The surface energy balance of Antarctic snow and blue ice

A detailed meteorological experiment was carried out in the vicinity of a blue-ice area in the Heimefrontfjella, Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica, during the austral summer of 1992/93. Since not all the surface fluxes could be measured directly, the use of a model was necessary. The surface energy balance was evaluated at four locations: one on blue ice, and three on snow. Differences are due mainly to the fact that ice has a lower albedo (0.56) than snow (0.80). Surface temperatures, snow subsurface temperatures, and ice sublimation rates evaluated with the model compare well with the measurements, which yields confidence in the surface energy balance results. The latent heat flux is particularly important since the spatial variability of the sublimation rates largely influences the extent of a blue-ice area. This study helps to explain the heat exchange processes over Antarctic surfaces. -from Authors