RESULTS OF AN AIRBORNE ALBEDO PROGRAM IN ANTARCTICA, 1963

Abstract

A series of measurements of the albedo of various representative types of underlying surfaces was made from a specially instrumented aircraft during October and November 1963. In this operation, Phase II of an Antarctic airborne albedo measurement program, special flights were also made to determine corrections to the observed values for aircraft altitude and for aircraft orientation with respect to the sun. A systematic variation in albedo values with differing aircraft orientation with respect to the sun was found, apparently because of a slight leveling error, and corrections computed for this factor were applied to the data. It was also discovered that albedo values decrease 1.2 percent for each 1000-ft. increase in altitude from the surface to 6000 ft., and remain relatively constant thereafter. Albedo values of 83 percent were obtained for the polar plateau and 74 percent for the Ross Sea area for winter ice with no clouds below the aircraft. The albedo of stratocumulus clouds over these surfaces was 79 percent., and of altocumulus clouds 77 percent. Albedo values as measured from the aircraft in the vicinity of the South Pole were in good agreement with surface measurements at this site.