Radiation penetration on Antarctic snow

Abstract

The relevance of incorporating radiation penetration into the energy balance model is shown by Kuipers Munneke and others (2009). This thesis uses the method proposed by Brandt and Warren (1993) to investigate the effects of radiation penetration on the melt of snow on the Antarctic ice sheet. By first calibrating the model for one Antarctic weather station the effects of radiation penetration are quantified by analyzing predicted snow temperatures and melt for several Antarctic weather stations. There is found that the model slightly improves when activating radiation penetration, although it is unclear if this is due to radiation penetration or limitations of the model. Using the results, suggestions are made for further research on the effects of radiation penetration.