Collaborative Research on Sunlight and the Arctic Atmosphere-Ice-Ocean System

太阳辐射的年周期是北极系统的一个重要特征。冬季缺乏阳光和夏季日照时间长，控制着地表热量收支的季节性循环，构成陆地和海洋生态系统，推动碳的季节性积累和固存，并在主要大气成分的循环中发挥重要作用。北极系统内太阳辐射分布的最重要方面之一是大气-海冰-海洋系统（AIOS）对太阳光的反射、吸收和透射。这项研究的总体目标是提高我们对太阳辐射在北极AIOS中所起作用的理解，并提高我们预测未来作用的能力。这将通过综合和综合的办法来实现。将从广泛的来源收集数据，包括实验室研究、实地实验和卫星观测。误差分析和数据差距评估将是综合活动的一个核心组成部分。过程模型、冰-海模型和再分析产品将用于填补数据集的空白。这项综合工作的主要成果将是对太阳辐射与AIOS相互作用的20年泛北极描述。特别是，我们将确定从250到2500 nm的入射太阳能，反射太阳能，以及在雪，海冰和上层海洋中吸收的太阳能的光谱值。数值将使用25 x25公里等面积可缩放地球网格，从1987年至2007年按月计算。还将详细研究通过白令海峡流入北极西部的（太阳）热量，因为在北极的这一部分观测到了冰的范围和厚度的最大变化。这一拟议的北极AIOS太阳辐射综合将为北极系统的更大综合提供几个关键要素，包括：评估与观测到的冰盖和冰质量平衡变化有关的北冰洋太阳能输入的最近变化;通过冰-冰反馈评估极地放大;关于可用于推动冰下和海洋上层环境生物生产的太阳能分布的信息;以及对气候变化模型预测的太阳能分布的潜在变化和影响的深入了解。

AbstractThe distinct annual cycle of solar radiation is a defining feature of the Arctic system. The lack of sunlight in winter and the long daylight hours in summer control the seasonal cycle of the surface heat budget, structure both terrestrial and marine ecosystems, drive the seasonal build-up and sequestration of carbon and play a major role in the cycling of major atmospheric constituents. One of the most important aspects of the disposition of solar radiation within the Arctic system is the reflection, absorption and transmission of sunlight by the atmosphere-sea ice-ocean system (AIOS). The overall goals of this study are to enhance our understanding of the present role that solar radiation plays in the Arctic AIOS and to improve our ability to predict the future role. This will be accomplished through an integrative and synthetic approach. Data will be collected from a wide range of sources including laboratory studies, field experiments, and satellite observations. An error analysis and data gap assessment will be a central component of the synthesis activity. Process models, ice-ocean models, and reanalysis products will be used to fill the gaps in the dataset. The primary product of this synthesis effort will be a 20-year, pan-Arctic description of the interaction of solar radiation with the AIOS. In particular, we will determine spectral values from 250 to 2500 nm of the incident solar energy, the reflected solar energy, and the solar energy absorbed in the snow, sea ice, and upper ocean. Values will be computed on a monthly, pan-Arctic basis from 1987 to 2007 using the 25 x 25 km Equal Area Scalable Earth Grid. The influx of (solar) heat into the Western Arctic through Bering Strait will also be examined in detail, since the largest changes in ice extent and ice thickness have been observed in this sector of the Arctic. This proposed synthesis of solar radiation in the Arctic AIOS will contribute several key elements to the larger synthesis of the Arctic System including: an assessment of the recent changes in solar energy input to the Arctic Ocean in relation to the observed changes in ice cover and ice mass balance; an evaluation of polar amplification through the ice-albedo feedback; information on the distribution of solar energy available for driving the biological production in the under-ice and upper ocean environments; and insights into the potential changes in and impacts of solar energy distribution as predicted by climate change models.