Multi-modal albedo distributions in the ablation area of the southwestern Greenland Ice Sheet ...

• Main Authors: Moustafa, S. E., Rennermalm, A. K., Smith, L. C., Miller, M. A., Mioduszewski, J. R., Koenig, L. S., Hom, M. G., Shuman, Christopher
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: EGU 2015
• Subjects: Greenland; Ice Sheet
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.13016/m2u3k7-mfom; https://mdsoar.org/handle/11603/24272

Surface albedo is a key variable controlling solar radiation absorbed at the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) surface and, thus, meltwater production. Recent decline in surface albedo over the GrIS has been linked to enhanced snow grain metamorphic rates, earlier snowmelt, and amplified melt–albedo feedback from atmospheric warming. However, the importance of distinct surface types on ablation area albedo and meltwater production is still relatively unknown. In this study, we analyze albedo and ablation rates using in situ and remotely sensed data. Observations include (1) a new high-quality in situ spectral albedo data set collected with an Analytical Spectral Devices Inc. spectroradiometer measuring at 325–1075 nm along a 1.25 km transect during 3 days in June 2013; (2) broadband albedo at two automatic weather stations; and (3) daily MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo (MOD10A1) between 31 May and 30 August 2012 and 2013. We find that seasonal ablation area albedos in 2013 have a ...