The Influence of Cloudiness on The Net Radiation Balance of A Snow Surface with High Albedo

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Ambach, W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1974
• Subjects: Greenland; Ice Sheet; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000023388; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000023388

The short-wave and long-wave radiant fluxes measured in the accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet during a mid-summer period are discussed with respect to their dependence on cloudiness. At a cloudiness of 10/10, a mean value of 270 J/cm 2 d is obtained for the daily totals of net radiation balance, whereas a mean value of only 75 J/cm 2 d is observed at 0/10. The energy excess of the net radiation balance with overcast sky is due to the significant influence of the incoming long-wave radiation and the high albedo of the surface (average of 84%). High values of net radiation balance are therefore correlated with high values of long-wave radiation balance and low values of short-wave radiation balance.