Present status and variations in the Arctic energy balance

The total solar irradiance (TSI, or solar constant) acquired a new value: 1361 W m^?2 instead of 1365 W m^?2. However a long-term variation of TSI was not detected. The solar irradiance at the earth's surface is considerably smaller (170 W m^?2) than previously believed (e.g. 198 W m^?2 of IPCC AR4). The previous overestimation is due to the underestimation of the absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere. The absorption of solar radiation in the atmosphere at about 90 W m^?2, or 25–28% of the primary solar radiation from space. The global mean atmospheric downward terrestrial radiation is much larger (345 W m^?2) than previously assumed (325 W m^?2 of IPCC AR4). The Arctic has regions of negative annual net radiation, a very rare phenomenon on the globe. These regions are the Central Arctic Ocean with its multi-year ice coverage and the accumulation area of the Greenland ice sheet. The energy balance of these regions is presented. Long-wave incoming radiation has been increasing in the Arctic at a rate of 4–5 W m^?2/Decade. The Greenland ice sheet exhibits a large vertical difference in net radiation from the ablation area to the dry snow zone in summer. It ranges from 80 W m^?2 in the ablation area to 20 W m^?2 at the equilibrium line and to 10 W m^?2 in the dry snow zone. This gradient determines the melt gradient on the ice sheet, and is mainly caused by the altitude variation in atmospheric long-wave radiation, seconded by the albedo variation. The effect of albedo in summer for various surfaces is discussed. Simulation capabilities of radiation for many GCMs are investigated.     

Surface reflectance of sea ice and under-ice irradiance in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

Initial results from a field experiment on fast ice in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, in March 2002 are presented. We measured surface reflectance and under-ice irradiance using an advanced, portable spectroradiometer sensitive in the visible and near-infrared parts of the electromagnetic spectrum, i.e. 350-1100 nm. Under-ice irradiance (UV-A, UV-B and photosynthetically active radiation [PAR]) was measured down to depths of 7.5 m by vertical profiling using a six-channel radiometer. We also present model results of wavelength-dependent transmittance of radiation through a combined snow and sea ice layer for various thicknesses of snow. Model results show that the snow and sea ice is more transparent for solar radiation in the PAR region (400-700 nm) than at shorter and longer wavelengths. This is confirmed by the field measurements. Even very thin snow layers on top of the sea ice efficiently prevent solar radiation from penetrating the snow–sea ice system. For example, a 5 cm thick snow layer reduces under-ice irradiance in the PAR region with a factor of about 10. Measurements of under-ice UV irradiance show that both UV-A and UV-B irradiance is reduced with a factor of more than 10 at depths of 7.5 m below the ice compared to at the ice-sea water interface.     

Study of the MSA, nssSO 2- 4 concentration and MSA to nssSO 2- 4 ratio in the snow/ice and atmospheric aerosols of the regions surrounding the Weddell Sea

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基于极地冰芯的历史火山活动序列重建研究进展

火山气溶胶通过反射太阳辐射导致地表降温。重建历史火山活动序列,是评估其气候效应,从而区分人为和自然因子的相对贡献、预测温室气体对全球气候影响的基础之一。此综述简要介绍了火山活动影响气候的作用机理。通过对冰芯研究历史及利用两极冰芯记录重建火山活动序列的研究进展的回顾,阐述了极地冰芯在火山活动序列重建中的作用与优势,以及近期研究在冰芯钻取和数据分析手段、极地火山信号向大气辐射强迫转化方法等方面所取得的成果;同时指出在火山沉积物的空间分布、冰芯定年及高低纬度火山喷发源的确定方面仍存在较大不确定性。因此应结合火山碎屑研究及非质量同位素分馏分析等方法,并钻取更多时间尺度更长且现有冰芯钻取较少的地区的深冰芯,以更精确地重建火山活动序列,从而提高对历史火山活动及其对气候影响的认识。     

Modeling synthetic aperture radar (SAR) scattering from a seasonally varying snow-covered sea ice volume at 5.3 and 9.25 GHz

