Results from Microwave Radiometer Campaign of Seasonal Snow and Comparison with Emission Models

Ground based multitemporal microwave radiometer to measurement snow covered terrain. Snow emission models and algorithms are developed for retrieving snow characteristics from space-borne radiometer data. Microwave radiometer measurements of snow cover was made at Kirkkonummi, southern Finland in AD 1985 01 to 04. Radiometer data include brightness temperatures at 1 GHz, 16.5 GHz and 37 GHz, vertical and horizontal polarization, continuous recording are done. The free-space systems were operated at 12 GHz 35, GHz and 18 GHz respectively.Daily data collection was conducted. Aluminium sheets cover the ground near observation tower, thus providing opportunity to observe microwave emission from snow alone. Ancillary data are also included like water equivalent, depth, temperature, layering, and surface roughness and grain size. The ground surface temperature are measured and vertical distribution of near-surface ground temperature also observed. Numerous homogeneous samples were taken from various depths. Dielectric and extinction properties of snow are measured. Snow extinction coefficients values and wetness values are also considered. TKK model; is a single-layer radiative transfer model. The Microwave Emission Model of Layered Snowpacks (MEMLS) model; is a radiative multiple-scattering model. . Experimental values were compared with snow emission models.