Snow and sea ice thermodynamics in the Arctic:Model validation and sensitivity study against SHEBA data

Evolution of the Arctic sea ice and its snow cover during the SHEBA year were simulated by applying a high-resolution thermodynamic snow/ice model (HIGHTSI).Attention was paid to the impact of albedo on snow and sea ice mass balance,effect of snow on total ice mass balance,and the model vertical resolution. The SHEBA annual simulation was made applying the best possible external forcing data set created by the Sea Ice Model Intercomparison Project.The HIGHTSI control run reasonably reproduced the observed snow and ice thickness.A number of albedo schemes were incorporated into HIGHTSI to study the feedback processes between the albedo and snow and ice thickness.The snow thickness turned out to be an essential variable in the albedo parameterization.Albedo schemes dependent on the surface temperature were liable to excessive positive feedback effects generated by errors in the modelled surface temperature.The superimposed ice formation should be taken into account for the annual Arctic sea ice mass balance.     

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。     

Ablation Rate Estimates over the Greenland Ice Sheet from Microwave Radiometric Data

Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data are used to estimate the annual melt duration (number of days with melt) for elevation transects over the Greenland ice sheet during the period from 1979‐1986. The annual melt duration is used to estimate the number of positive degree days (PDDs), which are used in a degree‐day mass balance model to determine ablation rates and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The annual melt duration along two transects estimated with SMMR data compares favorably, particularly above the ELA, to melt duration calculated from surface temperature data for the same locations. The mass balance estimates and ELA locations along eight transects agree reasonably well with measurements reported in previous studies using surface temperature data. ELAs were within 10m of published values along two transects, and the root mean square error of SMMR‐derived versus surface mass balance measurements was 43mm yr^?1. The estimated error in SMMR‐derived ablation is between ±15% and ±50%, but could be reduced substantially by using daily microwave data available from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I). This research shows the feasibility of using passive microwave data to estimate the ablation rate in order to determine ELA, which can be used to monitor the mass balance of the ice sheet.     

夏季北冰洋浮冰-水道热力学特征现场观测研究

中国第3次北极科学考察期间首次开展了浮冰-水道热力平衡的现场观测。观测结果表明,观测期间气温低于0°C,调查区域正从消融期向生长期过渡,至8月23日水道逐渐封冻。之后表面薄冰的反照率为0.46(±0.03),水道内水温垂向梯度逐渐减小,水道内和冰底的水温逐渐下降。至8月底,浮冰底部的生消达到平衡;侧部仍处于融冰期,对应的平均融解潜热通量为19(±6) W/m2;对观测区的海冰而言,至8月下旬,相对于底部和表面的生消,侧部融化对其物质平衡贡献较大。     

Measurement and Estimative Models of Glacier Mass Balance in China

Attributed to high altitude and inland location, the glaciers in China are characterized by very low temperature. The non-negligible contribution of up to 25% of superimposed ice to the net balance has been taken into account in the mass budget calculation. So too has the internal the accumulation in the infiltration zone of the accumulation area.
The prevailing monsoon climate delivers most of the annual precipitation over glaciated areas of China in the summer, making the major accumulation on those glaciers coincide with the ablation period. Therefore, the annual mass balance should be calculated neither by giving the place of annual accumulation to winter balance, nor annual ablation to summer balance. Rather, it is better done by net accumulation and net ablation during the year. In order to get the annual accumulation and the annual ablation on a glacier, the summer precipitation should be measured at the same time.
Frequent snowfall in the summer season results in intensive fluctuation of surface albedo. This means that, for lack of data on the extremes of ablation, reconstruction of mass balance is unsatisfactory when based on the relationships of accumulation and ablation to precipitation and temperature. The establishment of models, either on the relationship of multi-year mass balance to the equilibrium line and the mass balance gradient of a glacier in steady-state, or on the maximum entropy principle and the hydrometeorological data, helps to estimate the multi-year mass balance of the glacierized area in a mountain range or drainage basin.     

