Variability of A MODIS-Derived Clear-Sky Surface Temperature over the Lambert Glacier-Amery Ice Shelf System (LGAISS)

The Lambert Glacier and the adjacent Amery Ice Shelf comprise the largest glacier-ice shelf system in east Antarctica. The surface temperature of the Lambert Glacier-Amery Ice Shelf System (LGAISS) was examined from March 1st, 2008 to March 1st, 2009 using 7976 images from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on board the NASA Earth Observing System Terra platforms. Mapping and analyses of the LGAISS were conducted using 1 km resolution daily MODIS land surface temperature (LST) and sea ice temperature (IST) products. A geographical and statistical analysis approach was developed and implemented to evaluate the variability of surface temperature and the number of melting days across the LGAISS. Cloud contamination and other data gaps had an effect on the record, but the combined data set did enable examination of spatial and temporal ‘melt’ periods better than the long-term sparse network of in situ measurements. “Melt” occurrences were calculated at the pixel level where MODIS observed clear-sky temperatures above 273.15°K (0°C). Work is underway to extend and improve the time series for successful comparison to lower resolution time series of surface melting developed from passive microwave instruments.