Abstract
Although extensive research of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo data is available on the Greenland Ice Sheet, there is a lack of studies evaluating MODIS albedo products over Antarctica. In this paper, MOD10A1, MYD10A1, and MCD43 (C6) daily albedo products were compared with the in situ albedo data on Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands (SSI), Antarctica, from 2006 to 2015, for both all-sky and clear-sky conditions, and for the entire study period and only the southern summer months. This is the first evaluation in which MYD10A1 and MCD43 are also included, which can be used to improve the accuracy of the snow BRDF/albedo modeling. The best correlation was obtained with MOD10A1 in clear-sky conditions (r = 0.7 and RMSE = 0.042). With MCD43, only data from the backup algorithm could be used, so the correlations obtained were lower (r = 0.6). However, it was found that there was no significant difference between the values obtained for all-sky and for clear-sky data. In addition, the MODIS products were found to describe the in situ data trend, with increasing albedo values in the range between 0.04 decade−1 and 0.16 decade−1. We conclude that MODIS daily albedo products can be applied to study the albedo in the study area.
Highlights
IntroductionThe albedo analysis is of interest both to climatology in general [2] and to the climatology of polar areas in particular
This paper shows that albedo products of the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor from the collection 6 (C6) data can be used to estimate the albedo for all-sky and clear-sky conditions on Livingston Island, Antarctica
It was found that all MODIS albedo products describe an increasing trend in albedo in the study period (2006–2015), consistent with the results of previous investigations
Summary
The albedo analysis is of interest both to climatology in general [2] and to the climatology of polar areas in particular. Snow cover has a significant impact on the hydrological cycle during winter and spring on the Earth’s surface [3], mainly in the polar areas, where melting of the permafrost would lead to an increase in temperature due to the release of greenhouse gases [4]. The greater or lesser degree of surface melting is due to changes in temperature; an albedo increase would cause the snow to absorb a smaller amount of short-wave radiation, which would lead to a reduction in the energy available for melting [5]. Albedo analysis in the polar areas is essential for the study of climate change
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