Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling
Pellicciotti F, Raschle T, Huerlimann T, Carenzo M, Burlando P. 2011. Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling. Journal of Glaciology. 57(202), 367–381.
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https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796406013
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Journal Article
| Published
| English
Scopus indexed
Author
Pellicciotti, FrancescaISTA ;
Raschle, Thomas;
Huerlimann, Thomas;
Carenzo, Marco;
Burlando, Paolo
Corresponding author has ISTA affiliation
Abstract
We explore the robustness and transferability of parameterizations of cloud radiative forcing used in glacier melt models at two sites in the Swiss Alps. We also look at the rationale behind some of the most commonly used approaches, and explore the relationship between cloud transmittance and several standard meteorological variables. The 2 m air-temperature diurnal range is the best predictor of variations in cloud transmittance. However, linear and exponential parameterizations can only explain 30–50% of the observed variance in computed cloud transmittance factors. We examine the impact of modelled cloud transmittance factors on both solar radiation and ablation rates computed with an enhanced temperature-index model. The melt model performance decreases when modelled radiation is used, the reduction being due to an underestimation of incoming solar radiation on clear-sky days. The model works well under overcast conditions. We also seek alternatives to the use of in situ ground data. However, outputs from an atmospheric model (2.2 km horizontal resolution) do not seem to provide an alternative to the parameterizations of cloud radiative forcing based on observations of air temperature at glacier automatic weather stations. Conversely, the correct definition of overcast conditions is important.
Publishing Year
Date Published
2011-03-01
Journal Title
Journal of Glaciology
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Volume
57
Issue
202
Page
367-381
ISSN
eISSN
IST-REx-ID
Cite this
Pellicciotti F, Raschle T, Huerlimann T, Carenzo M, Burlando P. Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling. Journal of Glaciology. 2011;57(202):367-381. doi:10.3189/002214311796406013
Pellicciotti, F., Raschle, T., Huerlimann, T., Carenzo, M., & Burlando, P. (2011). Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling. Journal of Glaciology. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796406013
Pellicciotti, Francesca, Thomas Raschle, Thomas Huerlimann, Marco Carenzo, and Paolo Burlando. “Transmission of Solar Radiation through Clouds on Melting Glaciers: A Comparison of Parameterizations and Their Impact on Melt Modelling.” Journal of Glaciology. Cambridge University Press, 2011. https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311796406013.
F. Pellicciotti, T. Raschle, T. Huerlimann, M. Carenzo, and P. Burlando, “Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling,” Journal of Glaciology, vol. 57, no. 202. Cambridge University Press, pp. 367–381, 2011.
Pellicciotti F, Raschle T, Huerlimann T, Carenzo M, Burlando P. 2011. Transmission of solar radiation through clouds on melting glaciers: A comparison of parameterizations and their impact on melt modelling. Journal of Glaciology. 57(202), 367–381.
Pellicciotti, Francesca, et al. “Transmission of Solar Radiation through Clouds on Melting Glaciers: A Comparison of Parameterizations and Their Impact on Melt Modelling.” Journal of Glaciology, vol. 57, no. 202, Cambridge University Press, 2011, pp. 367–81, doi:10.3189/002214311796406013.
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