Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet

<p>Radiative transfer in snow and ice is often not modeled explicitly in regional climate models. In this study, we evaluate a new englacial radiative transfer scheme and assess the surface mass and energy budget for the Greenland ice sheet in the latest version of the regional climate model R...

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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 2021-04-01
Series:The Cryosphere
Online Access:https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/1823/2021/tc-15-1823-2021.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>Radiative transfer in snow and ice is often not modeled explicitly in regional climate models. In this study, we evaluate a new englacial radiative transfer scheme and assess the surface mass and energy budget for the Greenland ice sheet in the latest version of the regional climate model RACMO2, version 2.3p3. We also evaluate the modeled (sub)surface temperature and melt, as radiation penetration now enables internal heating. The results are compared to the previous model version and are evaluated against stake measurements and automatic weather station data of the K-transect and PROMICE projects. In addition, subsurface snow temperature profiles are compared at the K-transect, Summit, and southeast Greenland. The surface mass balance is in good agreement with observations, with a mean bias of <span class="inline-formula">−</span>31 mm w.e. yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.67 %), and only changes considerably with respect to the previous RACMO2 version around the ice margins and near the percolation zone. Melt and refreezing, on the other hand, are changed more substantially in various regions due to the changed albedo representation, subsurface energy absorption, and meltwater percolation. Internal heating leads to higher snow temperatures in summer, in agreement with observations, and introduces a shallow layer of subsurface melt. Hence, this study shows the consequences and necessity of radiative transfer in snow and ice for regional climate modeling of the Greenland ice sheet.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-9dd98e3d1f264df6a3b6de46a82442a02022-12-21T19:57:29ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242021-04-01151823184410.5194/tc-15-1823-2021Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheetC. T. van DalumW. J. van de BergM. R. van den Broeke<p>Radiative transfer in snow and ice is often not modeled explicitly in regional climate models. In this study, we evaluate a new englacial radiative transfer scheme and assess the surface mass and energy budget for the Greenland ice sheet in the latest version of the regional climate model RACMO2, version 2.3p3. We also evaluate the modeled (sub)surface temperature and melt, as radiation penetration now enables internal heating. The results are compared to the previous model version and are evaluated against stake measurements and automatic weather station data of the K-transect and PROMICE projects. In addition, subsurface snow temperature profiles are compared at the K-transect, Summit, and southeast Greenland. The surface mass balance is in good agreement with observations, with a mean bias of <span class="inline-formula">−</span>31 mm w.e. yr<span class="inline-formula"><sup>−1</sup></span> (<span class="inline-formula">−</span>2.67 %), and only changes considerably with respect to the previous RACMO2 version around the ice margins and near the percolation zone. Melt and refreezing, on the other hand, are changed more substantially in various regions due to the changed albedo representation, subsurface energy absorption, and meltwater percolation. Internal heating leads to higher snow temperatures in summer, in agreement with observations, and introduces a shallow layer of subsurface melt. Hence, this study shows the consequences and necessity of radiative transfer in snow and ice for regional climate modeling of the Greenland ice sheet.</p>https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/1823/2021/tc-15-1823-2021.pdf
spellingShingle C. T. van Dalum
W. J. van de Berg
M. R. van den Broeke
Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
The Cryosphere
title Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
title_full Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
title_fullStr Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
title_full_unstemmed Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
title_short Impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in RACMO2.3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the Greenland ice sheet
title_sort impact of updated radiative transfer scheme in snow and ice in racmo2 3p3 on the surface mass and energy budget of the greenland ice sheet
url https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/15/1823/2021/tc-15-1823-2021.pdf
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