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: 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

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.