Calculation of solar-energy inputs into melt ponds

Abstract

The emphasis of this paper is on the partitioning of solar energy in an open plane-parallel melt pond with a Lambertian bottom. Spectral radiative-energy fluxes into the meltwater and underlying ice ocean layers are calculated analytically as a function of pond-bottom spectral albedo, pond depth and illumination condition Albedo of the pond bottom is reconstructed from data on pond albedo and depth. Results of calculations are presented for melt ponds of comparatively high and comparatively low reflectivity for a broad range of pond depths and for various illumination conditions. In the 350–700 nm spectral band, spectrally averaged pond albedo and solar-energy inputs are a function of pond-bottom albedo, pond depth and illumination condition. In the 700–2400 nm spectral band, the partitioning of solar energy in melt ponds depends on pond depth and illumination condition only. The effect of uncertainty in specifying pond-bottom albedo on total energy input into the water layer is relatively small compared to that on spectrally averaged pond albedo and total energy input into the ice-ocean layer.