Published on McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER (https://mcm.lternet.edu)

Summary

Abstract: 

This data package contains reflectance data and associated aerial images collected using a helicopter-suspended "albedo box," in which a shortwave radiometer and camera where mounted facing downward. The purpose of this study was to measure how surface reflectance varies within and across landscape types (glaciers, lakes, and soils) over the course of a single field season as well as across multiple field seasons. We made five flights in the 2015-2016 field season (20 November 2015, 7 December 2015, 24 December 2015, 5 January 2016, and 12 January 2016), five flights in the 2016-2017 field season (11 November 2016, 3 December 2016, 14 December 2016, 3 January 2017, 23 January 2017), four flights in the 2017-2018 field season (22 November 2017, 7 December 2017, 27 December 2017, 13 January 2018), and two flights in the 2018-2019 field season (23 November 2018, 9 January 2019). Flights originated from Lake Hoare field camp, flew down-valley over Canada Glacier, Lake Fryxell, and Commonwealth Glacier, then turned around and flew up-valley to Taylor Glacier Meteorological Station, after which they returned to Lake Hoare field camp. Flights took roughly one hour and were flown at approximately 25.72 m s-1 (50 knots) and 91.44 m (300 ft) above the ground surface. These data can be normalized to incoming solar radiation (measured in-situ at meteorological stations) to calculate landscape albedo. When collected several times throughout a season, these results can show how snow distribution and physical changes to glacier and lake ice impact the amount of incoming radiation that is absorbed, while also tracking the influence of deposited sediment on ice surfaces. Moreover, these data are important for quantifying the long-term changes in energy connectivity between the atmosphere and the landscape (i.e., addressing Hypothesis 1 of the MCM V funding cycle).

Date Range: 

November 20, 2015 to January 9, 2019
Dataset(s)

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET_CODE
  • Label: Dataset Code
  • Definition: Internal code used to identify the associated database entry.
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FLIGHT_DATE
  • Label: Flight Date
  • Definition: Date of flight.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN
DATE_TIME
  • Label: Date and Time
  • Definition: The date and time the data point was collected.
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY HH:MM:SS
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN
LATITUDE
  • Label: Latitude
  • Definition: The latitude at which the data point was collected. Geographic coordinate in WGS1984 datum.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimalDegrees (DD)
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN
LONGITUDE
  • Label: Longitude
  • Definition: The longitude at which the data point was collected. Geographic coordinate in WGS1984 datum.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: decimalDegrees (DD)
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN
ALTITUDE
  • Label: Altitude
  • Definition: The altitude of the box at the time the data point was collected.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: meter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN
RADIATION
  • Label: Radiation
  • Definition: The measured reflected shortwave radiation.
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: kilowattPerSquareMeter
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NaN = NaN

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX.csv (1.37 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 20 November 2015.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20151120.zip (488.53 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 7 December 2015.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20151207.zip (536.26 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 24 December 2015.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20151224.zip (384.5 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 5 January 2016.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20160105.zip (382.42 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 12 January 2016.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20160112.zip (387.53 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 11 November 2016.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20161111.zip (596.23 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 3 December 2016.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20161203.zip (451.33 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 14 December 2016.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20161214.zip (413.98 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 3 January 2017.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20170103.zip (477.75 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 23 January 2017.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20170123.zip (445.88 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 22 November 2017.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20171122.zip (453.08 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 7 December 2017.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20171207.zip (371.86 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 27 December 2017.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20171227.zip (454.85 MB)

Description: 

Albedo box flight images, captured 13 January 2018.

File: 

ALBEDO_BOX_IMAGES_20180113.zip (423.97 MB)

Short name: 

ALBEDO_BOX

Dataset ID: 

2016
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Anna J. Bergstrom
Michael N. Gooseff

Contact: 

McMurdo Dry Valleys LTER

Associated Personnel: 

Data Manager
Renée F. Brown
Methodology

Methods: 

Data were collected by helicopter using instruments mounted to a weighted box with a fin to reduce swing in-flight (i.e., an "albedo box"). A shortwave radiometer (CMP3, Kipp and Zonen) was mounted to point down at the valley floor. Additionally, a downward facing camera (CC5MPX, Campbell Scientific) was mounted next to the radiometer. A GPS unit (GPS16X-HVS, manufactured by Garmin for Campbell Scientific) was fixed to the top of the box. All instruments were wired in to a data logger (CR1000, Campbell Scientific) and programmed to collect data every three seconds. Before each flight, the radiometer and camera lens were cleaned. The albedo box was attached to a helicopter with a 6.1 m (20 ft) lead line. Data were downloaded and archived after each flight. Due to a hardware failure, images captured during the two 2018-2019 season flights were not recorded, and therefore these images are not included in the data package. Flights spanned the entire Taylor Valley and were routed over glaciers originating from the Asgard Range, the major lakes, and Taylor Glacier. Pilots were instructed to fly at 91.44 m (300 ft) off the ground and at a speed of 25.72 m s-1 (50 knots). Flights occurred on completely cloud free days or homogeneously cloudy days ensure there was no variability in incoming radiation across the Valley. 

Method Images: 

Categories

Research Section: 

MCM Keywords: 

Keywords: 

Source URL: https://mcm.lternet.edu/content/landscape-albedo-taylor-valley-antarctica-2015-2019