Near-Infrared Reflectance of Snow-Covered Substrates,
Abstract
The reflection of solar radiation by a snow cover in situ and the apparent influence of selected substrates were examined in wavelength bands centered at 0.81, 1.04, 1.10, 1.30, 1.50 and 1.80 micrometers. Substrates included winter wheat, timothy, corn, alfalfa, grass, concrete and subsurface layers of 'crusty' snow and ice. Reasonable qualitative agreement between measurements and theoretical predictions was demonstrated, with indications of quantitative agreement in the definition of a 'semi-infinite depth' of snow cover. It was concluded that ultimate quantitative agreement between theory and measurement will require that an 'optically effective grain size' be defined in terms of physically measuarable dimensions or meteorologically predictable characteristics of the ice crystals composing the snowpack. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1981
- Accession Number
- ADA110868
Entities
People
- Gary Koh
- Harold W. O'brien
Organizations
- Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory