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NASA NTRS2017

Evaluation of the VIIRS BRDF, Albedo and NBAR Products Suite and an Assessment of Continuity with the Long Term MODIS Record

Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) model parameters, Albedo quantities, and Nadir BRDF Adjusted Reflectance (NBAR) products derived from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS), on the Suomi-NPP (National Polar-orbiting Partnership) satellite are evaluated with spatially representative in situ tower albedometer measurements and through comparison with the MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) long term record. White Sky Albedo (WSA), Black Sky Albedo (BSA), NBAR, and Quality Assurance (QA) results show that the VIIRS algorithm is performing well at the global scale and is able to provide global data products comparable with the heritage MODIS (with an absolute bias of 0.0069 for shortwave broadband WSA) despite the spectral, angular, and effective spatial resolution differences between the two sensors. Both VIIRS and MODIS albedo are shown to agree well with in situ albedo measurements at a number of spatially representative sites. This evaluation provides confidence that the high quality, daily VIIRS BRDF model parameters, Albedo, and NBAR products will be able to provide the long term continuity required by the modeling and monitoring communities.

VIIRS↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Towards a More Realistic Representation of Surface Albedo in NASA CERES Satellite Products: A Comparison with MOSAiC Field Campaign

Observing the Arctic from space is one of the most challenging tasks in climate science. Uncertainty in the NASA Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES)-derived irradiances is larger over sea ice than any other scene type and comes from several sources. The one-year long MOSAiC expedition in the central Arctic provides a rare opportunity to explore uncertainty in CERES-derived radiative fluxes. First, a systematic and statistically robust assessment of surface shortwave and longwave fluxes has been conducted using in-situ measurements from MOSAiC flux stations. The CERES SYN1deg product overestimates the SW_down flux by 11.40 Wm-2 and underestimates the SW_up flux by −15.70 Wm-2 and LW_down fluxes by −13.30 Wm-2 at the surface during summertime. In addition, large differences are found in the LW_up flux (~320 Wm-2) when the surface reaches melting point (~0℃). The large negative bias in upwelling shortwave flux can be attributed to the underestimation of surface albedo (−0.15) in SYN1deg. In addition to direct comparison, a series of perturbation experiments with a radiative transfer model are performed to estimate the contributions to the differences. By correcting both cloud and albedo inputs, the biases in SW_net flux and LW_net flux can be reduced to less than half of the control run biases to +19.90% and −10.53%, respectively. Furthermore, a compensating effect between underestimation of broadband albedo and overestimation of spectral albedo in visible and mid-infrared bands in SYN1deg datasets is found and contributes to the shortwave flux differences. The difference in CERES broadband albedo (~20 Wm 2) contributes to larger uncertainty in SW_up flux than spectral albedo shape (~3 Wm 2). The results of this study inform the future development of CERES products and will ultimately reduce uncertainties in Arctic surface radiation budget derived from satellite measurements.

Yiyi Huang↗

NASA NTRS2022

Irrigation and Warming Drive the Decreases in Surface Albedo Over High Mountain Asia

Human and climate induced land surface changes resulting from irrigation, snow cover decreases, and greening impact the surface albedo over High Mountain Asia (HMA). Here we use a partial information decomposition approach and remote sensing data to quantify the effects of the changes in leaf area index, soil moisture, and snow cover on the surface albedo in HMA, home to over a billion people, from 2003 to 2020. The study establishes strong evidence of anthropogenic agricultural water use over irrigated lands (e.g., Ganges-Brahmaputra) which causes the highest surface albedo decreases (≤1%/year). Greening and decreased snow cover from warming also drive changes in visible and near-infrared surface albedo in different areas of HMA. The significant role of irrigation and greening in influencing albedo suggests the potential of a positive feedback cycle where albedo decreases lead to increased evaporative demand and increased stress on water resources.