A series of sensitivity analyses using dielectric, mixture and microwave scattering models is presented. Data from the Seasonal Sea Ice Monitoring and Modeling Site (SIMMS) in 1990 and 1991 are used to initialize the models. The objective of the research is to investigate the role of various geophysical and electrical properties in specifying the total relative scattering cross section (ρ') of snow covered first-year sea ice during the spring period.
The seasonal transition period from the Winter SAR scattering season to Early Melt was shown to signal a transition in dielectric properties which caused the snow volume to become a factor in the microwave scattering process. The effect of the thermal insulation of a snow cover on sea ice was shown to be significant for both ε' and ε'. Higher atmospheric temperatures caused proportionally greater changes in the dielectric properties of the sea ice at the base of the snow cover. Model ρ⁰ was computed for a range of sensor, sensor-earth geometry, and geophysical properties. In the Winter season the surface roughness terms (o_hand L) were shown to have a significant impact on ρ⁰ when the ice surface was the primary scattering mechanism. Once the snow cover began to warm and water was available in a liquid phase, the ice surface became masked because of the decrease in microwave penetration depths. During this period the water volume variable dominated ρ⁰, both from its impact on ρ_v⁰, and due to its control over the dielectric mismatch created at the air/snow interface.     

Long-term air temperature variability on the Crimean Peninsula

A comparison is made of the calculated values of solar radiation incident on the upper atmospheric boundary with the measured values of surface temperature on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula. It is shown that the long-term temperature regime on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula is characterized by a stability. It is determined that the stability of the long-term regime of mean annual surface air temperatures is associated with the characteristics of the latitudinal distribution of solar radiation incident on the upper atmospheric boundary. The incident solar radiation increases in the regions of heat sources and decreases in the regions of heat sink. Stability of long-term mean annual values of surface air temperature is associated with the location of the Crimea on the boundary of the regions of heat sources and sinks. The study revealed the chronological structure of long-term changes in surface air temperature. The anomaly in the long-term surface air temperature variability is characterized by short-duration variations. An analysis is made of the chronological structure of interannual variability in surface air temperature on the territory of the peninsula. The dominant interannual and 2–3-year periodicities in the temperature regime variations are correlated with variations in incident solar radiation. In 62.7% of cases, the sign of interannual variability in surface air temperature corresponds to the sign of interannual variability in incident solar radiation. Thus it is shown that a small tendency in the long-term surface air temperature variability on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula, and the characteristics of its variations are determined largely by the specific character of the input and distribution of solar radiation incident on the upper atmospheric boundary.     

Temperature variation and its driving forces over the Antarctic coastal regions in the past 250 years

By comparing the oxygen isotopic temperatures recorded by many shallow ice cores from the coastal regions of Antarctica, this paper presents the special characteristics of the temperature variations over the Antarctic coastal regions in the past 50 years, 150 years and 250 years. In the past 50 years, the isotopic temperatures recorded in the ice cores over different sites on the Antarctic coastal regions differ greatly. For instance, although increasing isotopic temperatures have been reported for many sites studied, many sites show decreasing trends, the regional regularity in temperature variations is still insignificant. In the past 150 years, the isotopic temperature trends in the coastal regions of Antarctica show an alternate-distributing pattern. In the past 250 years, all the ice cores from the coastal regions of Antarctica have recorded the so-called Little Ice Age (LIA). The above-mentioned spatial characteristics of the temperature variations over the Antarctic coastal regions are likely to reflect the impacts of the unique Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW) and the special terrain (such as the large drainage basins) on the coastal regions of Antarctica. Furthermore, the impacting intensity of the unique Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave and the special terrain differs in terms of the temporal scale of the temperature change.     

Temperature variation and its driving forces over the Antarctic coastal regions in the past 250 years

By comparing the oxygen isotopic temperatures recorded by many shallow ice cores from the coastal regions of Antarctica, this paper presents the special characteristics of the temperature variations over the Antarctic coastal regions in the past 50 years, 150 years and 250 years. In the past 50 years, the isotopic temperatures recorded in the ice cores over different sites on the Antarctic coastal regions differ greatly. For instance, although increasing isotopic temperatures have been reported for many sites studied, many sites show decreasing trends, the regional regularity in temperature variations is still insignificant. In the past 150 years, the isotopic temperature trends in the coastal regions of Antarctica show an alternate-distributing pattern. In the past 250 years, all the ice cores from the coastal regions of Antarctica have recorded the so-called Little Ice Age (LIA). The above-mentioned spatial characteristics of the temperature variations over the Antarctic coastal regions are likely to reflect the impacts of the unique Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave (ACW) and the special terrain (such as the large drainage basins) on the coastal regions of Antarctica. Furthermore, the impacting intensity of the unique Southern Hemisphere atmospheric circulation, the Antarctic Circumpolar Wave and the special terrain differs in terms of the temporal scale of the temperature change.     

