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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #372184
Research Project: Improving Agroecosystem Services by Measuring, Modeling, and Assessing Conservation Practices

Location: Hydrology and Remote Sensing Laboratory

Title: Re-understanding of land surface albedo and related terms in satellite-based retrievals

Author
item SHUAI, Y. - Liaoning University
item TUERHANJIANG, L. - Xinjiang Research Institute
item SHAO, C. - Liaoning University
item Gao, Feng
item ZHOU, Y. - Iowa State University
item XIE, D. - Beijing Normal University
item LIU, T. - Xinjiang Research Institute
item LIANG, J. - Hunan University Of Science And Technology
item CHU, N. - Hunan University Of Science And Technology

Submitted to: Big Earth Data
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/3/2020
Publication Date: 2/25/2020
Citation: Shuai, Y., Tuerhanjiang, L., Shao, C., Gao, F.N., Zhou, Y., Xie, D., Liu, T., Liang, J., Chu, N. 2020. Re-understanding of land surface albedo and related terms in satellite-based retrievals. Big Earth Data. https://doi.org/10.1080/20964471.2020.1716561.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20964471.2020.1716561

Interpretive Summary: Land surface albedo is the ratio of reflected radiation to the total incoming solar radiation. It is a key parameter used in climate modeling studies and remote sensing estimation of surface energy balance and water use. In recent decades, many satellite albedo data products have been developed. These products use various albedo terminologies. The lack of understanding of these terms can introduce considerable errors in subsequent applications. This paper surveys the basic concepts of reflectance quantities, bi-directional reflectance modeling, albedo retrieval strategies, and albedo data products developed since the 1970s. The differences among various albedo terms were assessed using the daily Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) product in Northern Kazakhstan. A better understanding of various surface albedo terms and data products can reduce the ambiguity in estimating surface energy balance and water use, which is important for monitoring land surface and crop conditions.

Technical Abstract: Land surface albedo is a critical variable in determining surface energy balance, and regulating climate and ecosystem processes through feedback mechanisms. Therefore, climatic modelers and radiative monitoring require accurate estimates of land surface albedo. With the instrument development, algorithm upgrade, spectral-band-adjustment in wavelength center or bandwidth, and the increasing distinct requirement from diversified communities, various albedo terms have been generated in related satellite-based products. The lack of understanding on the divergence of these terminologies can introduce potential considerable errors in the subsequent applications, or an elevated probability to invert the deduced conclusion. We survey the basic concepts of reflectance quantities, retrieval strategies, and models developed since the 1970s, and discuss both strengths and opportunities for improvement on land surface albedo extraction, and product generation. In addition, we exemplified the difference of albedo terms using the daily MODIS product (MCD43A) to emphasize the potential risk in the ambiguous usage, over typical IGBP land covers in Northern Kazakhstan. Our investigation shows that relative differences among various albedo terms can reach up to 181% in the narrow bands, and 50% in the broad-band surface albedo, which illuminates cautions against the ambiguous understanding of albedo terminologies or erroneous usage of albedo products.