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,...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:c06b4eacd8ff4fcdb1200ae5a5c0da02 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 J. H. van Angelen J. T. M. Lenaerts S. Lhermitte X. Fettweis P. Kuipers Munneke M. R. van den Broeke E. van Meijgaard C. J. P. P. Smeets 2012-10-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://doaj.org/article/c06b4eacd8ff4fcdb1200ae5a5c0da02 EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/6/1175/2012/tc-6-1175-2012.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/c06b4eacd8ff4fcdb1200ae5a5c0da02 The Cryosphere, Vol 6, Iss 5, Pp 1175-1186 (2012) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2012 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 2022-12-31T14:33:02Z 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. Article in Journal/Newspaper Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Greenland The Cryosphere 6 5 1175 1186 |
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. H. van Angelen J. T. M. Lenaerts S. Lhermitte X. Fettweis P. Kuipers Munneke M. R. van den Broeke E. van Meijgaard C. J. P. P. Smeets Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
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 |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. H. van Angelen J. T. M. Lenaerts S. Lhermitte X. Fettweis P. Kuipers Munneke M. R. van den Broeke E. van Meijgaard C. J. P. P. Smeets |
author_facet |
J. H. van Angelen J. T. M. Lenaerts S. Lhermitte X. Fettweis P. Kuipers Munneke M. R. van den Broeke E. van Meijgaard C. J. P. P. Smeets |
author_sort |
J. H. van Angelen |
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 |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2012 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 https://doaj.org/article/c06b4eacd8ff4fcdb1200ae5a5c0da02 |
geographic |
Greenland |
geographic_facet |
Greenland |
genre |
Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
Greenland Ice Sheet The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 6, Iss 5, Pp 1175-1186 (2012) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/6/1175/2012/tc-6-1175-2012.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-6-1175-2012 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/c06b4eacd8ff4fcdb1200ae5a5c0da02 |
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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1766015175274528768 |