Comparison of <i>In Situ</i> and AVHRR-Derived Broadband Albedo over Arctic Sea Ice

Authors

  • R.A. De Abreu
  • J. Key
  • J.A. Maslanik
  • M.C. Serreze
  • E.F. LeDrew

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14430/arctic1299

Keywords:

Albedo, Infrared remote sensing, Measurement, Ocean-atmosphere interaction, Passive microwave remote sensing, Sea ice, Snow, SIMMS, Resolute Passage, Nunavut

Abstract

Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) data are used to extract broadband sea ice surface albedos from narrowband channel 1 and 2 top of the atmosphere (TOA) radiances. Corrections for the intervening atmosphere, viewing geometry and sensor spectral response are applied to the satellite data. Atmospheric correction increases TOA albedos by 27 to 32%. After removing the effects of viewing geometry, surface albedo variability between orbits decreases. The satellite-derived surface albedo over snow-covered sea ice corrected for viewing geometry ranged from 0.68 to 0.82. The residual diurnal variability is attributed to uncertainties in the atmospheric and anisotropic corrections of the satellite data. After comparison with coincidental in situ measurements, AVHRR pixel. In order to develop a reliable methodology for using these satellite data to derive sea ice albedo, an improved understanding of both the atmosphere's behavior over the long path lengths common to the Arctic and the anisotropic nature of snow-covered sea ice reflectance is required. Furthermore, any seasonal characteristics of these factors must be addressed.

Key words: sea ice, albedo, remote sensing, AVHRR, anisotropy

Downloads

Published

1994-01-01