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Fast Laser Analysis of the StratigrapHy and Sunlight Transfer In the snowpaCK (FLASHSTICK)
Call year: 2026
Status: active
IADC_id: 842
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Snow is a heterogeneous medium whose physical properties constantly evolve over time. Sunlight radiative transfer is particularly significant, as fresh snow has high reflectance that diminishes with grain aging and the accumulation of light-absorbing impurities, thus enhancing shortwave absorption and the melting process. Furthermore, visible light drives photochemical processes and supports phototrophic microorganisms. Nonetheless, radiative transfer in snow remains poorly understood, with current models relying on several assumptions and requiring many parameters, while quantitative field data are missing. FLASHSTICK aims to investigate the complex relationships between sunlight propagation in the snowpack, size and shape of snow grains in each layer, and the radiative and compositional properties of the deposited particulate matter. A tight experimentally-based approach will be adopted thus guaranteeing a model independent method to generate a reliable predictive tool. To achieve these goals, measurements will be performed in the surroundings of Ny-Ålesund using two novel custom-made probes recently developed and patented by the Instrumental Optics Group of the Physics Department at the University of Milan. Field experiments will be complemented by snow pits and snow samples collection for further analyses.
National/International Cooperation:
The project is supported by the Arctic Field Grant 2026 and will involve a collaboration between the Norwegian Polar Institute, the Ca'Foscari University of Venice, the University of Milano-Bicocca, the University of Milan and the Italian National Research Council (CNR).
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