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Satellite discrimination of snow/cloud surfacesDifferentiation between cloud cover and snow surfaces using remotely sensed data is complicated by the similarity of their radiative temperatures, and also by their similar reflectances at visible wavelengths. A method of cloud analysis over snow-covered regions is presented, using 1.51-1.63 micron data from an experimental sensor on board a U.S. Air Force Defense Meteorological Satellite Program platform. At these wavelengths, snow appears relatively 'black' while clouds are highly reflective. The spatial structure of the 1.51-1.63 micron reflectivity fields over a continuous snow surface are examined. Plots of mean reflectance against coefficients of variation for 4 x 4 pixel areas reveals a cluster of points have low reflectivity and low variability, corresponding to snow-covered (cloud free) areas, and a similar cluster with high reflectances corresponding to 100 per cent cloud cover. For the case of a single layered cloud, the radiances associated with partially filled fields of view are also inferred.
Document ID
19840037625
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Crane, R. G.
(Colorado Univ. Boulder, CO, United States)
Anderson, M. R.
(Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences; Colorado, University Boulder, CO, United States)
Date Acquired
August 12, 2013
Publication Date
February 1, 1984
Publication Information
Publication: International Journal of Remote Sensing
Volume: 5
ISSN: 0143-1161
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
84A20412
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAG5-142
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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