Radiant Overheating of Semitransparent Glacier Cover

Optical models of semitransparent glacier cover (with scattering and absorbing snow and ice layers) depending on their physical structure are presented in this study. At absorption indices (~1 m
^-1
) and the scattering ones (~10-1000 m
^-1
) for transparent ice and inhomogeneous snow, their albedo changed accordingly from ~30% to ~98%. For the first time, theoretical estimates of the subsurface temperature distributions with positive (negative) gradient in active upper layer of the glacier at combine heat exchange were offered for developed optical models of snow and ice covers. The formation of internal radiant overheating was discussed.