The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015

The rapid warming of the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes and the observed changes in boreal forest areas affect the global surface albedo and climate. This study looks at the trends in the timing of the snow melt season as well as the albedo levels before and after the melt season in Northern Hem...

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Main Authors: Kati Anttila, Terhikki Manninen, Emmihenna Jääskeläinen, Aku Riihelä, Panu Lahtinen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2018-10-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/10/1619
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author Kati Anttila
Terhikki Manninen
Emmihenna Jääskeläinen
Aku Riihelä
Panu Lahtinen
author_facet Kati Anttila
Terhikki Manninen
Emmihenna Jääskeläinen
Aku Riihelä
Panu Lahtinen
author_sort Kati Anttila
collection DOAJ
description The rapid warming of the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes and the observed changes in boreal forest areas affect the global surface albedo and climate. This study looks at the trends in the timing of the snow melt season as well as the albedo levels before and after the melt season in Northern Hemisphere land areas between 40°N and 80°N over the years 1982 to 2015. The analysis is based on optical satellite data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The results show that the changes in surface albedo already begin before the start of the melt season. These albedo changes are significant (the mean of absolute change is 4.4 albedo percentage units per 34 years). The largest absolute changes in pre-melt-season albedo are concentrated in areas of the boreal forest, while the pre-melt albedo of tundra remains unchanged. Trends in melt season timing are consistent over large areas. The mean of absolute change of start date of melt season is 11.2 days per 34 years, 10.6 days for end date of melt season and 14.8 days for length of melt season. The changes result in longer and shorter melt seasons, as well as changed timing of the melt, depending on the area. The albedo levels preceding the onset of melt and start of the melt season correlate with climatic parameters (air temperature, precipitation, wind speed). The changes in albedo are more closely linked to changes in vegetation, whereas the changes in melt season timing are linked to changes in climate.
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spelling doaj.art-c3f51c4d597544ebad79a340b2a263fa2022-12-21T19:41:41ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922018-10-011010161910.3390/rs10101619rs10101619The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015Kati Anttila0Terhikki Manninen1Emmihenna Jääskeläinen2Aku Riihelä3Panu Lahtinen4Finnish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Research Unit, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Research Unit, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Research Unit, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Research Unit, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandFinnish Meteorological Institute, Meteorological Research Unit, FI-00101 Helsinki, FinlandThe rapid warming of the Northern Hemisphere high latitudes and the observed changes in boreal forest areas affect the global surface albedo and climate. This study looks at the trends in the timing of the snow melt season as well as the albedo levels before and after the melt season in Northern Hemisphere land areas between 40°N and 80°N over the years 1982 to 2015. The analysis is based on optical satellite data from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR). The results show that the changes in surface albedo already begin before the start of the melt season. These albedo changes are significant (the mean of absolute change is 4.4 albedo percentage units per 34 years). The largest absolute changes in pre-melt-season albedo are concentrated in areas of the boreal forest, while the pre-melt albedo of tundra remains unchanged. Trends in melt season timing are consistent over large areas. The mean of absolute change of start date of melt season is 11.2 days per 34 years, 10.6 days for end date of melt season and 14.8 days for length of melt season. The changes result in longer and shorter melt seasons, as well as changed timing of the melt, depending on the area. The albedo levels preceding the onset of melt and start of the melt season correlate with climatic parameters (air temperature, precipitation, wind speed). The changes in albedo are more closely linked to changes in vegetation, whereas the changes in melt season timing are linked to changes in climate.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/10/1619snowalbedoclimate
spellingShingle Kati Anttila
Terhikki Manninen
Emmihenna Jääskeläinen
Aku Riihelä
Panu Lahtinen
The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
Remote Sensing
snow
albedo
climate
title The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
title_full The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
title_fullStr The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
title_full_unstemmed The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
title_short The Role of Climate and Land Use in the Changes in Surface Albedo Prior to Snow Melt and the Timing of Melt Season of Seasonal Snow in Northern Land Areas of 40°N–80°N during 1982–2015
title_sort role of climate and land use in the changes in surface albedo prior to snow melt and the timing of melt season of seasonal snow in northern land areas of 40°n 80°n during 1982 2015
topic snow
albedo
climate
url http://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/10/10/1619
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