2010年夏季北极海冰反照率的观测研究

雪和海冰作为北极地区反照率最高的地表类型,可以将大部分入射辐射能量反射回天空,其表面反照率的变化对整个地表-大气辐射平衡系统和全球气候变化都会有重要影响。在2010年中国第4次北极科学考察期间用ASD光谱仪对北极太平洋扇区不同类型的海冰表面反照率进行了现场测量,观测时段为7月27日至8月23日,地理范围在72°18′-87°20′N和152°34′-178°22′W之间。观测结果表明积雪覆盖海冰的反照率最高,干雪覆盖时均值达到0.82,融化的湿雪覆盖时反照率会有一定程度地降低。夏季北极地区存在大量融池,融池海冰按颜色划分为白冰,蓝冰和灰冰,白冰的平均反照率为0.54,蓝冰的为0.31,灰冰的只有0.20,融池水的反照率只有0.16。融池是北极夏季反照率变化的重要原因。     

Physical properties, spectral reflectance and thickness development of first year fast ice in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard

A ground truth study was performed on first year fast ice in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, during spring 1997 and 1998. The survey included sea ice thickness monitoring as well as observation of surface albedo, attenuation of optical radiation in the ice, physical properties and texture of snow and sea ice. The average total sea ice thickness in May was about 0.9 m, including a 0.2 m thick snow layer on top. Within a few weeks in both years, the snow melted almost completely, whereas the ice thickness decreased by not more than 0.05 m. During spring, the lower part of the snow refroze into a solid layer. The sea ice became more porous. Temperatures in the sea ice increased and the measurable salinity of the sea ice decreased with time. Due to snow cover thinning and snow grain growth, maximum surface albedo decreased from 0.96 to 0.74. Texture analysis on cores showed columnar ice with large crystals (max. crystal lenght > 0.1 m) below a 0.11 m thick mixed surface layer of granular ice with smaller crystals. In both years, we observed sea ice algae at the bottom part of the ice. This layer has a significant effect on the radiation transmissivity.     

An analysis of short-term albedo variations at Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland

Abstract An analysis of ten‐minute albedo variations, recorded on Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, over an 11 day period in the 1999 ablation season is presented. Most of the short‐term (<1 day) albedo variability is caused by variations in cloud cover, while solar zenith angle variations in the range 25° to 75° are of minor importance, probably due to the predominantly cloudy conditions during the measurement period. A new method to calculate albedo variation as a function of cloud cover is developed. Short‐term albedo variations are expressed by the ratio of the measured albedo to the daily albedo ‘minimum’, defined as the albedo under cloud‐free conditions when the solar zenith angle is <50°. Variations in cloud cover are quantified by the ratio of the measured incoming shortwave radiation flux to the theoretical direct‐beam shortwave radiation flux. The resulting relationships are successful, explaining 83% and 87–90% of short‐term albedo variation on snow and ice respectively, and may be incorporated into albedo parameterizations already used in numerical energy balance melt models, without the need for additional data. Simulations with a glacier energy balance model suggest that melt rates are overestimated by between 1 and 3 mm water equivalent per day if a correction is not made for the increase in albedo under cloudy conditions. Other causes of albedo variation are identified and evidence is found for the removal of fine debris from the glacier surface by intense rainfall, leading to an albedo increase. The implications for energy balance models and satellite‐derived albedo measurements are discussed.     

中国西北地区季节性积雪的性质与结构

中国内陆地区积雪分布十分广泛。根据西北地区大陆性气候条件下形成的“干寒型”积雪的特征 ,对中国天山和阿尔泰山山区的季节性积雪进行了观测与分析。结果表明 ,该区最大积雪深度达 15 2cm(1997) ,积雪层一般由新雪 (或表层凝结霜 )、细粒雪、中粒雪、粗粒雪、松散深霜、聚合深霜层和薄融冻冰层组成。与“湿暖型”积雪相比 ,“干寒型”积雪的性质具有密度小 (新雪的最小密度为 0 .0 4 g/cm3 )、含水率少 (隆冬期 <1% )、温度梯度大(最大可达 - 0 .5 2℃ /cm)、深霜发育层厚等特点 ,并且变质作用以热量交换和雪层压力变质作用为主。据中国科学院天山积雪与雪崩研究站 (43°2 0N ,84°2 9E ,海拔 1776m)的观测资料 ,中国内陆干旱区冬季积雪期雪面太阳辐射通量以负平衡为主 ,新雪雪面反射率达 96 % ,短波辐射在干寒型积雪中的穿透厚度达 2 8cm。春季积雪消融期 ,深霜层厚度可占整个积雪层厚度的 80 %。随着气温的升高 ,雪粒间的键链首先融化 ,使积雪变得松散 ,内聚力、抗压、抗拉和抗剪强度降低 ,积雪含水率也随之增大 ,整个积雪层趋于接近 0℃的等温现象 ,因此 ,春季天山、阿尔泰山等山地全层性湿雪崩频繁发生     

