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Abstract
Ground-based measurements are essential for understanding alpine glacier dynamics, especially in remote
regions where in-situ measurements are extremely limited. From 1 May to 22 July 2005 (the spring-summer
period), and from 2 October 2007 to 20 January 2008 (the autumn-winter period), surface radiation as well
as meteorological variables were measured over the accumulation zone on the East Rongbuk Glacier of Mt.
Qomolangma/Everest at an elevation of 6560 m a.s.l. by using an automatic weather station (AWS). The
results show that surface meteorological and radiative characteristics were controlled by two major synoptic
circulation regimes: the southwesterly Indian monsoon regime in summer and the westerlies in winter. At the
AWS site on the East Rongbuk Glacier, north or northwest winds prevailed with high wind speed (up to 35 m
s-1 in January) in winter while south or southeast winds predominated after the onset of the southwesterly
Indian monsoon with relatively low wind speed in summer. Intensity of incoming shortwave radiation was
extremely high due to the high elevation, multiple reflections between the snow/ice surface and clouds, and
the high reflective surrounding surface. These factors also caused the observed 10-min mean solar radiation
fluxes around local noon to be frequently higher than the solar constant from May to July 2005. The mean
surface albedo ranged from 0.72 during the spring-summer period to 0.69 during the autumn-winter period.
The atmospheric incoming longwave radiation was greatly affected by the cloud condition and atmospheric
moisture content. The overall impact of clouds on the net all-wave radiation balance was negative in the Mt.
Qomolangma region. The daily mean net all-wave radiation was positive during the entire spring-summer
period and mostly positive during the autumn-winter period except for a few overcast days. On monthly
basis, the net all-wave radiation was always positive.
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Citation
YANG Xingguo, QIN Dahe, ZHANG Tingjun, KANG Shichang, QIN Xiang, LIU Hongyi. 2010: Seasonal Characteristics of Surface Radiation Fluxes on the East Rongbuk Glacier in the Mt. Everest Region. Journal of Meteorological Research, 24(6): 680-698.
YANG Xingguo, QIN Dahe, ZHANG Tingjun, KANG Shichang, QIN Xiang, LIU Hongyi. 2010: Seasonal Characteristics of Surface Radiation Fluxes on the East Rongbuk Glacier in the Mt. Everest Region. Journal of Meteorological Research, 24(6): 680-698.
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YANG Xingguo, QIN Dahe, ZHANG Tingjun, KANG Shichang, QIN Xiang, LIU Hongyi. 2010: Seasonal Characteristics of Surface Radiation Fluxes on the East Rongbuk Glacier in the Mt. Everest Region. Journal of Meteorological Research, 24(6): 680-698.
YANG Xingguo, QIN Dahe, ZHANG Tingjun, KANG Shichang, QIN Xiang, LIU Hongyi. 2010: Seasonal Characteristics of Surface Radiation Fluxes on the East Rongbuk Glacier in the Mt. Everest Region. Journal of Meteorological Research, 24(6): 680-698.
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