14th Conference on Applied Climatology
15th Symposium on Global Change and Climate Variations

JP5.17

High-latitude cloud and surface radiative properties from space

Joannes Berque, SIO/Univ. of California, La Jolla, CA; and D. Lubin and R. Somerville

Several studies have demonstrated the far-reaching influence of the Antarctic climate. Here we present results from a space-borne study of the radiative properties of clouds and snow, which play a key role in the energy budget of Antarctica. A significant variability in snow-grain size is observed, apparantly in relation to regional meteorology. Remote sensing of clouds over snow can be significantly improved by taking this variability into account. The change in near-infrared albedo also results in large changes in absorbed solar radiation, suggesting a potentially important role in high latitude climate modelling.

Joint Poster Session 5, Climate Variability (JOINT with THE 15TH SYMPOSIUM ON GLOBAL CHANGE AND CLIMATE VARIATIONS AND THE 14TH CONFERENCE ON APPLIED CLIMATOLOGY; Hall 4AB)
Wednesday, 14 January 2004, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, Hall 4AB

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