The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau
On the Antarctic plateau, precipitation quantities are so low that the surface mass budget is for an important part determined by exchanges of water vapor between the snow surface and the atmosphere surface. At Dome C (75° S, 123° E), we have frequently observed the growth of crystals on the snow su...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:1e7d692bf36a45c5b01fb2f990a0d2ef 2023-05-15T13:48:51+02:00 The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau J.-C. Gallet F. Domine J. Savarino M. Dumont E. Brun 2014-07-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 https://doaj.org/article/1e7d692bf36a45c5b01fb2f990a0d2ef EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/1205/2014/tc-8-1205-2014.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 https://doaj.org/article/1e7d692bf36a45c5b01fb2f990a0d2ef The Cryosphere, Vol 8, Iss 4, Pp 1205-1215 (2014) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2014 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 2022-12-31T12:40:20Z On the Antarctic plateau, precipitation quantities are so low that the surface mass budget is for an important part determined by exchanges of water vapor between the snow surface and the atmosphere surface. At Dome C (75° S, 123° E), we have frequently observed the growth of crystals on the snow surface under calm sunny weather. Here we present the time variations of specific surface area (SSA) and density of these crystals. Using the detailed snow model Crocus, we conclude that the formation of these crystals was very likely due to the nighttime formation of surface hoar crystals and to the daytime formation of sublimation crystals. These latter crystals form by processes similar to those involved in the formation of frost flowers on young sea ice. The formation of these crystals impacts the albedo, mass and energy budget of the Antarctic plateau. In particular, the SSA variations of the surface layer can induce an instantaneous forcing at the snow surface up to −10 W m −2 at noon, resulting in a surface temperature drop of 0.45 K. This result confirms that snow SSA is a crucial variable to consider in the energy budget and climate of snow-covered surfaces. Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctic Sea ice The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Antarctic The Antarctic The Cryosphere 8 4 1205 1215 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 J.-C. Gallet F. Domine J. Savarino M. Dumont E. Brun The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
On the Antarctic plateau, precipitation quantities are so low that the surface mass budget is for an important part determined by exchanges of water vapor between the snow surface and the atmosphere surface. At Dome C (75° S, 123° E), we have frequently observed the growth of crystals on the snow surface under calm sunny weather. Here we present the time variations of specific surface area (SSA) and density of these crystals. Using the detailed snow model Crocus, we conclude that the formation of these crystals was very likely due to the nighttime formation of surface hoar crystals and to the daytime formation of sublimation crystals. These latter crystals form by processes similar to those involved in the formation of frost flowers on young sea ice. The formation of these crystals impacts the albedo, mass and energy budget of the Antarctic plateau. In particular, the SSA variations of the surface layer can induce an instantaneous forcing at the snow surface up to −10 W m −2 at noon, resulting in a surface temperature drop of 0.45 K. This result confirms that snow SSA is a crucial variable to consider in the energy budget and climate of snow-covered surfaces. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J.-C. Gallet F. Domine J. Savarino M. Dumont E. Brun |
author_facet |
J.-C. Gallet F. Domine J. Savarino M. Dumont E. Brun |
author_sort |
J.-C. Gallet |
title |
The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
title_short |
The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
title_full |
The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
title_fullStr |
The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
title_full_unstemmed |
The growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the Antarctic plateau |
title_sort |
growth of sublimation crystals and surface hoar on the antarctic plateau |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2014 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 https://doaj.org/article/1e7d692bf36a45c5b01fb2f990a0d2ef |
geographic |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic The Antarctic |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Sea ice The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Sea ice The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 8, Iss 4, Pp 1205-1215 (2014) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/1205/2014/tc-8-1205-2014.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 https://doaj.org/article/1e7d692bf36a45c5b01fb2f990a0d2ef |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1205-2014 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
8 |
container_issue |
4 |
container_start_page |
1205 |
op_container_end_page |
1215 |
_version_ |
1766249855300141056 |