Snowpack Optical Properties in the Infrared

Abstract

A theory of the optical properties of snow in the 2-20 microns region of the infrared has been developed. Using this theory it is possible to predict the absorption and scattering coefficients and the emissivity of snow, as a function of the snow parameters of grain size and density, for densities between 0.17 and 0.4 g/cu. cm. The absorption and scattering coefficients are linearly related to the density and inversely related to the average grain size. The emissivity is independent of grain size and exhibits only a weak dependence upon density.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 1979
Accession Number
ADA071004

Entities

People

  • Roger H. Berger

Organizations

  • Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Absorption Coefficients
  • Cold Regions
  • Diffraction
  • Electromagnetic Radiation
  • Electromagnetic Spectra
  • Engineering
  • Engineers
  • Grain Size
  • Infrared Radiation
  • Optical Properties
  • Optics
  • Particle Size
  • Radiation
  • Reflectance
  • Refractive Index
  • Scattering
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Physics

Readers

  • Materials Science and Engineering.
  • Polar and Arctic Studies
  • Spectroscopy.