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.     

南极中山站附近海域固定冰的夏季变化

利用中国第21、22次南极科学考察(2004/2005、2005/2006)对中山站附近海域固定冰物理特性系统观测的结果,特别是依据其中2005年11月下旬至2006年1月下旬的现场实测数据详细分析了中山站附近海域固定冰消融过程物理性质的变化特征。结果表明:此区域固定冰从11月下旬开始消融,融冰期为62 d;同时,融冰期冰下水体温度迅速升高;在不断增强的太阳短波辐射和海洋热通量作用下,海冰温度也逐渐上升,并出现"相对冷中间层";热力和动力外强迫作用下,2005年12月18日-2006年1月14日期间此区域固定冰边缘线后退了20.9 km;另外,2005年12月18日固定冰边缘区走航冰厚监测结果还表明,边缘区海冰厚度在向岸方向有明显的增加趋势,并且随着接近海岸海冰厚度的离散程度逐渐减小。     

Summer fast ice evolution off Zhongshan Station,Antarctica

Based on the field data acquired in the program of fast ice observation off Zhongshan Station,Prydz Bay,East Antarctica during the austral summer 2005/ 2006,physical properties evolution of fast ice during the ice ablation season is ana- lyzed in detail.Results show that the annual maximum ice thickness in 2005 occurred in later November,and then ice started to melt,and the ablation duration was 62 days;sea water under the ice became warmer synchronously;corresponding to the warming sea ice temperature,a"relative cold mid-layer"appeared in sea ice;the fast ice marginal line recoiled back to the shore observably,and the recoil distance was 20.9 km from 18 December 2005 through 14 January 2006.In addition,based on the data of sea ice thickness survey along the investigation course of MV Xuelong on December 18 of 2005,the ice thickness distribution paten in the marginal ice zone have been described:sea ice thickness increased,but the diversity of floe ice thick- ness decreased from open water to fast ice zone distinctly.     

Snow accumulation, melt, mass loss, and the near-surface ice temperature structure of Irenebreen, Svalbard

This study examines the mass balance, accumulation, melt, and near-surface ice thermal structure of Irenebreen, a 4.1 km² glacier located in northwest Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Traditional glaciological mass balance measurements by stake readings and snow surveying have been conducted annually at the glacier since 2002, yielding a mean annual net mass balance of −65 cm w.e. for the period 2002–2009. In 2009, the annual mass balance of Irenebreen was −63 cm w.e. despite above-average snow accumulation in winter. The near-surface ice temperature in the accumulation area was investigated with automatic borehole thermistors. The mean annual surface ice temperatures (September–August) of the accumulation area were −3.7 °C at 1 m depth and −3.3 °C at 10 m depth. Irenebreen is potentially polythermal, with cold ice and a temperate surface layer during summer. This temperate surface layer is influenced by seasonal changes in temperature. In winter, the temperature of all the ice is below the melting point and temperate layers are probably present in basal sections of the glacier. This supposition is supported by the presence of icings in the forefield of Irenebreen.     

Ablation Rate Estimates over the Greenland Ice Sheet from Microwave Radiometric Data

Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data are used to estimate the annual melt duration (number of days with melt) for elevation transects over the Greenland ice sheet during the period from 1979-1986. The annual melt duration is used to estimate the number of positive degree days (PDDs), which are used in a degree-day mass balance model to determine ablation rates and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The annual melt duration along two transects estimated with SMMR data compares favorably, particularly above the ELA, to melt duration calculated from surface temperature data for the same locations. The mass balance estimates and ELA locations along eight transects agree reasonably well with measurements reported in previous studies using surface temperature data. ELAs were within 10m of published values along two transects, and the root mean square error of SMMR-derived versus surface mass balance measurements was 43mm yr^?1. The estimated error in SMMR-derived ablation is between ±15% and ±50%, but could be reduced substantially by using daily microwave data available from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I). This research shows the feasibility of using passive microwave data to estimate the ablation rate in order to determine ELA, which can be used to monitor the mass balance of the ice sheet.     

