Surface Albedo of the Antarctic Sea Ice Zone

• DOI: 10.1175/jcli3489.1
• Publication Date: 2005-10-06T21:03:09Z
• Authors: Richard E. Brandt; Stephen G. Warren; Anthony P. Worby; Thomas C. Grenfell
• Keywords: Albedo (alchemy); Sea ice concentration; Ice-albedo feedback

Abstract In three ship-based field experiments, spectral albedos were measured at ultraviolet, visible, and near-infrared wavelengths for open water, grease ice, nilas, young “grey” grey-white first-year both with without snow cover. From the measurements, broadband are computed clear cloudy sky, total solar spectrum as well visible bands used in climate models, Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) channels. The all-wave vary from 0.07 water to 0.87 thick snow-covered ice under cloud. frequency distribution of types coverage all seasons is available project on Antarctic Sea Ice Processes Climate (ASPeCt). ASPeCt dataset contains routine hourly visual observations sea research supply ships several nations using a standard protocol. Ten thousand these observations, separated by minimum 6 nautical miles along voyage tracks, together each type assign an albedo observation, resulting “ice-only” function latitude five longitudinal sectors around Antarctica, four seasons. These combined 13 yr concentration estimates satellite passive microwave measurements obtain geographical seasonal variation average surface albedo. Most covered, even summer, so main determinant area-averaged fraction within pack.