title: Near-infrared digital photography to estimate snow correlation length for microwave emission modeling.
abstract: The study is based on experimental work conducted in alpine snow. We made microwave radiometric and near-infrared reflectance measurements of snow slabs under different experimental conditions. We used an empirical relation to link near-infrared reflectance of snow to the specific surface area (SSA), and converted the SSA into the correlation length. From the measurements of snow radiances at 21 and 35 GHz, we derived the microwave scattering coefficient by inverting two coupled radiative transfer models (the sandwich and six-flux model). The correlation lengths found are in the same range as those determined in the literature using cold laboratory work. The technique shows great potential in the determination of the snow correlation length under field conditions.
authors.affiliation: CARTEL, Département de Géomatique Appliquée, Université de Sherbrooke, 2500 Blvd Université, Sherbrooke, Québec J1K 2R1, Canada. ally.toure@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Ally Mounirou
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Toure
authors.forename: Kalifa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Goïta
authors.forename: Alain
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Royer
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mätzler
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schneebeli