J5.4
Climatology of blowing snow on the Antarctic plateau
Ashwin Mahesh, Goddard Earth Science and Technology Ctr., Greenbelt, MD; and J. Campbell, V. P. Walden, and J. D. Spinhirne
Low-angle observations of the atmosphere above South Pole were made as part of routine lidar observations during 1999 and 2000. These near-horizantal views permit the determination of the height of blowing snow layers. Spectral infrared observations of atmosphere are also available from routine observations made during 1992 and 2000-2001. Routine surface observations are also made by visual observers at South Pole station; these are used to determine the particular low-angle lidar observations and spectral data which correspond to times of blowing snow events. Together, these observations allow the determination of typical thicknesses of blowing snow layers, their optical thicknesses, and radiative effects.
Joint Session 5, Remote Sensing of Clouds III (Joint between 11th Cloud Physics and 11th Atmospheric Radiation)
Friday, 7 June 2002, 3:30 PM-5:00 PM
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