The aim of the present study was the quantitative determination of ?albedo? which is a significant factor influencing the balance of short-wave radiation. The value of surface albedo allows to determine its role in the heat balance of the active surface which in turns influences the ablation level. Studies on the accumulation and ablation conditions of the snow cover commenced on Scott?s Glacier in 1987. On average, the thickness of the frontal part decreased by 75 m, i.e. 2.7 m annually. Decession of the glacier was confirmed by studies carried out in 2001 during which it was found that Scott?s Glacier had decreased in its surface area by over 10% in the period 1986?2001. Three types of active surfaces, i.e.: land, ice and water, play a significant role in the radiation balance of the Arctic. During the summer months practically all the heat reaching the surface of the earth is taken up in thawing the ice. In the summer of 2001, a substantial variation of albedo occurred on Scott?s Glacier. The above changes depended to a large extent on the physical properties of the glacier?s surface. High spatial differentiation of albedo was also observed in the period studied (i.e. the summer of 2001). The lowest values (15-25%) occurred at the front of the glacier which was covered with ice and numerous kryokonite smelts filled with water or polluted with morenic or eolic material. Somewhat higher values (40-60%) were found in the supraglacial river valleys and in the zone of surface water deposits as they turned into slush. The highest albedo values occurred in the firn field where leveled snow, often firn, or fresh wind-blown snow was deposited (60-85%). After the precipitation of the fresh, clean snow, albedo increased and reached values above 88%.
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