Climatonomical modeling of temperature response to dust contamination of Antarctic snow surfaces

Abstract

Monthly averages of the surface energy balance are parameterized, resulting in a reduced solar forcing function and a non-dimensional time scale for computing the thermal response at the air/snow interface by numerical forward integration. The climatonomic transform of the balance equation serves to assess surface-temperature perturbations resulting from parameter modifications which simulate effects of dust contamination of a snow surface. Three climatonomical model experiments permit the following conclusions: (1) an albedo reduction increases primarily the summer temperatures; (2) an emissivity decrease raises the temperature of all months nearly uniformly; (3) the thermally induced feedback on submedium structure (if summer melting is instigated) increases the storage capacity and reduces spring and summer temperatures with compensating rise in autumn and winter temperature. Quantitative results are exemplified by assumed modification of conditions known to exist at the South Polar Plateau.