HR: 15:05h
AN: C42B-06 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: Sensitivity of 6.7 GHz Brightness to Snow Wetness
AU: * England, A W
EM: england@umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Dept of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, 1301 Beal Ave, Rm 4234a EECS, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122 United States
AU: De Roo, R D
EM: deroo@umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Dept of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, 1301 Beal Ave, Rm 4234a EECS, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122 United States
AU: Pham, H
EM: hpham@engin.umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Dept of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, 1301 Beal Ave, Rm 4234a EECS, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122 United States
AU: Gu, H
EM: guh@umich.edu
AF: University of Michigan, Dept of Atmospheric, Oceanic, and Space Sciences, 1301 Beal Ave, Rm 4234a EECS, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2122 United States
AB: We monitored dual-polarized 6.7, 19, and 37 GHz brightnesses of a snow pack at the Fraser, CO, site of the Cold Lands Processes Experiment (CLPX). Our contributions to CLPX include observations from the Truck Mounted Radiometer System (TMRS3) and the MicroMet Station (MMS) during winter and spring of 2003. Dual-pol 19 and 37 GHz brightnesses observed by satellite sensors are used operationally to estimate the Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) of dry snow on the prairie. The empirical algoriths that produce these SWE estimates fail when now packs contain liquid water. Our hypothesis is that a lower frequency brightness, like data from the 6.9 GHz channel of AMSR, in conjunction with a snow model could supplement 19 and 37 GHz brightnesses to yield SWE for wet snow packs. The retrieval process would be much like that used to estimate soil moisture. Our final measurements associated with CLPX occurred in May, 2003. We have processed and delivered our MMS data to the NSIDC archive, and are processing the TMRS3 data for delivery in fall, 2003. We will report our progress toward analyzing these brightness data during periods of wet snow pack.
DE: 1863 Snow and ice (1827)
DE: 1894 Instruments and techniques
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting