Keywords
Brightness temperature, Greenland, Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I), freeze/thaw, melt detection
Abstract
Microwave remote sensing detection of snow melt and ablation generally focuses on the detection of liquid moisture in the snow-pack. For ablation estimation, it is important to determine if wet snow is in the process of melting or freezing. The different stages of the melt cycle are observed in the diurnal variation of Tb measurements from the Special Sensor Microwave Imager (SSM/I) over Greenland. SSM/I channel ratios exhibit patterns indicating that they are sensitive to melt and freeze stages of the daily melt cycle. The horizontal to vertical polarization ratio is sensitive to surface wetness associated with melting. The 19-37-GHz frequency ratio is sensitive to a frozen surface layer over wet snow which is associated with the freeze stage of the melt cycle. These observations are supported by conceptual models presented here and in in situ measurements from other investigators.
Original Publication Citation
Ashcraft, I. S., and D. G. Long. "Differentiation between Melt and Freeze Stages of the Melt Cycle using SSM/I Channel Ratios." Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on 43.6 (25): 1317-23
BYU ScholarsArchive Citation
Long, David G. and Ashcraft, Ivan S., "Differentiation between melt and freeze stages of the melt cycle using SSM/I channel ratios" (2005). Faculty Publications. 374.
https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/facpub/374
Document Type
Peer-Reviewed Article
Publication Date
2005-06-01
Permanent URL
http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/1039
Publisher
IEEE
Language
English
College
Ira A. Fulton College of Engineering and Technology
Department
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Copyright Status
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