Mass Balance Measurements on the Lemon Creek Glacier, Juneau Icefield, Alaska 1953–1998

Annual balance measurements on the Lemon Creek Glacier, Alaska conducted by the Juneau Icefield Research Program (JIRP) from 1953 through 1998 provide a continuous 46 year record. This is one of the nine American glaciers selected in a global monitoring network during the International Geophysical year, 1957/58. These data have been acquired primarily by employing consistent ground methods, conducted on similar annual dates and calculated using comparable methodology. The results have been until now fairly precise, but of uncertain accuracy. An adjunct comparison of topographic surface maps of the glacier made in 1957 and 32 years later in 1989 provides a rough determination of glacier surface elevation changes which are clearly of less precision than the compilation of annual ground data. Airborne surface profiling in 1995, and global positioning system leveling transects in 1996–1998 update the record of surface elevation changes over the past decade. The mean glacier ice thickness reductions suggested by these methods from 1957–1989, from 1957–1995 and from 1957–1998 are ?13.2 m, ?16.4 m, and ?21.7 m, respectively. It is of interest that the geodetic interpretations agree fairly well with the trend of sequential balances from ground-level stratigraphic measurements. To date, however, the infrequent mapping methods in this study have yielded specific balances averaging between 5 and 11% less than those resulting from our annual on-site glaciological monitoring. For future studies this can be an important factor. The ground data are, therefore, the ones in which we have most confidence. These show cumulative ice losses of ?13.9 m (12.7 m water equivalent w.e.) from 1957–1989, of ?19.0 m (?17.1 m w.e.) from 1957–1995, of ?24.4 m (22 m w.e.) from 1957–1998, and ?24.7 m (22.2 m w.e.) for the total cumulative loss over the full 46 years between 1953 and 1998. Although the balance trend has been increasingly negative it averages ?0.48 m/a in w.e. or 0.52 m of ice loss per year. To refine the reliability of density determinations in this data set the effects of internal accumulation from refrozen meltwater producing diagenetic ice structures in the annual firnpack have been taken into account. An unusual dearth of such structures within the 1997/98 firnpack provided a unique opportunity to facilitate application of the probing technique over broad areas of the nv. This added to our ground truth and verified accuracy of the test-pit measurements used in these long-term mass balance computations. The glacier's continuing negative mass balance has fueled a terminal retreat of 800 m during the 1953–1998 period. The annual balance trend indicates that despite a higher mean elevation and a higher elevation terminus from thinning and retreat, mean annual balance has been strongly negative since 1977 (?0.78 m/a w.e.). Dramatically increased negative mass balances have occurred in the 1990s, with 1996 and 1997 being the only years on record with no retained accumulation since field observations were initiated in the glacier source areas in 1948.     

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.     

Measurements and Models of the Mass Balance of Hintereisferner

This paper summarizes the methods applied to determine the mass balance of Hintereisferner and several other glaciers in the Tyrolean Alps since 1952. On an annual basis the direct glaciological method was applied with fixed date measurements on 10–15 accumulation pits and 30–90 ablation stakes on 9 km².
Indirect mass balance determination from equilibrium line altitude, accumulation area ratios or representative stakes, yield fair results and some exceptions could be related to anomalous meteorological conditions.
Monthly or more frequent stake readings supplied time series of ablation at various altitudes and slope aspects that served as basis for the calibration of energy and mass balance models. Of various models developed, two are presented in this paper. Both are based on degree days, one using daily values from a valley station to predict the mean annual balance of the entire glacier, while the other calculates day-to-day changes at 50-m grid points on the glacier.
The geodetic method has been applied for longer periods and yields results consistent with those of the glaciological method. The balance velocity calculated from recent ice thickness soundings and accumulation measurements is significantly less than observed velocity.     

