Absorption coefficients of ice from 250 to 400 nm

Abstract

Absorption coefficients for pure bubble‐free ice are a critical element in theoretical efforts to determine levels of ultraviolet radiation reaching marine biota in and under a sea ice cover. A 3‐m block of ice was used to measure these coefficients from 250 to 400 nm. Absorption coefficients were found to increase from 0.092m−1 at 400 nm to 0.665m−1 at 250 nm. Values in the ultraviolet were shown to be comparable to visible results from 580 to 720 nm. This suggests that existing data on the interaction of visible light with snow and sea ice can be used as a first‐order estimate of ultraviolet optical properties.