Climate sciences↗

NASA NTRS2012

On Spectral Invariance of Single Scattering Albedo for Water Droplets and Ice Crystals at Weakly Absorbing Wavelengths

The single scattering albedo omega(sub O lambda) in atmospheric radiative transfer is the ratio of the scattering coefficient to the extinction coefficient. For cloud water droplets both the scattering and absorption coefficients, thus the single scattering albedo, are functions of wavelength lambda and droplet size r. This note shows that for water droplets at weakly absorbing wavelengths, the ratio omega(sub O lambda)(r)/omega(sub O lambda)(r (sub O)) of two single scattering albedo spectra is a linear function of omega(sub O lambda)(r). The slope and intercept of the linear function are wavelength independent and sum to unity. This relationship allows for a representation of any single scattering albedo spectrum omega(sub O lambda)(r) via one known spectrum omega(sub O lambda)(r (sub O)). We provide a simple physical explanation of the discovered relationship. Similar linear relationships were found for the single scattering albedo spectra of non-spherical ice crystals.

single scattering albedo↗

NASA NTRS2020

Quantifying Spatiotemporal Variability of Glacier Algal Blooms and the Impact on Surface Albedo in Southwestern Greenland

Albedo reduction due to light-absorbing impurities can substantially enhance ice sheet surface melt by increasing surface absorption of solar energy. Glacier algae have been suggested to play a critical role in darkening the ablation zone in southwestern Greenland. It was very recently found that the Sentinel-3 Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) band ratio R709 nm∕R673 nm can characterize the spatial patterns of glacier algal blooms. However, Sentinel-3 was launched in 2016, and current data are only available over three melting seasons (2016–2019). Here, we demonstrate the capability of the MEdium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) for mapping glacier algae from space and extend the quantification of glacier algal blooms over southwestern Greenland back to the period 2004–2011. Several band ratio indices (MERIS chlorophyll a indices and the impurity index) were computed and compared with each other. The results indicate that the MERIS two-band ratio index (2BDA) R709 nm∕R665 nm is very effective in capturing the spatial distribution and temporal dynamics of glacier algal growth on bare ice in July and August. We analyzed the interannual (2004–2011) and summer (July–August) trends of algal distribution and found significant seasonal and interannual increases in glacier algae close to the Jakobshavn Isbrae Glacier and along the middle dark zone between the altitudes of 1200 and 1400 m. Using broadband albedo data from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), we quantified the impact of glacier algal growth on bare ice albedo, finding a significant correlation between algal development and albedo reduction over algae-abundant areas. Our analysis indicates the strong potential for the satellite algal index to be used to reduce bare ice albedo biases in regional climate model simulations.

surface albedo↗

NASA NTRS1977

Albedo of the ocean-atmosphere system - Influence of sea foam

The influence of the ocean's optical properties and wind induced sea surface foam (white caps) on the short-wave albedo of the ocean-atmosphere system is studied by solving the radiative transfer equation using a Monte Carlo method. It is found that for a foam free ocean, the planetary albedo of a very clear ocean is at most 10 percent greater than that for a totally absorbing ocean. However, the introduction of a relatively small amount of sea foam on the surface can produce a considerable increase in the albedo, especially if the foam is highly reflecting. For example, it is shown that for foam which is totally reflecting (the foam albedo is 1), an increase in the wind speed from 6 to 14 m/sec would double the planetary albedo for small solar zenith angles.

Gordon, H. R.↗

NASA NTRS1978

Albedo enhancement and perturbation of radiation balance due to stratospheric aerosols

The effect of stratospheric aerosols on the earth's monthly zonal radiation balance is investigated using a model layer consisting of 75% H2SO4, which is the primary constituent of the background aerosol layer. The reduction in solar energy absorbed by the earth-atmosphere system is determined through the albedo sensitivity, defined here as the change in albedo per unit mid-visible optical depth of the aerosol layer. The optically thin approximation is used in conjunction with the Henyey-Greenstein phase function for scattering to simplify computations. Satellite derived planetary albedos are used as the frame of reference about which the change in albedo is computed. An infrared radiative transfer model is used to estimate the increased greenhouse effect attributed to the aerosol layer. The infrared heating tends to compensate for the albedo effect in altering the radiation balance. The results indicate that the dominant influence of the thin model stratospheric aerosol layer is an increased reflection of solar energy all over the globe except for the polar-winter region, but the change in the radiation balance is seen to be uniform and small equatorwards of 50%.

