SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet
We present SEMIC, a Surface Energy and Mass balance model of Intermediate Complexity for snow- and ice-covered surfaces such as the Greenland ice sheet. SEMIC is fast enough for glacial cycle applications, making it a suitable replacement for simpler methods such as the positive degree day (PDD)...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2017-07-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
| Online Access: | https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/1519/2017/tc-11-1519-2017.pdf |
| _version_ | 1811222576967450624 |
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| author | M. Krapp M. Krapp A. Robinson A. Robinson A. Ganopolski |
| author_facet | M. Krapp M. Krapp A. Robinson A. Robinson A. Ganopolski |
| author_sort | M. Krapp |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present SEMIC, a Surface Energy and
Mass balance model of Intermediate Complexity for
snow- and ice-covered surfaces such as the Greenland ice sheet. SEMIC is fast
enough for glacial cycle applications, making it a suitable replacement for
simpler methods such as the positive degree day (PDD) method often used in ice
sheet modelling. Our model explicitly calculates the main processes involved
in the surface energy and mass balance, while maintaining a simple interface
and requiring minimal data input to drive it. In this novel approach, we parameterise
diurnal temperature variations in order to more realistically capture the
daily thaw–freeze cycles that characterise the ice sheet mass balance. We
show how to derive optimal model parameters for SEMIC specifically to
reproduce surface characteristics and day-to-day variations similar to the
regional climate model MAR (Modèle Atmosphérique Régional, version 2)
and its incorporated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT (Soil Ice Snow
Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer). A validation test shows that SEMIC simulates
future changes in surface temperature and surface mass balance in good
agreement with the more sophisticated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT
included in MAR. With this paper, we present a physically based surface model
to the ice sheet modelling community that is general enough to be used with
in situ observations, climate model, or reanalysis data, and that is at the
same time computationally fast enough for long-term integrations, such as
glacial cycles or future climate change scenarios. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:18:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f23a99190c3a4c47aed048258daec0fb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T08:18:15Z |
| publishDate | 2017-07-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Cryosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-f23a99190c3a4c47aed048258daec0fb2022-12-22T03:40:43ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242017-07-01111519153510.5194/tc-11-1519-2017SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheetM. Krapp0M. Krapp1A. Robinson2A. Robinson3A. Ganopolski4Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), P.O. Box 60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, GermanyDepartment of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, UKPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), P.O. Box 60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, GermanyDepartamento de Astrofísica y Ciencias de la Atmósfera, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainPotsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), P.O. Box 60 12 03, 14412 Potsdam, GermanyWe present SEMIC, a Surface Energy and Mass balance model of Intermediate Complexity for snow- and ice-covered surfaces such as the Greenland ice sheet. SEMIC is fast enough for glacial cycle applications, making it a suitable replacement for simpler methods such as the positive degree day (PDD) method often used in ice sheet modelling. Our model explicitly calculates the main processes involved in the surface energy and mass balance, while maintaining a simple interface and requiring minimal data input to drive it. In this novel approach, we parameterise diurnal temperature variations in order to more realistically capture the daily thaw–freeze cycles that characterise the ice sheet mass balance. We show how to derive optimal model parameters for SEMIC specifically to reproduce surface characteristics and day-to-day variations similar to the regional climate model MAR (Modèle Atmosphérique Régional, version 2) and its incorporated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT (Soil Ice Snow Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer). A validation test shows that SEMIC simulates future changes in surface temperature and surface mass balance in good agreement with the more sophisticated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT included in MAR. With this paper, we present a physically based surface model to the ice sheet modelling community that is general enough to be used with in situ observations, climate model, or reanalysis data, and that is at the same time computationally fast enough for long-term integrations, such as glacial cycles or future climate change scenarios.https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/1519/2017/tc-11-1519-2017.pdf |
| spellingShingle | M. Krapp M. Krapp A. Robinson A. Robinson A. Ganopolski SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet The Cryosphere |
| title | SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet |
| title_full | SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet |
| title_fullStr | SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet |
| title_full_unstemmed | SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet |
| title_short | SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet |
| title_sort | semic an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the greenland ice sheet |
| url | https://www.the-cryosphere.net/11/1519/2017/tc-11-1519-2017.pdf |
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