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

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 key factor in amplifying natural variations within the earth s climate system. To achieve this understanding, we need to...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Maykut, Gary A, Grenfell, Thomas C
Other Authors: WASHINGTON UNIV SEATTLE DEPT OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 2001
Subjects:
Atmospheric Physics
Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
Snow
Ice and Permafrost
Optics
*ALBEDO
*OCEAN BASINS
*PACK ICE
ARCTIC OCEAN
CLIMATE
DISTRIBUTION
FEEDBACK
HEAT BALANCE
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
RADIATION
SHORT WAVELENGTHS
*ICE-ALBEDO FEEDBACK
SHORTWAVE RADIATION
Arctic
Arctic Ocean
albedo
Arctic Basin
Ice
permafrost
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA625918
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA625918
Description
Summary: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 key factor in amplifying natural variations 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 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. Our long-term goal is to develop accurate formulations of the major ice-albedo feedback processes which are suitable for inclusion in climate and general circulation models. The original document contains color images.

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