Snow Albedo

SCHOOL OF ICE

ALDEN ADOLPH, MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

Hello! I am…

• A snow scientist
• An engineer
• A professor
• A partner and parent
• A cat lover
• A jogger and skier
• An unabashed “Swiftie”

Modeling global climate is complex!

Climate Feedbacks

• Water vapor and temperature
• Methane and permafrost
• Snow and ice albedo and temperature
• Increased precipitation and temperature

Grass

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Open ocean

0.06

Sea ice

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Fresh snow

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Forests

0.1-0.15

Positive Climate Feedback

Negative Climate Feedback

Climate Feedbacks

• Water vapor and temperature
• Methane and permafrost
• Snow and ice albedo and temperature
• Increased precipitation and temperature

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Understanding and being able to model these feedbacks is critical for accurately predicting the effects of increased greenhouse gas emissions

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https://nature.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1276478/

NASA Satellite Image

Snow: Microscale to Macroscale

• α is the surface albedo
• SW↓ is the incoming shortwave radiation
• LW↓ and LW↑ are the incoming and outgoing longwave radiation, respectively
• H_S and H_L are the sensible and latent heat fluxes from the surface
• G is heat flux from underlying surface

Energy Available for Temperature or Phase Change

Snow albedo is relevant in the UV, Visible and NIR parts of the electromagnetic spectrum

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Albedo is measured in the parts of the spectrum with the most incoming solar radiation

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http://lumenistics.com/what-is-full-spectrum-lighting/

Snow albedo is affected by many factors!

• Snow grain shape and size
• Impurities in the snow
• Lighting conditions
• Surface roughness
• Wetness

Larger grains lead to lower albedo

LACHAPELLE, 1969, http://www.metafysica.nl/ontology/general_ontology_29m1aa.html

Impurities in snow also reduce albedo

Black Carbon

Dust

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9336928

https://www.wilmaslawnandgarden.com/en_gb/service/blog/growing-plants-in-soil-substrate/

https://travelola.org/2012/07/16/dust-desert-uyuni-bolivia/

Organic Carbon

• Impurities like dust, black carbon, organic carbon, and algae affect visible range
• Grain size and shape affect near infrared range more
• Snow depth, liquid water, lighting conditions, surface roughness, and terrain slope also play a role

Snow albedo is affected by many properties�

Model results using SNICAR (Flanner et al, 2021)

Field Observations

• Albedo
• Grain Size
• Impurity Content
• Liquid Water Content
• Stratigraphy
• Density

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Photos: Creator, Copyright: Kaden Staley, Michigan Technological University

Albedo Measurement

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• Use portable field spectral radiometer
• Measure downwelling and upwelling solar irradiance to calculate ratio

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Photo Creator, Copyright: Kaden Staley, Michigan Technological University

Impurity Measurement

• Developed system to measure black carbon equivalent impurity concentration based on Grenfell et al. 2011
• Relies on reduction in transmission of light through a filter with impurities compared to standards

Grain Size Measurement

• Developed system to measure snow grain size based on work by Gallet et al. 2009
• Reflectance of snow at 1310nm and 1550 nm is sensitive to grain size and shape, but not other factors

Liquid Water Content (LWC) Measurements

• Microwave resonator
• Calculates LWC from measured shift in frequency and attenuation

Seasonal Overview:��Measurements from Minnesota show albedo evolution through a winter season

Vis

NIR

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Case Study: Dust and Rain on Snow

3/15/2025

3/13

Pre Dust Event

3/15

During Dust Event

3/17

Post Dust Event

Case Study: Dust and Rain on Snow

• 3/13 – limited surface melting
• 3/15 – extensive surface melting, wet and dry deposition of dust
• 3/17 – limited surface melting, visibly dusty surface

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Case Study: Dust and Rain on Snow

Dust on Snow – April 11, 2019 in Northfield, MN

https://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/190410_190411_goes16_splitWindow_Central_US_blowing_dust_anim.gif

As the Western US becomes drier, these types of events could become more common.

“The map built with data from the Drought Monitor, depicts areas of drought in progressive shades of orange to red on December 8, 2020.”

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NASA Earth Observatory

Sneak Peek!

Sneak Peek!

Sneak Peek!

Studying snow in the Midwest!

Measuring snow albedo

Measuring

snow depth

Measuring

grain size

Measuring

snow density

Collecting snow samples for impurity analysis

Measuring

snow liquid water content

Research in Greenland

Jobs in Polar Science

• Researchers (Students, Professors, National Lab Scientists)
• Engineers
• Science Techs
• Logistics Coordinators
• Program Managers
• IT Specialists
• Communicators (Writers, Artists)
• Policy Makers
• Santa Claus

There are many ways to be involved in studying climate change or developing solutions!

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The more people we have involved in addressing this complex challenge, the better!

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Questions?

THANKS FOR COMING!

ALDEN ADOLPH, MICHIGAN TECHNOLOGICAL UNIVERSITY

ACADOLPH@MTU.EDU

Teaching about albedo!

• Ice Drilling Program (https://icedrill-education.org/) Activity

Teaching about albedo!

• Virtual Field Lab in the works!
• Coming in 2025