PSC homepage PSC homepage PSC homepage Applied Physics Laboratory University of Washington

 

Applied Physics Laboratory home page

Email the PSC
Webmaster Polar Science Center Homepage Applied Physics Laboratory Applied Physics Laboratory University of Washington

Bonnie Light

Curriculum Vitae

 My principal research interest is the study of how solar radiation interacts with Earth’s cryosphere. In particular, my focus is on understanding relationships between the physical and optical properties of sea ice in the Arctic Ocean. The relative amounts of sunlight incident on sea ice that are backscattered to the atmosphere, absorbed by the ice, and transmitted to the ocean depend strongly on the physical properties of the ice. This partitioning of energy in turn controls a significant part of the heat budget of the polar oceans and may influence how sea ice drives and responds to changes in climate.

One aspect of my work involves the development of theoretical radiative transfer models for snow and ice. I also conduct laboratory experiments within a walk-in freezer using samples of natural and laboratory-grown sea ice. Such experiments give insight into relationships between the ice structure and its optical properties. In particular, they have been instrumental in helping us understand the importance of sea ice microstructure in determining the radiative properties of ice covers. I am also actively engaged in making field observations of the optical properties of snow and sea ice. This work includes investigation of the optical properties of melting ice covers as well as sediment laden sea ice in the Arctic Basin.

Projects

Publications:

Briegleb, B. P. and B. Light, "A Delta-Eddington Multiple Scattering Parameterization for Solar Radiation in the Sea Ice Component of the Community Climate System Model", NCAR/TN-472+STR, 100pp, 2007.

Huck, P., B. Light, H. Eicken, and M. Haller, "Mapping sediment-laden sea ice in the Arctic using AVHRR remote-sensing data: Atmospheric correction and determination of reflectances as a function of ice type and sediment load", Remote Sensing of Environment, 107, 484-495, 2007.

Light, B., G. A. Maykut, and T. C. Grenfell, "A temperature-dependent, structural-optical model of first-year sea ice", J. Geophys. Res., 109, C06013, doi:10.1029/2003JC002164, 2004.

Light, B., G.A. Maykut, and T.C. Grenfell, "A two-dimensional Monte Carlo model of radiative transfer in sea ice", J. Geophys. Res., 108(C7), 3219, doi:10.1029/2002JC001513, 2003.

Light, B., G. A. Maykut, and T. C. Grenfell, "Effects of temperature on the microstructure of first-year Arctic sea ice", J. Geophys. Res., 108(C2), 3051, doi:10.1029/2001JC000887, 2003.

Perovich, D. K., T. C. Grenfell, J. A. Richter-Menge, B. Light, W. B. Tucker III, and H. Eicken, "Thin and thinner: Sea ice mass balance measurements during SHEBA", J. Geophys. Res., 108(C3), 8050, doi: 10.1029/2001JC001079, 2003.

Grenfell, T.C., B. Light, and M. Sturm, "Spatial distribution and radiative effects of soot in the snow and sea ice during the SHEBA experiment", J. Geophys. Res., 107(C10), 8032, 10.1029/2000JC000414, 2002.

Perovich, D.K., T.C. Grenfell, B. Light, and P.V. Hobbs, "Seasonal evolution of the albedo of multiyear Arctic sea ice", J. Geophys. Res., 107(C10), 8044, doi:10.1029/2000JC000438, 2002.

Light, B., H. Eicken, G.A. Maykut, and T. C. Grenfell, "The effect of included particulates on the spectral albedo of sea ice", J. Geophys. Res., 103, 27,739-27,752, 1998.

Maykut, G.A. and B. Light, "Refractive-index measurements in freezing sea-ice and sodium chloride brines", Appl. Opt., 34, 950-961, 1995.

 

 


Polar Science Center
Applied Physics Laboratory, University of Washington
1013 NE 40th Street, Seattle, WA 98105
206-543-1300

University of Washington