American Geophysical Union Become an AGU Member
Subscribe to AGU Journals		 AGU Home AGU Publications

Read Full Article (file size: 607855 bytes)    Cited by

GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 30, NO. 8, 1443, doi:10.1029/2002GL016749, 2003

Assessment of global climate model land surface albedo using MODIS data

Keith W. Oleson

Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


Gordon B. Bonan

Climate and Global Dynamics Division, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado, USA


Crystal Schaaf

Department of Geography and Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA


Feng Gao

Department of Geography and Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA


Yufang Jin

Department of Geography and Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA


Alan Strahler

Department of Geography and Center for Remote Sensing, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA


Abstract

Land surface albedo from the Community Land Model is compared to white-sky (diffuse) and black-sky albedo (direct at local solar noon) from MODIS. Generally, comparisons are more favorable in summer than winter, for visible waveband than near-infrared in regions without snow cover, and for black- than white-sky. In regions with extensive snow cover, the model overestimates white- and black-sky albedo by up to 20% absolute. The snow-free visible and near-infrared black-sky albedo is simulated quite well with biases within ±5% over most of the land surface. However, a large negative model bias was found for the Sahara Desert and Arabian Peninsula, particularly in the near-infrared. The poorer simulation of white- compared to black-sky albedo in vegetated areas implies that the model may be overestimating the increase of albedo with solar zenith angle. These results identify several areas that should have priority in further evaluating and improving albedo in the model.

Published 30 April 2003.

Index Terms: 3322 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Land/atmosphere interactions; 3359 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Radiative processes; 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing.

Read Full Article (file size: 607855 bytes)    Cited by

Citation: Oleson, K. W., G. B. Bonan, C. Schaaf, F. Gao, Y. Jin, and A. Strahler (2003), Assessment of global climate model land surface albedo using MODIS data, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30(8), 1443, doi:10.1029/2002GL016749.