ANNUAL ACCUMULATION OVER THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET INTERPOLATED FROM HISTORICAL AND NEWLY COMPILED OBSERVATION DATA

The estimation of ice/snow accumulation is of great significance in quantifying the mass balance of ice sheets and variation in water resources. Improving the accuracy and reducing uncertainty has been a challenge for the estimation of annual accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet. In this study, we kriged and analyzed the spatial pattern of accumulation based on an observation data series including 315 points used in a recent research, plus 101 ice cores and snow pits and newly compiled 23 coastal weather station data. The estimated annual accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet is 31.2 g cm^?2 yr^?1, with a standard error of 0.9 g cm^?2 yr^?1. The main differences between the improved map developed in this study and the recently published accumulation maps are in the coastal areas, especially southeast and southwest regions. The analysis of accumulations versus elevation reveals the distribution patterns of accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet.     

The Impact Of Extreme Summer Melt on Net Accumulation of an Avalanche Fed Glacier,as Determined by Ground‐Penetrating Radar

Glacier mass balance is more sensitive to warming than cooling, but feedbacks related to the exposure of previously buried firn and ice in very warm years is not generally considered in sensitivity studies. A ground‐penetrating radar survey in the accumulation area of Rolleston Glacier, New Zealand shows that five years of previous net accumulation was removed by melt from parts of the glacier above the long‐term equilibrium line altitude during a single negative mass balance year. Rolleston Glacier receives a large amount of accumulation from snow avalanches, which may temporarily buffer it from climate warming by providing additional mass that has accumulated at higher elevations, effectively increasing the elevation range of the glacier. However, glaciers reliant on avalanche input may have high sensitivity to climatic variations because the extra mass is concentrated on a small part of the glacier, and small variations in avalanche input could have a large impact on overall glacier accumulation. Further research is needed to better estimate the amount and spatial distribution of accumulation by avalanche in order to quantify the climate sensitivity of small avalanche‐fed glaciers.     

MODIS Derived Equilibrium Line Altitude Estimates for Purogangri Ice Cap,Tibetan Plateau,and their Relation to Climatic Predictors (2001–2012)

The variation of the equilibrium line altitude can be used as an indicator for glacier mass balance variability. Snow lines at the end of the ablation period are suitable proxies for the annual equilibrium line altitude on glaciers. We investigate snow lines at Purogangri ice cap on the central Plateau in order to study the interannual variability of glacier mass balance. Datasets of the daily Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer snow product MOD10A1 were used to infer transient snow line variability during 2001–2012 and to derive regional‐scale, annual equilibrium line altitude. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer snow albedo embedded within the snow product was compared with high‐resolution Landsat imagery. An albedo threshold was established to differentiate between ice and snow and the 13th percentile of the altitudes of snow‐covered pixels was chosen to represent the snow line altitude. The second maximum of the snow line altitudes in the ablation period was taken as a proxy for the annual equilibrium line altitude. A linear correlation analysis was carried out (1) between interannual variability of the equilibrium line altitude at Purogangri ice cap and various climate elements derived from the High Asia Reanalysis, and (2) between interannual variability of the equilibrium line altitude and the circulation indices North Atlantic Oscillation and Indian Summer Monsoon. Results suggest that air temperature and meridional wind speed above ground in July, as well as the lower tropospheric zonal wind in June and August play a crucial role in the development of the annual equilibrium line altitude.     

