| Summary: | Indications of climatic warming are expected to be greatest over high latitudes and high altitudes, the regions where the cyrosphere is present. Mountain glaciers, in particular, can be an early detector for man-induced climate change, and it is a representative indicator for the surface energy balance for remote polar or high altitude locations. Previous research has shown the surface energy budget over a snow surface can either over-estimate or severely under-estimate the radiation processes. This is due to the complexities of the snow surface including high but variable albedo, low thermal conductivity, low roughness length, and maintaining the ability to store water for long periods of time. For this study, the surface energy balance over Barrow, Alaska will be modeled using the O/FSU 1-D Coupled Atmosphere-Plant-Soils Model and compared against observations over a snow pack for twenty-seven events from 2004 though 2010. Different formulations for albedo over snow surfaces will be used to determine optimal radiation budget and boundary layer structure calculations. Results from this study have implications on climate research and future land surface models. Submitted Note: A Thesis submitted to the Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Degree Awarded: Fall Semester, 2012. Date of Defense: June 12, 2012. Keywords: snow surface, surface energy balance Bibliography Note: Includes bibliographical references. Advisory Committee: Paul Ruscher, Professor Directing Thesis; Alejandro Gallard, Committee Member; Guosheng Liu, Committee Member; Sharon Nicholson, Committee Member.
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