Institute of Environmental Physics, University of Bremen, O. Hahn Allee 1, 28334 Bremen, Germany
Received: 16 Jan 2013 – Published in The Cryosphere Discuss.: 18 Feb 2013
Abstract. A simple analytical equation for the snow albedo as the function of snow grain size, soot concentration, and soot mass absorption coefficient is presented. This simple equation can be used in climate models to assess the influence of snow pollution on snow albedo. It is shown that the squared logarithm of the albedo (in the visible) is directly proportional to the soot concentration. A new method of the determination of the soot mass absorption coefficient in snow is proposed. The equations derived are applied to a dusty snow layer as well.
Revised: 04 Jul 2013 – Accepted: 17 Jul 2013 – Published: 20 Aug 2013
Citation: Kokhanovsky, A.: Spectral reflectance of solar light from dirty snow: a simple theoretical model and its validation, The Cryosphere, 7, 1325-1331, doi:10.5194/tc-7-1325-2013, 2013.