Simultaneous retrieval of aerosol and surface properties over bright targets including snow and ice using multi-and hyperspectral data

Retrieval of surface properties of highly reflecting targets such as snow and ice is a challenging problem due to the influence of aerosols which varies considerably in space and time. Also, accounting for the bidirectional properties of a bright surface such as snow is very important for reliable retrievals. The main purpose of the work described in this paper is to explore the opportunities and possibilities offered by multi- and hyperspectral data such as those available provided by MODIS, GLI, the Advanced Land Imager (ALI), and Hyperion to retrieve reliable aerosol and surface properties. Over snow and ice surfaces these include aerosol optical depth and single scattering albedo, the mean size of snow grains and ice "particles" (inclusions), and the spectral and broadband snow/ice albedo. In particular the following question will be addressed: To what extent can multi- and hyperspectral data help improve our knowledge of snow and ice parameters that are important for understanding global climate change?