Observations and modelling of algal growth on a snowpack in north-western Greenland

Onuma, Yukihiko; Takeuchi, Nozomu; Tanaka, Sota; Nagatsuka, Naoko; Niwano, Michio; Aoki, Teruo

doi:10.5194/tc-12-2147-2018

Cited by 27 publications

(95 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Mass concentrations of MD in surface snow at the study site during the observational period have been observed in previous studies (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiessupporting

confidence: 61%

“…They consisted mostly of the spherical red cells of Cd. nivalis, and their mean diameter was 21.3 ± 2.3 µm (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Study Sites and Observation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Mass concentrations of MD in the snow were quantified by the combustion method (Takeuchi and Li, 2008;Onuma et al, 2018). Snow samples were collected at the site in dust-free plastic bags from the surface and subsurface, as described in the previous section.…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Abundance of snow algae was quantified by the direct cell count method (Takeuchi, 2013;Tanaka et al, 2016;Onuma et al, 2018). Snow samples were preserved in Whirl-Pak® bags (Nasco, Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, USA) and then melted in Qaanaaq village.…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cell concentrations for Cd. nivalis in surface snow at the study site have been published previously (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal changes in snow albedo, including the possible effects of red algal growth, in northwest Greenland, simulated with a physically based snow albedo model

Onuma

Takeuchi

Tanaka

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Abstract. Surface albedo of snow and ice is substantially reduced by inorganic impurities, such as aeolian mineral dust (MD) and black carbon (BC), and also by organic impurities, such as microbes that live in the snow. In this paper, we present the temporal changes of surface albedo, snow grain size, MD, BC, and snow algal cell concentration observed on a snowpack in northwest Greenland during the ablation season of 2014 and our attempt to reproduce the changes in albedo with a physically based snow albedo model. We also attempt to reproduce the effects of inorganic impurities and the red snow algae (Chlamydomonas nivalis) on albedo. Concentrations of MD and red snow algae in the surface snow were found to increase in early August, while snow grain size and BC were found to not significantly change throughout the ablation season. Surface albedo was found to have decreased by 0.08 from late July to early August. The albedo simulated by the model agreed with the albedo observed during the study period. However, red snow algae exerted little effect on surface albedo in early August. This is probably owing to the abundance of smaller cells (4.9 × 104 cells L^-1) when compared with the cell abundance of typical red algal snow (~ 108 cells L−1). The simulation of snow albedo until the end of the melting season, with an algal growth model, revealed that the reduction in albedo attribute to red algae could equal 0.004, out of a total reduction of 0.102 arising from the three impurities on a snowpack in northwest Greenland. Finally, we conducted scenario simulations using the snow albedo model, coupled with the algal growth model, in order to simulate the possible effects of red algal blooming on snow albedo under warm conditions in northwest Greenland. The result suggests that albedo reduction by red snow algal growth under warm conditions (surface snow temperature of +1.5 °C) reached 0.04, equivalent to a radiative forcing of 7.5 W m−2 during the ablation season of 2014. This coupled albedo model has the potential to dynamically simulate snow albedo, including the effect of organic and inorganic impurities, leading to proper estimates of the surface albedo of snow cover in Greenland.

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“…Mass concentrations of MD in surface snow at the study site during the observational period have been observed in previous studies (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiessupporting

confidence: 61%

“…They consisted mostly of the spherical red cells of Cd. nivalis, and their mean diameter was 21.3 ± 2.3 µm (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Study Sites and Observation Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Cell concentrations for Cd. nivalis in surface snow at the study site have been published previously (Onuma et al, 2018).…”

Section: Quantification Of Snow Impuritiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temporal changes in snow albedo, including the possible effects of red algal growth, in northwest Greenland, simulated with a physically based snow albedo model

Onuma

Takeuchi

Tanaka

et al. 2019

Preprint

Self Cite

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Disappearing Kilimanjaro snow—Are we the last generation to explore equatorial glacier biodiversity?

Zawierucha

Shain

2019

Ecology and Evolution

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Glaciation accompanied our human ancestors in Africa throughout the Pleistocene. Regrettably, equatorial glaciers and snow are disappearing rapidly, and we are likely the last generation who will get to know these peculiar places. Despite the permanently harsh conditions of glacier/snow habitats, they support a remarkable diversity of life ranging from bacteria to animals. Numerous papers have been devoted to microbial communities and unique animals on polar glaciers and high mountains, but only two reports relate to glacial biodiversity in equatorial regions, which are destined to melt completely within the next few decades. Equatorial glaciers constitute “cold islands” in tropics, and discovering their diversity might shed light on the biogeography, dispersal, and history of psychrophiles. Thus, an opportunity to protect biota of equatorial glaciers hinges on ex situ conservation. It is timely and crucial that we should investigate the glacial biodiversity of the few remaining equatorial glaciers.

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Roles of Clouds in the Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Energy and Mass Balances

Niwano¹

2022

Handbook of Air Quality and Climate Change

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Observations and modelling of algal growth on a snowpack in north-western Greenland

Cited by 27 publications

References 48 publications

Temporal changes in snow albedo, including the possible effects of red algal growth, in northwest Greenland, simulated with a physically based snow albedo model

Temporal changes in snow albedo, including the possible effects of red algal growth, in northwest Greenland, simulated with a physically based snow albedo model

Disappearing Kilimanjaro snow—Are we the last generation to explore equatorial glacier biodiversity?

Roles of Clouds in the Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Energy and Mass Balances

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