White-Out in Greenland

摘要

Limited studies of white-outs on the Greenland Ice Cap indicate that five major types of low visibility have been reported as white-out. They are:n1. Overcast white-out, caused by a continuous cloud cover.n2. Water-fog white-out, produced by supercooled water droplets in the air.n3. Ice-fog white-out, produced by ice crystals suspended in the air.n4. Blowing snow white-out, produced by wind-driver.n5. Precipitation white-out, produced by falling snow.nThe first three types are interrelated and appear to be produced by upslope, convective lifting of warm maritime air and the advective transport of the cooled saturated air over the cold snow field. Radiation heat losses from the snow surface may contribute to more rapid formation of the white-out.