Continuous monitoring of spectral albedo of snowed surfaces in Ny-Ålesund

Abstract

Polar areas are the most sensitive targets of climate change. From this perspective, the continuous monitoring of the cryosphere represents a critical issue, which, at the moment, we can only partially supply with specific satellite missions. Furthermore, the integration between remote-sensed multi-spectral images and field data is crucial to validate retrieval algorithms. The micro-physical characteristics of the snow surface and the presence of liquid water in the first layer of the snowpack can be determined in addition to the spatial distribution of snow/ice covers. The aim of this work is to present the field activity carried out in Ny-Alesund (Svalbard Islands, Norway), where an unmanned apparatus was installed to provide continuous spectral surface albedo. A full-range approach was adopted during the 2014 spring/summer period at the CNR Climate Change Tower. This setup was obtained using a spectroradiometer with a spectral range between 350 and 2500 nm integrated with a remote cosine receiver, characterized by a field of view of about 180°, mounted on a rotating support. The system was integrated with a camera aimed to acquire sky and ground images. The first results assessed the feasibility of continuous monitoring the spectral variations of snowed surfaces during the melting period. This study represents a first attempt to associate snow metamorphism to spectral variations and it supports the identification of relevant correlations with meteorological parameters.