Radiation measurement at Lewis Glacier, Mount Kenya, Kenya

Abstract Short- and long-wave radiation on variously oriented vertical surfaces, direct solar radiation, global radiation, and long–wave radiation on a horizontal surface were measured on Lewis Glacier, Mount Kenya, at 4800 m. For the orientation of vertical surfaces, the following azimuths were sel...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Glaciology
Main Authors: Hastenrath, Stefan, Patnaik, J. K.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1980
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000015288
https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000015288
Description
Summary:Abstract Short- and long-wave radiation on variously oriented vertical surfaces, direct solar radiation, global radiation, and long–wave radiation on a horizontal surface were measured on Lewis Glacier, Mount Kenya, at 4800 m. For the orientation of vertical surfaces, the following azimuths were selected: 45°, facing the steep slope of the upper glacier; 135°, facing a rock ridge and some glacier surface in the foreground; 225°, facing down–glacier towards the Teleki valley with open sky occupying much of the view; and 315°, directed towards the steep south-east face of the Nelion peak. The horizontal components of diffuse short-wave radiation reach a magnitude comparable to those of direct radiation. As a result of contrastingly different albedos of natural surfaces, the horizontal component of diffuse short–wave radiation is particularly large from the direction of the upper glacier, with values around 330–500 W m −2 , and smallest from the direction of the rock face of Nelion peak, where values are around 150–330 W m −2 . Long–wave radiation seems enhanced from the direction of the Nelion face, and reduced from the azimuth of the upper glacier, thus apparently reflecting differences in emissivity and temperature.