Sovremennye problemy distantsionnogo zondirovaniya Zemli iz kosmosa, 2026, V. 23, No. 4, pp. 305-313
Changes in thermal radiation of snow cover in the millimeter and infrared ranges under the influence of solar radiation
G.S. Bordonskiy 1 , V.A. Kazantsev 1 , A.K. Kozlov 1 1 Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology SB RAS, Chita, Russia
Accepted: 05.05.2026
DOI: 10.21046/2070-7401-2026-23-4-305-313
Measurements of radiothermal and infrared radiation of snow cover were conducted in the millimeter range at wavelengths of 8.8 and 3.3 mm, as well as in the infrared range of 8–14 µm, under the influence of cyclic heating of snow by solar radiation. The measurements were performed under stationary conditions at a site where the Sun’s movement allowed for shading to create rapid changes in snow temperature, typical of a natural environment. The experiment revealed diurnal and more rapid changes in brightness temperatures, determined by both increments in the thermodynamic temperature of the environment and dynamic processes, such as the occurrence of snow layer clearing. Ice particle clearing is determined by the occurrence of plastic deformation due to the temperature gradient in the environment. This causes ice crystals to flow along their basal planes, forming quasi-liquid films with high electrical conductivity. This situation is characteristic of the initial stage of plastic deformation observed during creep of ice structures. This phenomenon is associated with the possibility of plasmonic amplification of electromagnetic radiation leading to the clearing of snow and ice. The obtained results demonstrate the effectiveness of using the proposed complex of millimeter and infrared radiometers for solving problems in the field of cryology and ecology, for example, for determining the characteristics of snow melting and identifying areas of snow cover contamination.
Keywords: radiometry, snow cover, millimeter range, thermal infrared range
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