EOS Validation Program

Institution: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Phone: (907) 474-7676
E-mail: sli@images.alaska.edu

Martin Jeffries, Geophysical Institute

September 1999
August 2001
Final Report, May, 2003

We propose to carry out a field campaign for validation of the MODIS snow cover, sea ice cover, and sea ice surface temperature products in the Southern Ocean. The validation will be undertaken during cruises aboard the R.V. Nufhaniel B. Palmer in the Ross Sea in austral mid-winter 1998 and austral summer 1999. The field program will consist of the following activities:

1) snow and bare sea ice surface brightness temperature measurements on individual ice floes along 100-200 m transects using both a spectroradiometer and thermal infrared thermometer, concurrent with measurements of snow depth, temperature and stratigraphy, and ice thickness; and

2) hourly observations of the concentration, snow depth, ice thickness and topographic variability of the ice in the vicinity of the ship, plus data on floe size, lead width, and weather conditions.

The MODIS products will be analyzed subsequently in conjunction with the field observations and measurements. The main results from this project will be delivered through publication of journal papers and Internet web pages.