Airborne measurement of snow cover properties using the polarimetric scanning radiometer during the Cold Land Process Experiments (CLPX02-03)

Multispectral polarimetric microwave brightness temperature maps of snowpack in the Colorado Rocky Mountains were obtained using the NOAA Polarimetric Scanning Radiometer (PSR) during three Cold Land Processes Experiments (CLPX) in February 2002, February 2003, and March 2003. The PSR CLPX data offers unique high-resolution information about snow extent, polarimetric emissivity, and snow water equivalent at scales commensurate with natural inhomogeneities in terrain and precipitation patterns. The data is being used for several purposes including snowpack and snowmelt hydrology, calibration and validation of the AMSR-E sensor, cryospheric satellite sensor design, wideband snow emissivity modeling, and snowpack change detection. Initial results from CLPX02 using the PSR/A scanhead are presented showing brightness temperature, emissivity, and estimated snow water equivalent (SWE) maps.