An operational net shortwave radiation model for glacier basins

Abstract

An operational net shortwave radiation model, which may be used to map radiation distributions under clear and cloudy skies, is described. Construction is achieved by modifying existing total spectrum approaches to allow a minimum of observational data to be used in its operation. Application to the Peyto Glacier Basin, Alberta, shows that realistic and diagnostically useful results can be produced from information contained in a topographic map, monitoring of the snowline, and routine weather observations. Net shortwave radiation estimates from the model are found to be a fair approximation of energy equivalents of ablation derived from stake measurements. It is concluded that net shortwave radiation should be a principal component of any realistic meltwater discharge model.