Impact of impurities and cryoconite on the optical properties of the Morteratsch Glacier (Swiss Alps)

• Published in: The Cryosphere
• Main Authors: B. Di Mauro, G. Baccolo, R. Garzonio, C. Giardino, D. Massabò, A. Piazzalunga, M. Rossini, R. Colombo
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Copernicus Publications 2017
• Subjects: Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Geology; QE1-996.5; Hyperion; The Cryosphere
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2393-2017; https://doaj.org/article/de9e7cdde0104f9ca94bbeb6cf058a49

The amount of reflected energy by snow and ice plays a fundamental role in their melting processes. Different non-ice materials (carbonaceous particles, mineral dust (MD), microorganisms, algae, etc.) can decrease the reflectance of snow and ice promoting the melt. The object of this paper is to ass...