HARSHVARDHAN↗

NASA NTRS1977

The search for the cause of the low albedo of the moon

The effects of different weathering processes on the albedo of the lunar surface cover is discussed. The surface chemical composition of numerous lunar soil and pulverized rock samples was determined by auger electron spectroscopy. The optical albedo of these samples was also measured. The chemical concentration of iron and titanium is greater on the surface of soil samples than it is on the surface of crushed rock samples with similar bulk composition, whereas the albedo of soil samples is lower than that of the crushed rock samples. A correlation is presented between the surface iron + titanium content and the albedo. Results of solar wind simulation experiments show that irradiation of crushed lunar rock samples with a small dose (corresponding to 3000 years of solar wind) of 2-keV energy protons changed the surface chemistry of the rock to that of the soil. A much larger dose of protons (corresponding to 30,000 years of solar wind) was needed to darken crushed rock to the albedo of the soil of similar bulk chemical composition. The mechanism of darkening by solar wind is discussed, and its effectiveness is compared to that of other darkening processes.

Gold, T.↗

NASA NTRS1980

Radiative transfer in dusty nebulae. III - The effects of dust albedo

The effects of an albedo of internal dust, such as ionization structure and temperature of dust grain, were studied by the quasi-diffusion method with an iterative technique for solving the radiative heat transfer equations. It was found that the generalized on-the-spot approximation solution is adequate for most astrophysical applications for a zero albedo; for a nonzero albedo, the Eddington approximation is more accurate. The albedo increases the average energy of the diffuse photons, increasing the ionization level of hydrogen and heavy elements if the Eddington approximation is applied; the dust thermal gradient is reduced so that the infrared spectrum approaches blackbody spectrum with an increasing albedo.

Petrosian, V.↗

NASA NTRS1980

On the albedo of the interplanetary dust

The zodiacal light brightness and measured spatial density of the interplanetary dust lead to a mean geometric albedo of 0.24 for the dust particles near 1 AU; whereas the composition of collected micrometeroids suggests a geometric albedo of less than or approximately equal to 0.1. The data do not support the very low albedo (0.01 or less) proposed by Cook (1978). The evidence is against a change in the mean particle albedo between 0.1 and 2 AU. Beyond 2 AU, the data are unclear and a change in albedo is not ruled out.

Hanner, M. S.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Spectral albedos of midlatitude snowpacks

Spectral albedos of impure-nonhomogeneous snowpacks, typical of midlatitudes, from 400 to 2200 nm were modeled through a numerical solution of the radiative transfer equation in the two-stream approximation. Discrete depth-dependent values of density, grain size and impurity concentration were used to characterize the snowpacks. The model is for diffuse incident radiation, and the numerical method is based on doubling and invariant imbedding. The effect of soot impurities on snowpack albedos is illustrated when a snowpack is several centimeters deep and soot reduces the albedos at visible wavelengths, however, when a snowpack is only a few centimeters deep, soot may increase the albedos at visible wavelengths. By adjusting soot content and snow grain size, good quantitative agreement with some observations at the Cascade Mountains (Washington) and at Point Barrow (Alaska) are obtained; however, the model grain sizes are found to be fifty to four hundred percent larger than the measured values. For satellite snowcover observations, a model for effective albedo of partially snow-covered areas was developed and compared with some NOAA-2 observations of the southeastern United States.

