Toward Standardization in Methods and Techniques for
Measuring & Monitoring Snowcover Albedo
Christopher C. Landry – Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies
Thomas H. Painter – University of Utah, formerly at NSIDC
Andrew P. Barrett – National Snow and Ice Data Center
Maureen Cassidy – University of Colorado
Senator Beck Study Plot – 12,200’ (3719 m)
SWdiffuse
80.6 mph peak gust to-date
Shadow array design
courtesy ASRB
Program, MeteoSwiss
SWin
LWin
NIR-SWIRin
S
IR temp mapped to
LWout
SWout
NIR-SWIRout
Slope & Aspect Correction to Albedo Measurement
S
Slope & Aspect Correction to Albedo Measurement
1
0.95
0.9
Albedo
0.85
0.8
0.75
0.7
Uncorrected
0.65
Corrected
0.6
0.55
0.5
70.3
70.35
70.4
70.45
70.5
70.55
70.6
70.65
Day of Year 2005
Day
cos θ 0 = cos θ sun cos S + sin θ sun sin S cos(φ sun − E)
S = slope
E = aspect
70.7
70.75
‘Event’ Bulk Sampling – 0.5 m2
Near-Surface Gravimetric Sampling – Mass at Depth
0.05 m2
10 samples
3 cm thick
Radiative Forcing by
Absorption at Depth
Challenges – Riming, Frost, New Snow
Challenges – Surface Roughness, Masts
Albedo Variations – Degrade/Refresh/Degrade
2005
2006
Dust Deposition Events
(grey bars)
Thanks to CIRMOUNT for this session!
We also gratefully acknowledge:
National Science Foundation funding:
Grant # ATM-0431955 to CSAS
Grant # ATM-0432327 to NSIDC
Terrestrial Biogeochemistry Lab – Dr. Jason Neff, Univ. of Colorado
Alpine Surface Radiation Budget Program, Rolf Philipona – MeteoSwiss
Michael Barton, Sara Simonson, and many other CSAS field assistants