The optical measurement program was designed to investigate the ice-albedo feedback. In particular, we wanted to determine the distribution of the solar energy incident on sea ice, lake ice, and tundra between reflection, absorption in the snow, ice, land, and ocean.

We used a Kipp and Zonen albedometer for the wavelength-integrated albedo measurements and an ASD FieldSpec Pro spectroradiometer for the spectral albedo measurements.  The detectors were mounted on a 1.5-m-long arm to minimize shadowing of the surface. The Kipp and Zonen instrument integrates over wavelength from 300 nm to 3000 nm

Two-hundred-meter long albedo survey lines were installed at the Chukchi, Tundra, Elson, and Imikpuk sites. An initial set of measurements were made at each site in early April. In late-May and June albedos were measured at each site every other day.

Measurements of wavelength-integrated albedo at the tundra site in June. The white object is the Kipp and Zonen albedometer.

The FieldSpec Pro is a field portable spectroradiometer. The instrument can be "worn"; opto-electronics on the back, computer on the front, and cosine collector in hand. It has a rapid response times and typically takes a full spectral reading in a fraction of a second. 

April measurements of spectral albedo at Elson Lagoon using the ASD FieldSpec Pro.