Choudhury, B.↗

NASA NTRS1981

The surface albedo of the earth in the near ultraviolet /330-340 nm/

Satellite-borne measurements of solar radiation backscattered by the earth and atmosphere allow a determination of the surface albedo in the near ultraviolet. The data yielded albedos at tropical latitudes during a 15-month period in 1979-1980. The wavelengths studied are 331.2 and 339.8 nm. Sixty-nine percent of the measurements imply albedos less than 0.3. Higher values include a contribution due to reflection from clouds and are consistent with previous estimates of the fractional cloudover in the tropics. An albedo histogram based on a bin width of 0.1 shows results in the range 0.1-0.2 to be the most frequent, appearing in 29% of the cases, although values which span the entire range 0.0-1.0 are present. The derived albedos show no correlation with solar zenith angle. This result is consistent with the fact that, at the wavelengths considered, the diffuse integrated intensity is larger than the attenuated direct solar beam near the ground.

Frederick, J. E.↗

NASA NTRS1985

The albedo field and cloud radiative forcing produced by a general circulation model with internally generated cloud optics

A general circulation model (GCM) study is presented in which cloud radiative properties are computed from cloud liquid water content inferred from the GCM hydrological cycle. Model-generated and satellite albedos are in rough agreement. Analysis of the cloud radiative forcing indicates that cloud albedo effects overcome cloud infrared opacity effects in most regions. Both computed and observed albedo of clouds decrease from low to high altitudes. The model with variable cloud optics produces significantly different regional albedos from the same one with fixed cloud optics, especially over the tropics. The cloud droplet size distribution also has a significant impact on the model albedos. The temperature of the tropical upper troposphere is somewhat sensitive to the microphysical characteristics of the model cirrus clouds.

Charlock, T. P.↗

NASA NTRS1986

UV albedo of clouds from TOMS data

The Pilot Climate Data System (PCDS) was found to be useful in examining a subset of data from the Nimbus-7 Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS). The TOMS instrument scans with six channels between .3 and .4 micrometers. It was suggested that by analyzing albedo values from the longer wavelength channels of the TOMS, the effects of increasing optical depth could be determined. It is spectral relationship of albedo-to-optical depth that is investigated here. The question can be stated: Is there spectral differentiation in albedo with changes in the optical depth of clouds? Nimbus-7 TOMS data were obtained through the PCDS for an area and time period for which correlative NOAA AVHRR data were available. The AVHRR data were important in determining the existing cloud patterns. As expected, no spectral differentiation was observed at very high albedos (associated with high optical depths). However, at lower optical depths, evidence of spectral dependence on albedo was observed. Mapping the results geographically was deemed highly desirable but was not possible through the PCDS at the time. The PCDS can be viewed as an effective research tool to access selected portions of data. Without being intimately familiar with a data set, a PCDS user can successfully manipulate data in a scientific study.

Short, D.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Albedos of homogeneous semi-infinite canopies - Comparison of two-stream analytic and numerical solutions

The albedo of plant canopies is treated as a problem in radiative transfer. Albedos calcualted from an iterative multistream numerical model are compared with those calculated with an analytic two-stream solution. With the assumption of a randomly homogeneous distribution of leaf positions and orientations and isotropic scattering by individual leaves, the single-scattering albedo of the canopy can be found analytically. This single-scattering solution is incorporated into the two-stream solution and used to benchmark the multistream numerical model in the single-scattering limit. Relative errors so established in the multistream model are O(0.3 percent) or less. The two-stream model is also found to be remarkably accurate, with the error in multiply scattered radiation O(5 percent) or less, corresponding to absolute errors in visible albedo of less than 0.001 and near-infrared albedo of less than or equal to 0.01. Thus the two-stream model should be adequate for many purposes, such as climate modeling, provided the assumptions of homogeneous canopy and isotropic scattering are not too unrealistic.

