Monitoring the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Arctic Winter Snow/Ice with MoonlightRemote Sensing

The Arctic region has been experiencing significant climate change, with the loss of snow and ice accelerating at an alarming rate. Accurate monitoring of the spatiotemporal dynamics of snow and ice is essential for understanding and predicting the impacts of climate change on Arctic ecosystems and their feedback on global climate. In this paper, we use the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership (SNPP) satellite to monitor the spatiotemporal dynamics of snow and ice in polar regions. The VIIRS/Day/Night Band (DNB) is a unique instrument that can provide high-resolution imagery of the Earth's surface at night, with a spatial resolution of 750 m and a sensitivity of 0.01 nW/cm2/sr. This enables the detection of faint moonlight and artificial light and allows for mapping snow and ice in polar winter when no sunlight is available for months.  Our aims demonstrate the potential of moonlight remote sensing for continuous monitoring of snow/ice in the Arctic region and analyse the importance of continuous monitoring and research on the impacts of climate change on the Arctic ecosystem and the potential for Arctic seaway.