Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

A Machine Learning Algorithm Improves Surface Freeze-Thaw Classification, Fredrick Bunt

Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers

The frozen or thawed state of the land surface is an important factor affecting a wide range of natural processes such as surface water movement, the carbon cycle, and ecosystem development. It is also important for human endeavors such as permafrost engineering and agricultural planning. This makes having an accurate record important. The Freeze-Thaw (FT) Earth System Data Record (FT-ESDR) is a global, daily product that strives to be a reliable record of the FT ground state. In its current form, the FT-ESDR uses annual regression analysis of reanalysis surface air temperatures (SAT) and brightness temperatures (Tb) at each grid …