南极洲乔治王岛柯林斯冰帽冰芯层位和密度变化的一般特征

柯林斯冰帽两支冰芯层位记录证实了该冰帽主冰穹顶部（海拔约７００ｍ）属暖渗浸带，小冰穹顶部（海拔约２５０ｍ）属渗浸带。雪、冰的层位分布和密度变化包含了一定的测年信息。主冰穹顶冰芯密度－深度曲线在表层呈现韵律性变化，与层位记录中的融化冻结现象相对应，据此粗略划分年层，断定当地年积累雪层厚度为３－３．５ｍ，折合水当量１６５０－１９２５ｋｇ／ｍ２ａ，年平均积累速率约为２．０ｍ／ａ（冰当量）。主冰穹顶成冰深度为３８－３９ｍ，此深度以上密度自上而下缓慢增加，但以下由于含水层的出现，密度迅速升高，在５－６ｍ区间达到９００ｋｇ／ｍ３。小冰穹冰芯除表层外，密度基本在８００－９００ｋｇ／ｍ３之间，冰芯中雪冰互层，存在污化面，４０ｍ以下发现很厚的火山灰沉积物。小冰穹平均年积累率约为０．７ｍ／ａ（冰当量），成冰深度７－８ｍ，成冰年限为１０年左右     

Approaches to Modelling the Surface Albedo of a High Arctic Glacier

Broadband surface albedo measurements, made during the summer melt season at three weather stations on John Evans Glacier (79°40 ' N, 74°00 ' W), varied strongly with the solar zenith angle ( θ _z ). Tests were carried out to assess the impact of diurnal variations in surface albedo on seasonal net shortwave radiation ( K ^* ) totals. Removing the diurnal signal from albedo measurements by daily averaging of hourly measurements, or by applying midday measurements to all hours of the day, changed K ^* by up to 16%. Ignoring measurements made at θ _z & 75°, to account for measurement (cosine) error at high θ _z , decreased K ^* by between 5 and 18%. Given the sensitivity of K ^* to diurnal patterns in surface albedo, experiments were carried out with two albedo models. One model accounted for albedo variations with θ _z and one did not. The model driven by θ _z , when implemented within a surface energy balance model for John Evans Glacier, produced better melt estimates. This suggests that diurnal variations in surface albedo should be accounted for in energy balance models of glacier melt.     

The thermal structure of Hansbreen, a tidewater glacier in southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Ice temperature measurements were taken from three shallow and five deep (to bedrock) boreholes on Hansbreen, Svalbard, in selected years between 1988 and 1994. In general, results show a subpolar, polythermal structure. The glacier accumulation zone is of warm ice within the entire vertical profile except the uppermost layer of seasonal temperature fluctuations where there is an upper cold ice layer in the ablation zone which varies in thickness and may even be absent in the western lateral part. The upper layer of cold ice thins along the glacier centre-line from the equilibrium line altitude down to the glacier front. The depth of the pressure melting, indicating the base of the cold ice layer, was defined at the borehole measurement sites but was not manifested as an internal reflection horizon using multi-frequency radar methods. The isotherm lies about 20 m above a radar internal reflecting horizon near the equilibrium line altitude and about 40 m above it in the frontal part of the glacier. The internal reflection horizon almost certainly reflects the high water content within temperate ice and not the cold/temperate ice interface. At 10 m depth, the temperatures are 2–3°C higher than the calculated mean annual air temperatures, demonstrating the importance of meltwater refreezing on the release of latent heat.     

Crystals and fabrics analysis of an Arctic thermal growth multi-year ice sample

One of sea ice core samples was taken from Arctic by the First Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition Team in 1999. 20 vertical and 2 horizontal ice sections were cut out of the ice core sample 2.22 m in length, which covered the ice sheet from surface to bottom except losses for during sampling and section cutting. From the observation and analysis of the fabrics and crystals along the depth of the ice core sample, followings were found. Whole ice sheet consists of columnar, refrozen clastic pieces, granular, columnar, refrozen clastic pieces, granular, columnar and refrozen clastic pieces. This indicates that the ice core sample was 3-year old, and the ice sheet surface thawed and the melt water flowed into ice sheet during summer. Hence, the annual energy balance in Arctic can be determined by the ice sheet surface thawing in summer, and bottom growth in winter. The thickness of the ice sheet is kept constantly at a certain position based on the corresponding climate and ocean conditions; A new