SNOWTRAN: A Fast Radiative Transfer Model for Polar Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Applications

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Authors

  • Alexander Kokhanovsky
  • Maximilian Brell
  • Karl Segl
  • Sabine Chabrillat

Research Organisations

External Research Organisations

  • Helmholtz Centre Potsdam - German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ)
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Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number334
Number of pages22
JournalRemote sensing
Volume16
Issue number2
Publication statusPublished - 14 Jan 2024

Abstract

In this work, we develop a software suite for studies of atmosphere–underlying SNOW-spaceborne optical receiver light TRANsmission calculations (SNOWTRAN) with applications for the solution of forward and inverse radiative transfer problems in polar regions. Assuming that the aerosol load is extremely low, the proposed theory does not require the numerical procedures for the solution of the radiative transfer equation and is based on analytical equations for the spectral nadir reflectance and simple approximations for the local optical properties of atmosphere and snow. The developed model is validated using EnMAP and PRISMA spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data close to the Concordia research station in Antarctica. A new, fast technique for the determination of the snow grain size and assessment of the snowpack vertical inhomogeneity is then proposed and further demonstrated on EnMAP imagery over the Aviator Glacier and in the vicinity of the Concordia research station in Antarctica. The results revealed a large increase in precipitable water vapor at the Concordia research station in February 2023 that was linked to a warming event and a four times larger grain size at Aviator Glacier compared with Dome C.

Keywords

    EnMAP, hyperspectral measurements, PRISMA, snow albedo, snow grain size, snow optics, top-of-atmosphere reflectance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Cite this

SNOWTRAN: A Fast Radiative Transfer Model for Polar Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Applications. / Kokhanovsky, Alexander; Brell, Maximilian; Segl, Karl et al.
In: Remote sensing, Vol. 16, No. 2, 334, 14.01.2024.

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleResearchpeer review

Kokhanovsky A, Brell M, Segl K, Chabrillat S. SNOWTRAN: A Fast Radiative Transfer Model for Polar Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Applications. Remote sensing. 2024 Jan 14;16(2):334. doi: 10.3390/rs16020334
Kokhanovsky, Alexander ; Brell, Maximilian ; Segl, Karl et al. / SNOWTRAN : A Fast Radiative Transfer Model for Polar Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Applications. In: Remote sensing. 2024 ; Vol. 16, No. 2.
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abstract = "In this work, we develop a software suite for studies of atmosphere–underlying SNOW-spaceborne optical receiver light TRANsmission calculations (SNOWTRAN) with applications for the solution of forward and inverse radiative transfer problems in polar regions. Assuming that the aerosol load is extremely low, the proposed theory does not require the numerical procedures for the solution of the radiative transfer equation and is based on analytical equations for the spectral nadir reflectance and simple approximations for the local optical properties of atmosphere and snow. The developed model is validated using EnMAP and PRISMA spaceborne imaging spectroscopy data close to the Concordia research station in Antarctica. A new, fast technique for the determination of the snow grain size and assessment of the snowpack vertical inhomogeneity is then proposed and further demonstrated on EnMAP imagery over the Aviator Glacier and in the vicinity of the Concordia research station in Antarctica. The results revealed a large increase in precipitable water vapor at the Concordia research station in February 2023 that was linked to a warming event and a four times larger grain size at Aviator Glacier compared with Dome C.",
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