A study of the surface heat budget of the Weddell Sea using a radiative transfer model during the austral winter 1994
Publisher: Naval Postgraduate School; Available from National Technical Information Service
Published: 1997
Place of publication: Monterey, Calif; Springfield, Va
Language: eng
Number of pages: 93
Subjects: RADIATIVE TRANSFER
Description: This study uses rawinsonde soundings and irradiance measurements taken in the Weddell      Sea during the 1994 ANZFLUX experiment. A radiative transfer model was used to      determine the influence of aerosols, cloud droplet size and water content on the radiative      heat budget of the Weddell Sea. The modeled irradiances were compared with      observations, and the model calculated the upward longwave irradiance from the Weddell      Sea ice pack. Turbulent heat fluxes were calculated and combined with radiative terms to      provide a net heat flux at the ice surface. While turbulent heat flux is the major factor      affecting the Weddell Sea's heat budget in windy conditions, during calm conditions      longwave radiative transfer becomes important. The modeled downward irradiances were      compared to results obtained from empirical equations developed for the Weddell Sea      during the winter. The atmosphere above the Weddell Sea appears to have an aerosol      structure similar to marine environments. Stratus clouds over the Weddell Sea appear to be      made up of cloud droplets with an effective radius of 2.5 microns and a water      concentration close to 0.05 grams per cubic meter. The dominant terms in the surface heat      budget are the longwave irradiances with the upward longwave term being the largest.
Notes: Thesis advisors, Peter S. Guest and Roland W. Garwood.

AD-A328 691.

Thesis (M.S. in Meteorology and M.S. in Physical Oceanography) Naval Postgraduate School, March 1997.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 89-92).

dk/dk cc:9116 11/5/97.