Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model
We present a sensitivity study of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet, as modeled using a regional atmospheric climate model, to various parameter settings in the albedo scheme. The snow albedo scheme uses grain size as a prognostic variable and further depends on cloud cover,...
Published in: | The Cryosphere |
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Language: | English |
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Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/1175/2012/ |
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:tc15194 2023-05-15T16:26:16+02:00 Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model Angelen, J. H. Lenaerts, J. T. M. Lhermitte, S. Fettweis, X. Kuipers Munneke, P. Broeke, M. R. Meijgaard, E. Smeets, C. J. P. P. 2018-09-27 info:eu-repo/semantics/application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/1175/2012/ eng eng info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/226375 doi:10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/1175/2012/ info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess eISSN: 1994-0424 info:eu-repo/semantics/Text 2018 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 2020-07-20T16:25:41Z We present a sensitivity study of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet, as modeled using a regional atmospheric climate model, to various parameter settings in the albedo scheme. The snow albedo scheme uses grain size as a prognostic variable and further depends on cloud cover, solar zenith angle and black carbon concentration. For the control experiment the overestimation of absorbed shortwave radiation (+6%) at the K-transect (west Greenland) for the period 2004–2009 is considerably reduced compared to the previous density-dependent albedo scheme (+22%). To simulate realistic snow albedo values, a small concentration of black carbon is needed, which has strongest impact on melt in the accumulation area. A background ice albedo field derived from MODIS imagery improves the agreement between the modeled and observed SMB gradient along the K-transect. The effect of enhanced meltwater retention and refreezing is a decrease of the albedo due to an increase in snow grain size. As a secondary effect of refreezing the snowpack is heated, enhancing melt and further lowering the albedo. Especially in a warmer climate this process is important, since it reduces the refreezing potential of the firn layer that covers the Greenland Ice Sheet. Other/Unknown Material Greenland Ice Sheet Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Greenland The Cryosphere 6 5 1175 1186 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
op_collection_id |
ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
We present a sensitivity study of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet, as modeled using a regional atmospheric climate model, to various parameter settings in the albedo scheme. The snow albedo scheme uses grain size as a prognostic variable and further depends on cloud cover, solar zenith angle and black carbon concentration. For the control experiment the overestimation of absorbed shortwave radiation (+6%) at the K-transect (west Greenland) for the period 2004–2009 is considerably reduced compared to the previous density-dependent albedo scheme (+22%). To simulate realistic snow albedo values, a small concentration of black carbon is needed, which has strongest impact on melt in the accumulation area. A background ice albedo field derived from MODIS imagery improves the agreement between the modeled and observed SMB gradient along the K-transect. The effect of enhanced meltwater retention and refreezing is a decrease of the albedo due to an increase in snow grain size. As a secondary effect of refreezing the snowpack is heated, enhancing melt and further lowering the albedo. Especially in a warmer climate this process is important, since it reduces the refreezing potential of the firn layer that covers the Greenland Ice Sheet. |
format |
Other/Unknown Material |
author |
Angelen, J. H. Lenaerts, J. T. M. Lhermitte, S. Fettweis, X. Kuipers Munneke, P. Broeke, M. R. Meijgaard, E. Smeets, C. J. P. P. |
spellingShingle |
Angelen, J. H. Lenaerts, J. T. M. Lhermitte, S. Fettweis, X. Kuipers Munneke, P. Broeke, M. R. Meijgaard, E. Smeets, C. J. P. P. Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
author_facet |
Angelen, J. H. Lenaerts, J. T. M. Lhermitte, S. Fettweis, X. Kuipers Munneke, P. Broeke, M. R. Meijgaard, E. Smeets, C. J. P. P. |
author_sort |
Angelen, J. H. |
title |
Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
title_short |
Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
title_full |
Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
title_fullStr |
Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
title_full_unstemmed |
Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
title_sort |
sensitivity of greenland ice sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/1175/2012/ |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Ice Sheet |
genre_facet |
Greenland Ice Sheet |
op_source |
eISSN: 1994-0424 |
op_relation |
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/FP7/226375 doi:10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/6/1175/2012/ |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
6 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1175 |
op_container_end_page |
1186 |
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