Evaluating Snow and Ice Cover in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina

Author

Zoe Pitman, University of Arkansas, FayettevilleFollow

Date of Graduation

5-2023

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science in Earth Science

Degree Level

Undergraduate

Department

Geosciences

Advisor/Mentor

Fernandes, Katia

Committee Member/Reader

Peter, Brad

Committee Member/Second Reader

Warren, Herold

Committee Member/Third Reader

Sakon, Josh

Abstract

Evaluating changes in snow and ice cover is an important field for studying climate change and its impacts. This evaluation is commonly done using remote sensing because of its ability to evaluate large areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the reliability of one remote sensing technology, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), by comparing it to in-situ snow and climate data from the weather station at the Austral Center for Scientific Research (CADIC). Data was converted from daily to monthly averages and was sorted into a series of graphs to compare the two data sets. Correlations were calculated between the MODIS data and the CADIC data. The analysis determined that MODIS snow cover data correlated moderately to in-situ snow depth data and temperature data. This concludes that MODIS is a reliable source for evaluating snow cover in areas where in-situ data is unavailable.

Keywords

Earth Science; Climatology; MODIS; Remote Sensing; Snow Cover; Climate Change

Citation

Pitman, Z. (2023). Evaluating Snow and Ice Cover in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. Geosciences Undergraduate Honors Theses Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/geosuht/3