Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Ice-Albedo Feedback Processes in the Arctic Basin

• Main Authors: Maykut, Gary A., Grenfell, Thomas C.
• Other Authors: WASHINGTON UNIV SEATTLE DEPT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1998
• Subjects: Astrophysics; Physical and Dynamic Oceanography; Snow; Ice and Permafrost; *ARCTIC OCEAN; *PACK ICE; *OCEAN BASINS; *SOLAR RADIATION; CLIMATE; HEAT; EARTH(PLANET); CIRCULATION; SHORT WAVELENGTHS; ARCTIC REGIONS; BALANCE; ICE FORMATION; THEORY; EXPERIMENTAL DATA; MODELS; Arctic; Arctic Ocean; albedo; Arctic Basin; Ice; permafrost
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA541968; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA541968

Our overall goal is to develop a quantitative understanding of processes that collectively make up the ice-albedo feedback mechanism. This mechanism is generally believed to be a major factor in amplifying variations that occur within the earth's climate system. To achieve this understanding, we need to learn how shortwave radiation is absorbed and distributed in the ice pack and upper Arctic Ocean, then assess the effects of this distribution on the regional heat and mass balance of the ice cover. Complicating the problem are a variety of issues related to the extreme sub-grid scale variability of the Arctic ice cover and to how such variability can be accounted for in large-scale models. Ultimately, we plan to develop and test appropriate techniques for accurately incorporating ice-albedo feedback into climate and general circulation models. See also ADM002252.