SGER: Improving Community Climate System Model (CCSM) Snow/Ice Radiative and Heating Processes and Asssessing the Importance of the Soot Albedo Effect

University Of California-Irvine, Irvine CA

Investigators

Abstract

The goal of this research is to improve representation of snow albedo and heating in the Community Climate System Model (CCSM) and to understand climate impacts of snow and ice albedo perturbation via implantation of soot and other particulates. Specific objectives are as follows: - Improve the accuracy, realism, and flexibility of snow and ice reflectance and heating in CCSM so as to reduce model biases and expand the range of scientific questions CCSM may address. - Link the CCSM Atmospheric Model (CAM) aerosol deposition to surface albedo to examine the time-dependent direct and indirect radiative effects of soot, mineral dust, and volcanic aerosols in the cryosphere. - Quantify the extent to which more realistic snow albedo influences CCSM mid- and high- latitude winter temperature biases, spring melt phasing, and ice-albedo feedback. Broader Impacts: It is anticipated that this research will result in improvements in CCSM snow-ice-aerosol interactions and will increase climate scientists' ability to quantitatively assess the snow-ice-albedo feedback mechanism. Such improvements have the potential to substantially enhance the applicability of the CCSM model and the science related to climate and climate change.