Acta Optica Sinica, Volume. 40, Issue 9, 0901002(2020)
Retrieval of Snow Grain Size and Albedo Using Two Radiative Transfer Models
A method combining the asymptotic radiative transfer (ART) theory and discrete ordinate radiative transfer (DISORT) method is proposed in this study to retrieve the snow spectral albedo. First, based on the assumption that snow grain shape is the second generation Koch fractals, snow grain size results are retrieved using different satellite data and three methods derived from the ART theory. The average results, although different, are all close to 50 μm. Second, assuming the snow grains are spherical, snow spectral albedo is calculated using the DISORT model in the 0.3--5.0-μm region based on the retrieved snow grain size results. Snow black-sky and white-sky spectral albedo are calculated using the ART theory in the 0.3--1.5-μm region. The small difference between the two types of snow spectral albedo calculated through the two radiation transfer models in the 0.3--1.5-μm region reveals that the assumption of different snow grain shapes is reasonable. The method combining the two radiation transfer models can calculate the snow albedo of the solar spectrum. Finally, the snow spectral albedo calculation using DISORT model also considers the light-absorbing impurities such as black carbon. The study area is located in northeast border proximity to Siberia demarks region, where the impurities have a very limited influence on snow spectral albedo. While in the northeast area, which is heavily industrialized, the impurities can markedly decrease snow spectral albedo at visible wavelengths.
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Chuanyu Fan, Chen Cheng, Peng Qi, Xiangyuan Liu, Xijin Wang, Qingshan Xu. Retrieval of Snow Grain Size and Albedo Using Two Radiative Transfer Models[J]. Acta Optica Sinica, 2020, 40(9): 0901002
Category: Atmospheric Optics and Oceanic Optics
Received: Nov. 11, 2019
Accepted: Feb. 12, 2020
Published Online: May. 6, 2020
The Author Email: Xu Qingshan (qshxu@aiofm.ac.cn)