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Temperature vs. Vegetation Albedo
The Earth's roundness, topography, atmosphere, and orbital characteristics combine with the Sun's output to determine the average annual energy input at each point on Earth's surface. The average annual temperature (AAT) at any point is a function of the average annual energy input, the quantity absorbed, and the quantity reflected. The albedo of vegetated surfaces is one aspect of biological activity that regulates the input and effectively contributes to both regional and global climate (AAT).
The proposed research will estimate the relationship between zones of AAT and the fraction of input that is reflected by vegetation.
Questions:
Is there a relationship between average annual temperature and vegetation albedo?
Does vegetation statistically respond to AAT with a characteristic albedo, regardless of vegetation type?
What degree does albedo in turn effect the AAT?
How responsive is vegetation (albedo) to AAT?
Three data sets
1) Technological advancement of high resolution space borne Earth observatories allows for measurements of global vegetation albedo. The Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) 8 band global data set will be used to isolate vegetated surfaces and measure albedo values for May 21-30, 1996.
2) A Global 1 km resolution Digital Elevation Model (DEM)
3) A global sampling of Average Annual Temperature (AAT) for the period May 25, 1995 through May 25, 1996
A model
The Earth system is a complex, multivariable, systematic, nonlinear, mathematical equation that we approximate by isolating and measuring related variables. The current relationship between vegetation albedo and AAT will allow for inferences of past climate forcing. This study will ignore the Hydrologic cycle and atmospheric concentration of gases throughout the data analysis portion and will only consider these important variables in discussion.
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