Mapping the ground albedo of Western Africa and its time evolution during 1984 using Meteosat visible data
Résumé
This paper deals with the use of Meteosat visible data for the production of maps of the ground albedo. Meteosat visible data were routinely received at Ecole des Mines using a receiving station connected to a microcomputer during 1984 and the ground albedo was weekly mapped for Western Africa (4S to 16N, 18E to 4W). The main patterns as well as the variations in time of the albedo are depicted with respect to the vegetation types. The great spatial variability of the vegetation growth rate is confirmed and correlated to the variability of the rainfall.