Work

How Much Uncertainty Does the Tower Create in Tower-Based Albedo Observations?

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Towers often have complex structures and higher reflectances than the surrounding surfaces. To identify the uncertainty of the tower in tower-based albedo observations, a combined approach involving simulation and field observations was applied to three newly constructed towers in the Saihanba region. The simulation results demonstrate that tower presence influenced the albedo measurements, with the impact primarily controlled by tower reflectance rather than sensor height. When the tower-body albedo markedly differs from the background, systematic correction is necessary. Field validation indicates that for the towers in the Saihanba region, the contrast in albedo between the tower and the surrounding background is small, and both the simulated and observed albedos agree well with the ground measurements, with differences below 0.0075. By identifying when and how tower structures distort albedo observations, this study enhances confidence in ground-based validation and provides practical guidance for future tower design and material selection.

Source: Remote Sensing

DOI: 10.3390/rs18040631