Effects of sea ice on breeding numbers and clutch size of a high arctic population of the common eider Somateria mollissima

The breeding performance of high-arctic bird populations shows large inter-annual variation that may be attributed to environmental variability, such as the timing of snow melt and break-up of the landfast sea ice that surrounds breeding colonies on islands and along coasts. In the Kongsfjorden area (79°N) on Svalbard, the number of breeding pairs and the average egg clutch size vary considerably among years. In this study, data on breeding performance are presented from 15 years in the period 1981–2000. The results showed that early break-up of sea ice in Kongsfjorden resulted in larger numbers of nests and larger average clutch sizes than late break-up. Also, individual islands with early break-up of sea ice in a particular year had more nests and larger clutch sizes compared to other islands surrounded by sea ice during a longer period in spring. Thus, the inter-annual variation in the break-up of sea ice in the fjord has considerable implications for the inter-annual variability of recruitment to the population. The results indicate that the effects of global warming on changes in the sea ice melting regime in coastal regions are important for the reproductive output of island-nesting eiders.     

Holocene lake sediment records of Arctic hydrology

Although paleoclimatic research in the Arctic has most often focused on variations in temperature, the Arctic has also experienced changes in hydrologic balance. Changes in Arctic precipitation and evaporation rates affects soils, permafrost, lakes, wetlands, rivers, ice and vegetation. Changes in Arctic soils, permafrost, runoff, and vegetation can influence global climate by changing atmospheric methane and carbon dioxide concentrations, thermohaline circulation, and high latitude albedo. Documenting past variations in Arctic hydrological conditions is important for understanding Arctic climate and the potential response and role of the Arctic in regards to future climate change. Methods for reconstructing past changes in Arctic hydrology from the stratigraphic, isotopic, geochemical and fossil records of lake sediments are being developed, refined and applied in a number of regions. These records suggest that hydrological variations in the Arctic have been regionally asynchronous, reflecting the impacts of different forcing factors including orbitally controlled insolation changes, changes in geography related to coastal emergence, ocean currents, sea ice extent, and atmospheric circulation. Despite considerable progress, much work remains to be done on the development of paleohydrological proxies and their application to the Arctic.     

State of the art and practice of pavement anti-icing and de-icing techniques

Pavement snow and icing are worldwide problems, but effective countermeasures are just beginning to be developed in China. The two most common snow and ice removal methods are mechanical clearance and chemical melting, and the advantages and disadvantages of each approach are discussed here, including environmental and structural damage caused by corrosive snow melting agents. New developments in chemical melting agents and mechanical equipment are discussed, and an overview of alternative thermal melting systems is presented, including the use of geothermy and non-geothermal heating systems utilizing solar energy, electricity, conductive pavement materials, and infrared/microwave applications. Strategic recommendations are made for continued enhancement of public safety in snow and ice conditions.     

Coastal cliff temperatures related to the potential for cryogenic weathering processes, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard

The main purpose of this research was to measure the near surface ground temperatures and describe the main characteristics of the thermal regime of a sheltered arctic coastal cliff. Measurements were made near Ny-Alesund, western Spitsbergen, Svalbard (79°N, 12°E), in a transect across sediments on top of a coastal cliff, in a 8 m high coastal cliff and across the beach below the cliff. Temperatures were logged hourly from August 1987 to August 1988. A local snow cover of 1–4 m on the beach had a strong influence on surface heat exchange, and hence the dynamics of the ground thermal regime. Late winter temperatures in the cliff and backshore sediments were stable and ranged from -5°C to -9°C. At the first snow melt events in spring there was a large heat flux into the ground due to the release of latent heat from refreezing of meltwater. The interpretation of the temperature records leads to a discussion on some aspects of cryogenic weathering. The snow-melt period in spring and summer may be a period of rock fracturing, based on the model of segregation ice growth at subzero temperatures. Steep temperature gradients and available meltwater at the surface favor water migration in the heavily fractured dolomitic limestone even at the low hydraulic conductivities expected at below zero temperatures.     

