SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS FOR THE ALKALI FLATS AND DUNES REGIONS AT WHITE-SANDS-MISSILE-RANGE, NEW-MEXICO

Two regions at White Sands Missile Range with different surface reflec tance characteristics were studied from November 1988 through December 1991. Continuous 6-min measurements of surface albedo on the alkali f lats were used to produce a clear-sky surface climatology for the peri od. Based on the flats measurements, estimates for a dunes albedo were made using calibrated satellite data. In addition to the surface albe do history, sample bidirectional reflectance characteristics in terms of anisotropic factors for the alkali flats region are also presented. Results show that the flats region is non-Lambertian characterized by large anisotropic factors at high solar and viewing zenith angles. Th e flat's albedo is highly influenced by surface moisture conditions. R eflectance proper-ties of the dunes are complicated by dune shadows, s urface irregularities, seasonal vegetative coverage, and soil moisture .