The effect of sea ice on the solar energy budget in the atmosphere- sea ice-ocean system: a model study

Jin Zhonghai Jin, K. Stamnes, W. F. Weeks, Tsay Si-Chee Tsay

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72 Scopus citations

Abstract

A coupled one-dimensional multilayer and multistream radiative transfer model has been developed and applied to the study of radiative interactions in the atmosphere, sea ice, and ocean system. The solar radiation spectrum (0.25 μm-4.0 μm) is divided into 24 spectral bands to account adequately for gaseous absorption in the atmosphere. The results show that for bare ice it is the scattering, determined by air bubbles and brine pockets, in just a few centimeters of the top layer of the ice that plays the most important role in the solar energy absorption and partitioning in the entire system. Ice thickness is important to the energy distribution only when the ice is thin, while the absorption in the atmosphere is not sensitive to ice thickness variations, nor is the total absorption in the entire system once the ice thickness exceeds about 70 cm. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25,281-25,294
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research
Volume99
Issue numberC12
StatePublished - 1994

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