The change of seasonal snow surface roughness in Sodankylä finnish lapland during winters 2009 and 2010

This article presents some results from the snow surface roughness measurements that were made during the Snow Reflectance Transition Experiment -campaign in Sodankyla, Finnish Lapland, in 2009 and 2010. The surface roughness was measured with a photogrammetry-based method where a black plate was inserted into the snow and photographed. After field work a 2D profile was automatically extracted from the image. The profiles extracted from the photographs were analyzed using root mean square height and correlation length as function of measured length. 777 profiles were measured during the SORTEX -campaign in different locations with different canopy type, including marshland, pine, birch and mixed forest and lake ice. In addition to this some profiles were measured in February 2010. The results show a clear shift from midwinter to melting season conditions as well as the effect of fresh snow on the surface.