Accuracy assessment of the MODIS 16-day albedo product for snow: comparisons with Greenland in situ measurements

Stroeve, Julienne; Box, Jason E.; Gao, Feng; Liang, Shunlin; Nolin, A. W.; Schaaf, Crystal B.

doi:10.1016/j.rse.2004.09.001

Cited by 245 publications

(264 citation statements)

References 22 publications

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“…[12] In the wet southeast and northwest, runoff is significantly smaller than in the dry west and northeast, because snowfall and runoff are negatively coupled through surface albedo: the albedo of glacier ice ($0.55) is lower than that of clean snow (0.70-0.85 [Stroeve et al, 2005]). In dry sunny regions, the shallow winter snow layer melts away quickly in spring, revealing the darker ice surface, which promotes radiation-driven ablation and runoff in the subsequent summer.…”

Section: Ablationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher surface mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet revealed by high‐resolution climate modeling

Ettema¹,

Broeke²,

Meijgaard³

et al. 2009

Geophysical Research Letters

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637

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High‐resolution (∼11 km) regional climate modeling shows total annual precipitation on the Greenland ice sheet for 1958–2007 to be up to 24% and surface mass balance up to 63% higher than previously thought. The largest differences occur in coastal southeast Greenland, where the much higher resolution facilitates capturing snow accumulation peaks that past five‐fold coarser resolution regional climate models missed. The surface mass balance trend over the full 1958–2007 period reveals the classic pattern expected in a warming climate, with increased snowfall in the interior and enhanced runoff from the marginal ablation zone. In the period 1990–2007, total runoff increased significantly, 3% per year. The absolute increase in runoff is especially pronounced in the southeast, where several outlet glaciers have recently accelerated. This detailed knowledge of Greenland's surface mass balance provides the foundation for estimating and predicting the overall mass balance and freshwater discharge of the ice sheet.

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Section: Ablationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Higher surface mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet revealed by high‐resolution climate modeling

Ettema¹,

Broeke²,

Meijgaard³

et al. 2009

Geophysical Research Letters

Self Cite

479

637

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…2.4) together with accumulation data from ice cores covering the same period. In both RACMO2 versions, Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) albedo products (Stroeve et al, 2005) are used to prescribe a background ice albedo, which is assumed to vary in space but to be constant in time. The background ice albedo field ( …”

Section: Racmo2 Simulations Set-upmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of the updated regional climate model RACMO2.3: summer snowfall impact on the Greenland Ice Sheet

et al. 2015

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Abstract. We discuss Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) surface mass balance (SMB) differences between the updated polar version of the RACMO climate model (RACMO2.3) and the previous version (RACMO2.1). Among other revisions, the updated model includes an adjusted rainfall-to-snowfall conversion that produces exclusively snowfall under freezing conditions; this especially favours snowfall in summer. Summer snowfall in the ablation zone of the GrIS has a pronounced effect on melt rates, affecting modelled GrIS SMB in two ways. By covering relatively dark ice with highly reflective fresh snow, these summer snowfalls have the potential to locally reduce melt rates in the ablation zone of the GrIS through the snow-albedo-melt feedback. At larger scales, SMB changes are driven by differences in orographic precipitation following a shift in large-scale circulation, in combination with enhanced moisture to precipitation conversion for warm to moderately cold conditions. A detailed comparison of model output with observations from automatic weather stations, ice cores and ablation stakes shows that the model update generally improves the simulated SMBelevation gradient as well as the representation of the surface energy balance, although significant biases remain.

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“…The satellite data are based on a 16-day integration period, with a time resolution of 8 days at a horizontal resolution of 0.05 • (∼ 5 km). The MODIS albedo product has been evaluated by Stroeve et al (2005); MODIS derived albedos are accurate for albedo values < 0.7 over Greenland and as such they are suitable for determining a background ice albedo field.…”

Section: Modis Background Ice Albedomentioning

confidence: 99%

Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model

et al. 2012

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Abstract. We present a sensitivity study of the surface mass balance (SMB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet, as modeled using a regional atmospheric climate model, to various parameter settings in the albedo scheme. The snow albedo scheme uses grain size as a prognostic variable and further depends on cloud cover, solar zenith angle and black carbon concentration. For the control experiment the overestimation of absorbed shortwave radiation (+6 %) at the K-transect (west Greenland) for the period 2004-2009 is considerably reduced compared to the previous density-dependent albedo scheme (+22 %). To simulate realistic snow albedo values, a small concentration of black carbon is needed, which has strongest impact on melt in the accumulation area. A background ice albedo field derived from MODIS imagery improves the agreement between the modeled and observed SMB gradient along the K-transect. The effect of enhanced meltwater retention and refreezing is a decrease of the albedo due to an increase in snow grain size. As a secondary effect of refreezing the snowpack is heated, enhancing melt and further lowering the albedo. Especially in a warmer climate this process is important, since it reduces the refreezing potential of the firn layer that covers the Greenland Ice Sheet.

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Accuracy assessment of the MODIS 16-day albedo product for snow: comparisons with Greenland in situ measurements

Cited by 245 publications

References 22 publications

Higher surface mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet revealed by high‐resolution climate modeling

Higher surface mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet revealed by high‐resolution climate modeling

Evaluation of the updated regional climate model RACMO2.3: summer snowfall impact on the Greenland Ice Sheet

Sensitivity of Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance to surface albedo parameterization: a study with a regional climate model

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