Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3

<p>This study investigates the sensitivity of modeled surface melt and subsurface heating on the Antarctic ice sheet to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO), version 2.3p3 (Rp3). We tune Rp3 to observations by performing sev...

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Main Authors: C. T. van Dalum, W. J. van de Berg, M. R. van den Broeke
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2022-03-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/1071/2022/tc-16-1071-2022.pdf
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author C. T. van Dalum
W. J. van de Berg
M. R. van den Broeke
author_facet C. T. van Dalum
W. J. van de Berg
M. R. van den Broeke
author_sort C. T. van Dalum
collection DOAJ
description <p>This study investigates the sensitivity of modeled surface melt and subsurface heating on the Antarctic ice sheet to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO), version 2.3p3 (Rp3). We tune Rp3 to observations by performing several sensitivity experiments and assess the impact on temperature and melt by incrementally changing one parameter at a time. When fully tuned, Rp3 compares well with in situ and remote sensing observations of surface mass and energy balance, melt, near-surface and (sub)surface temperature, albedo and snow grain specific surface area. Near-surface snow temperature is especially sensitive to the prescribed fresh snow specific surface area and fresh dry snow metamorphism. These processes, together with the refreezing water grain size and subsurface heating, are important for melt around the margins of the Antarctic ice sheet. Moreover, small changes in the albedo and the aforementioned processes can lead to an order of magnitude overestimation of melt, locally leading to runoff and a reduced surface mass balance.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-6e50cec2f046477eb96820e753ad68062022-12-21T21:23:32ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242022-03-01161071108910.5194/tc-16-1071-2022Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3C. T. van DalumW. J. van de BergM. R. van den Broeke<p>This study investigates the sensitivity of modeled surface melt and subsurface heating on the Antarctic ice sheet to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in the Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO), version 2.3p3 (Rp3). We tune Rp3 to observations by performing several sensitivity experiments and assess the impact on temperature and melt by incrementally changing one parameter at a time. When fully tuned, Rp3 compares well with in situ and remote sensing observations of surface mass and energy balance, melt, near-surface and (sub)surface temperature, albedo and snow grain specific surface area. Near-surface snow temperature is especially sensitive to the prescribed fresh snow specific surface area and fresh dry snow metamorphism. These processes, together with the refreezing water grain size and subsurface heating, are important for melt around the margins of the Antarctic ice sheet. Moreover, small changes in the albedo and the aforementioned processes can lead to an order of magnitude overestimation of melt, locally leading to runoff and a reduced surface mass balance.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/1071/2022/tc-16-1071-2022.pdf
spellingShingle C. T. van Dalum
W. J. van de Berg
M. R. van den Broeke
Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
The Cryosphere
title Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
title_full Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
title_fullStr Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
title_full_unstemmed Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
title_short Sensitivity of Antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in RACMO2.3p3
title_sort sensitivity of antarctic surface climate to a new spectral snow albedo and radiative transfer scheme in racmo2 3p3
url https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/16/1071/2022/tc-16-1071-2022.pdf
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