AREALAVEALB

The latest version of ArealAveAlb introduces two major components. The first component incorporates additional information, such as cloud base height (CBH) and cloud type. CBH is useful for estimating an area represented by the retrieved areal-averaged surface albedo, while cloud type (e.g., liquid vs. ice clouds) aids in properly specifying the asymmetry parameter. The second component integrates tower-based surface albedo measurements at a 415-nanometer (nm) wavelength with spectrally resolved transmittance data from the MFRSR. This integration allows for the ArealAveAlb retrieval at four wavelengths (500, 615, 675, and 870 nm) across both snow-free surfaces and partially snow-covered areas.

References

Barnard JC, CN Long, EI Kassianov, SA McFarlane, JM Comstock, M Freer, and GM McFarquhar. 2008. “Development and evaluation of a simple algorithm to find cloud optical depth with emphasis on thin ice clouds.” The Open Atmospheric Science Journal, 2, doi:10.2174/1874282300802010046.

Kassianov E, J Barnard, C Flynn, L Riihimaki, J Michalsky, and G Hodges. 2014. “Areal-Averaged Spectral Surface Albedo from Ground-Based Transmission Data Alone: Toward an Operational Retrieval.” Atmosphere, 5(3), doi:10.3390/atmos5030597.

Kassianov E, J Barnard, C Flynn, L Riihimaki, L Berg, and D Rutan. 2017. “Areal-Averaged Spectral Surface Albedo in an Atlantic Coastal Area: Estimation from Ground-Based Transmission.” Atmosphere, 8(7), 123, doi:10.3390/atmos8070123.