2013-2014年夏季南极普里兹湾海面反照率走航观测研究

在 2013—2014年南半球夏季时对南极普里兹湾海区的反照率进行了走航观测。利用安装于破冰船船头的高光谱辐照度计测量入射和反射的350—920 nm的太阳短波辐射, 基于此观测数据, 经计算得到了反照率。分析比较不同下垫面的反照率, 通过比较不同航段的观测结果, 得到了反照率的空间变化以及从海冰融化期至冻结初期的变化。不同下垫面的反照率差异较大, 有积雪覆盖的固定冰反照率最大, 有积雪覆盖的浮冰其次, 而积雪融化的浮冰则反照率有所降低。新冰的反照率较低, 有积雪覆盖的新冰反照率迅速增加。比较不同波段的反照率, 发现融化期由于积雪含水量较大, 增加了对近红外辐射的吸收, 降低了该波段的反照率。结合卫星遥感(AMSR-2)和人工观测的海冰密集度, 发现区域平均的反照率主要取决于海冰密集度, 然而也受下垫面物理特征影响, 例如2月底至3月初形成的新冰, 反照率只有老冰的1/3— 1/2。新冰形成, 会直接增加海冰密集度, 但由于其反照率较低, 对空间平均反照率的贡献较小。因此, 若要建立合理的冰水混合区的反照率参数化方案, 必须充分考虑海冰类型和冰面积雪的物理状态, 并考虑反照率的波长依赖性。     

Carbon fluxes in the Arctic Ocean—potential impact by climate change

Because of its ice cover the central Arctic Ocean has not been considered as a sink of atmospheric carbon dioxide. With recent observations of decreasing ice cover there is the potential for an increased air–sea carbon dioxide flux. Though the sensitivity of the carbon fluxes to a climate change can at present only be speculated, we know the responses to some of the forcing, including: melting of the sea ice cover make the air–sea flux operate towards equilibrium; increased temperature of the surface water will decrease the solubility and thus the air-sea flux; and an open ocean might increase primary production through better utilization of the nutrients.
The potential change in air-sea CO₂ fluxes caused by different forcing as a result of climate change is quantified based on measured data. If the sea ice melts, the top 100 m water column of the Eurasian Basin has, with the present conditions, a potential to take up close to 50 g C m⁻². The freshening of the surface water caused by a sea ice melt will increase the CO₂ solubility corresponding to an uptake of ∼ g C m⁻², while a temperature increase of 1°C in the same waters will out-gas 8 g C m⁻², and a utilization of all phosphate will increase primary production by 75 g C m⁻².     

东南极夏季中山站邻近固定冰DMS、DMSP分布初探

中国第30次南极科学考察期间,在中山站邻近固定冰区采集了两支海冰冰芯并首次分析其中的DMS、DMSP含量。结果表明,两支冰芯上层均含有较高浓度的DMSP+DMS,分别高达114.93及134.41 nmol·L-1。冰芯中DMS、DMSP+DMS浓度随深度的增加而递减。两支冰芯顶部DMSP+DMS高值的成因不同,冰芯1主要受藻类活动影响而产生DMSP+DMS高值,冰芯2主要是由于雪层及薄冰层阻碍,致使DMS在冰芯顶部聚集产生DMS高值。因为海冰底部较高生物量的海冰融化进入水体,所观测的剩余海冰底部Chl a、DMSP+DMS值均较低。在海冰的融化过程中,卤道内的卤水可发生垂向运输,致使冰芯中Chl a、DMSP+DMS的垂直分布有所不同。冰芯的Chl a、DMSP+DMS总量分别为6.79和10.20、51.83和88.41μmol·m-2,与前人研究结果比较,在海冰融化过程中,海冰中Chl a、DMSP+DMS总量变化的总趋势是递减的。     

The research of Polar sea ice and its role in climate change

As an important part of global climate system,the Polar sea ice is ef fecting on global climate changes through ocean surface radiation balance,mass balance,energy balance as well as the circulating of sea water temperature and salinity.Sea ice research has a centuries-old history.The many correlative sea ice projects were established through the extensive international cooperation d uring the period from the primary research of intensity and the bearing capacity of sea ice to the development of sea/ice/air coupled model.Based on these rese arches,the sea ice variety was combined with the global climate change.All res earch about sea ice includes:the physical properties and processes of sea ice a nd its snow cover,the ecosystem of sea ice regions,sea ice and upper snow albe do,mass balance of sea ice regions,sea ice and climate coupled model.The simu lation suggests that the both of the area and volume of polar sea ice would be r educed in next century.With the developing of the sea ice research,more scient ific issues are mentioned.Such as the interaction between sea ice and the other factors of global climate system,the seasonal and regional distribution of pol ar sea ice thickness,polar sea ice boundary and area variety trends,the growth and melt as well as their influencing factors,the role of the polynya and the sea/air interactions.We should give the best solutions to all of the issues in future sea ice studying.