Radiation Interactions Between Cloud and Snow and Ice Masses

Abstract

Solar radiation is one of the most important meteorological components in the heat balance of the glaciers and other snow and ice masses. Observed solar radiation values are generally discussed in relation to altitude, landform, geographical position of the observation point and cloud. However, as surface of snow and ice masses possess high albedo, the surface global solar radiation on snow and ice masses usually shows higher value than surrounding ground which is low albedo, due to multiple reflection between surface and cloud. This is an important factor in determination of solar radiation on snow and ice masses. When this process is prominent, surface global solar radiation will depend on the size of the snow and ice masses. This process will be investigated in two parts. One is the presentation of radiation data taken on an ice cap and surrounding ground in the northwestern Tibetan plateau. Observations show that mean daily global solar radiation was 26% higher on the ice cap than on the ground: especially on cloudy days this value exceeded 50%. The second is collaboration of radiation data on snow and ice masses of previous studies: those data will be discussed from the above point of view. The size effect of snow and ice masses on surface solar radiation will be stressed.