◽  
Terry Haran
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Snow Albedo

scholarly journals On the importance of the albedo parameterization for the mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet in EC-Earth

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 1949-1965 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michiel M. Helsen ◽  
Roderik S. W. van de Wal ◽  
Thomas J. Reerink ◽  
Richard Bintanja ◽  
Marianne S. Madsen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Global Climate ◽  
Global Climate Model ◽  
Ice Sheets ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Snow Albedo

Abstract. The albedo of the surface of ice sheets changes as a function of time due to the effects of deposition of new snow, ageing of dry snow, bare ice exposure, melting and run-off. Currently, the calculation of the albedo of ice sheets is highly parameterized within the earth system model EC-Earth by taking a constant value for areas with thick perennial snow cover. This is an important reason why the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) is poorly resolved in the model. The purpose of this study is to improve the SMB forcing of the GrIS by evaluating different parameter settings within a snow albedo scheme. By allowing ice-sheet albedo to vary as a function of wet and dry conditions, the spatial distribution of albedo and melt rate improves. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of SMB in EC-Earth is not significantly improved. As a reason for this, we identify omissions in the current snow albedo scheme, such as separate treatment of snow and ice and the effect of refreezing. The resulting SMB is downscaled from the lower-resolution global climate model topography to the higher-resolution ice-sheet topography of the GrIS, such that the influence of these different SMB climatologies on the long-term evolution of the GrIS is tested by ice-sheet model simulations. From these ice-sheet simulations we conclude that an albedo scheme with a short response time of decaying albedo during wet conditions performs best with respect to long-term simulated ice-sheet volume. This results in an optimized albedo parameterization that can be used in future EC-Earth simulations with an interactive ice-sheet component.

An early Holocene Greenland whale from Melville Bugt, Greenland

2008 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 72-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ole Bennike
Keyword(s):  
Age Determination ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Early Holocene ◽  
Balaena Mysticetus ◽  
Similar Position ◽  
Radiocarbon Age

Radiocarbon age determination of a Greenland whale (Balaena mysticetus) vertebra from Melville Bugt in northwestern Greenland yields an age of 9259–8989 cal yr BP. The margin of the Greenland Ice Sheet in Melville Bugt was situated behind its AD 1950–2000 position in the early Holocene, at a similar position to that being reached following rapid retreat in recent years. Such an early deglaciation of areas close to the Greenland Ice Sheet is unusual. This probably reflects the unique glaciological setting resulting from the narrow fringe of ice-free islands and peninsulas and offshore waters with deep areas that characterize this part of Greenland. The timing of Greenland Ice Sheet retreat to its present margin varies significantly around Greenland.

scholarly journals Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model

2012 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1531-1562 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. van Angelen ◽  
J. T. M. Lenaerts ◽  
S. Lhermitte ◽  
X. Fettweis ◽  
P. Kuipers Munneke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Grain Size ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Black Carbon ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Shortwave Radiation ◽  
Surface Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Snow Albedo

Abstract. We present a sensitivity study of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet, as modeled using a regional atmospheric climate model, to various parameter settings in the albedo parameterization. The snow albedo parameterization uses grain size as a prognostic variable and further depends on cloud cover, solar zenith angle and black carbon concentration. For the control experiment the overestimation of absorbed shortwave radiation (+6 %) at the K-transect (West Greenland) for the period 2004–2009 is considerably reduced compared to the previous density-dependent albedo parameterization (+22 %). To simulate realistic snow albedo values, a small concentration of black carbon is needed. A background ice albedo field derived from MODIS imagery improves the agreement between the modeled and observed SMB gradient along the K-transect. The effect of enhanced retention and refreezing is a decrease of the albedo due to an increase in snow grain size. As a secondary effect of refreezing the snowpack is heated, enhancing melt and further lowering the albedo. Especially in a warmer climate this process is important, since it reduces the refreezing potential of the firn layer covering the Greenland Ice Sheet.

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