Topographic Corrections of Optical Imagery and Snow Albedo Measurements Obtained from a UAV

In areas that experience seasonal snowpack, snow albedo feedback loops drive processes such as runoff and wet snow avalanches cycles. We compared the effects of topographic corrections on snow albedo measurements and optical imagery taken from a UAV over an alpine meadow in Southwest Montana. Results show the significance of the error introduced into UAV-based snow albedo measurements by topography and provide methods to mitigate this error.