What Controls the Strength of Snow-Albedo Feedback?

• DOI: 10.1175/jcli4186.1
• Publication Date: 2007-08-16T18:29:12Z
• Authors: Xin Qu; Alex Hall
• Keywords: Albedo (alchemy); Snow field

Abstract The strength of snow-albedo feedback (SAF) in transient climate change simulations the Fourth Assessment Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change is generally determined by surface-albedo decrease associated with a loss snow cover rather than reduction albedo due to metamorphosis warming climate. large intermodel spread SAF likewise attributable mostly component. this component turn correspondingly mean effective albedo. Models albedos have contrast between snow-covered and snow-free regions exhibit when decreases. without explicit treatment vegetation canopy their calculations typically high strong SAF, often stronger observed. In models treatment, completely surfaces lower weaker authors speculate that these either or present are too low, shields excessively. Detailed observations surface representative sampling would therefore be extremely useful constraining parameterizations reducing next generation models.