CHARACTERISTICS OF VARIATION IN SURFACE ALBEDO AND SNOW FORCING OVER THE TIBETAN PLATEAU

The combination of field experiments and satellite observations is the fundamental way to understand the characteristics of spatial-temporal variation in surface albedo over the Tibetan (Qinghai-Xizang) Plateau. Under the condition without snow cover, the relatively regular annual variation cycle of the surface albedo can be expressed by an empirical formula. The effect of snow cover on the surface albedo in winter can be expressed by introducing two variables of snow forcing and sensitivity parameter. The existing satellite retrieved results of surface albedo may provide the digital grid data for describing the geographical distribution. However, some satellite retrieved surface albedos available over the Tibetan Plateau are obviously too low in winter. Taking the satellite derived results in summer as the background field representative of geographical distribution and combining the empirical formula of annual cycle based on the surface observations, a dynamic model of surface albedo is developed for the need of modeling the climatic influence of the underlying surface forcing of the Tibetan Plateau.