Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra

<p>Key to the success of spaceborne missions is understanding snowmelt in our warming climate, as this has implications for nearly 2 billion people. An obstacle is that surface reflectance products over snow show an erroneous hook with decreases in the visible wavelengths, causing per-band and...

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Main Authors: E. H. Bair, D. A. Roberts, D. R. Thompson, P. G. Brodrick, B. A. Wilder, N. Bohn, C. J. Crawford, N. Carmon, C. M. Vuyovich, J. Dozier
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2025-06-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/2315/2025/tc-19-2315-2025.pdf
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author E. H. Bair
D. A. Roberts
D. R. Thompson
P. G. Brodrick
B. A. Wilder
N. Bohn
C. J. Crawford
N. Carmon
C. M. Vuyovich
J. Dozier
author_facet E. H. Bair
D. A. Roberts
D. R. Thompson
P. G. Brodrick
B. A. Wilder
N. Bohn
C. J. Crawford
N. Carmon
C. M. Vuyovich
J. Dozier
author_sort E. H. Bair
collection DOAJ
description <p>Key to the success of spaceborne missions is understanding snowmelt in our warming climate, as this has implications for nearly 2 billion people. An obstacle is that surface reflectance products over snow show an erroneous hook with decreases in the visible wavelengths, causing per-band and broadband reflectance errors of up to 33 % and 11 %, respectively. This hook is sometimes mistaken for soot or dust but can result from three artifacts: (1) background reflectance that is too dark, (2) an assumption of level terrain, or (3) differences in optical constants of ice. Sensor calibration and directional effects may also contribute. Solutions are being implemented.</p>
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institution OA Journals
issn 1994-0416
1994-0424
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publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series The Cryosphere
spelling doaj-art-eaf6732a28564326b8695dc2f5bd037e2025-08-20T02:34:55ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242025-06-01192315232010.5194/tc-19-2315-2025Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectraE. H. Bair0D. A. Roberts1D. R. Thompson2P. G. Brodrick3B. A. Wilder4N. Bohn5C. J. Crawford6N. Carmon7C. M. Vuyovich8J. Dozier9Leidos, Reston, VA, USADepartment of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USADepartment of Geosciences, Boise State University, Boise, ID, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USAU.S. Geological Survey Earth Resources Observation and Science Center, Sioux Falls, SD, USAJet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USANational Aeronautics and Space Administration, Greenbelt, MD, USADepartment of Geography, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, USA<p>Key to the success of spaceborne missions is understanding snowmelt in our warming climate, as this has implications for nearly 2 billion people. An obstacle is that surface reflectance products over snow show an erroneous hook with decreases in the visible wavelengths, causing per-band and broadband reflectance errors of up to 33 % and 11 %, respectively. This hook is sometimes mistaken for soot or dust but can result from three artifacts: (1) background reflectance that is too dark, (2) an assumption of level terrain, or (3) differences in optical constants of ice. Sensor calibration and directional effects may also contribute. Solutions are being implemented.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/2315/2025/tc-19-2315-2025.pdf
spellingShingle E. H. Bair
D. A. Roberts
D. R. Thompson
P. G. Brodrick
B. A. Wilder
N. Bohn
C. J. Crawford
N. Carmon
C. M. Vuyovich
J. Dozier
Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
The Cryosphere
title Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
title_full Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
title_fullStr Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
title_full_unstemmed Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
title_short Brief communication: Not as dirty as they look, flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
title_sort brief communication not as dirty as they look flawed airborne and satellite snow spectra
url https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/19/2315/2025/tc-19-2315-2025.pdf
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