Dickinson, Robert E.↗

NASA NTRS1991

Diurnal variations of outgoing longwave radiation and albedo from ERBE scanner data

The scanning instruments of the Earth Radiation Budget Experiment provide measurements of instantaneous broadband albedo and outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) with a spatial resolution of about 50 km. Data from the Earth Radiation Budget Satellite (ERBS), which is in an orbit that precesses through local time at the rate of one hour every three days, can be used to describe the mean, hourly diurnal variations in the distribution of OLR and albedo on this scale. Much of this variation is caused by cloud type and amount changes. Two-dimensional histograms show the coevolution of OLR and albedo with the diurnal cycle, and the distribution of albedo-OLR pairings associated with the cloud distribution in a particular region and season. The albedo-OLR pairing characterizes a cloud type and determines its net effect on the energy balance at the top of the atmosphere. Diurnal variations in cloud type and amount in many regions are sufficient to cause substantial errors in radiation budget quantities and cloud properties estimated from observations taken from a single sun-synchronous orbit. Errors in estimated net radiation can be as large as 50 W/sq m for oceanic stratus regions and for land regions during summer.

Hartmann, Dennis L.↗

NASA NTRS1994

The albedo of fractal stratocumulus clouds

An increase in the planetary albedo of the earth-atmosphere system by only 10% can decrease the equilibrium surface temperature to that of the last ice age. Nevertheless, albedo biases of 10% or greater would be introduced into large regions of current climate models if clouds were given their observed liquid water amounts, because of the treatment of clouds as plane parallel. The focus on marine stratocumulus clouds is due to their important role in cloud radiative forcing and also that, of the wide variety of earth's cloud types, they are most nearly plane parallel, so that they have the least albedo bias. The fractal model employed here reproduces both the probability distribution and the wavenumber spectrum of the stratocumulus liquid water path, as observed during the First ISCCP Regional Experiment (FIRE). A single new fractal parameter 0 less than or equal to f less than or equal to 1, is introduced and determined empirically by the variance of the logarithm of the vertically integrated liquid water. The reduced reflectivity of fractal stratocumulus clouds is approximately given by the plane-parallel reflectivity evaluated at a reduced 'effective optical thickness,' which when f = 0.5 is tau(sub eff) approximately equal to 10. Study of the diurnal cycle of stratocumulus liquid water during FIRE leads to a key unexpected result: the plane-parallel albedo bias is largest when the cloud fraction reaches 100%, that is, when any bias associated with the cloud fraction vanishes. This is primarily due to the variability increase with cloud fraction. Thus, the within-cloud fractal structure of stratocumulus has a more significant impact on estimates of its mesoscale-average albedo than does the cloud fraction.

Cahalan, Robert F.↗

NASA NTRS2002

Wavelength Dependence of the Absorption of Black Carbon Particles: Predictions and Results from the TARFOX Experiment and Implications for the Aerosol Single Scattering Albedo

Measurements are presented of the wavelength dependence of the aerosol absorption coefficient taken during the Tropical Aerosol Radiative Forcing Observational Experiment (TARFOX) over the northern Atlantic. The data show an approximate lamda(exp -1) variation between 0.40 and 1.0 micrometers. The theoretical basis of the wavelength variation of the absorption of solar radiation by elemental carbon [or black carbon (BC)] is explored. For a wavelength independent refractive index the small particle absorption limit simplifies to a lambda(exp -1) variation in relatively good agreement with the data. This result implies that the refractive indices of BC were relatively constant in this wavelength region, in agreement with much of the data on refractive indices of BC. However, the result does not indicate the magnitude of the refractive indices. The implications of the wavelength dependence of BC absorption for the spectral behavior of the aerosol single scattering albedo are discussed. It is shown that the single scattering albedo for a mixture of BC and nonabsorbing material decreases with wavelength in the solar spectrum (i.e., the percentage amount of absorption increases). This decease in the single scattering albedo with wavelength for black carbon mixtures is different from the increase in single scattering allied for most mineral aerosols (dusts). This indicates that, if generally true, the spectral variation of the single- scattering albedo can be used to distinguish aerosol types. It also highlights the importance of measurements of the spectral variation of the aerosol absorption coefficient and single scattering albedo.

Bergstrom, Robert W.↗