The Cryosphere Discussions www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net 1994-0432 1994-0440 3 2 2009 10.5194/tcd-3-631-2009 http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/631/2009/ http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/631/2009/tcd-3-631-2009.html http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/631/2009/tcd-3-631-2009.pdf 631 680 2009-08-27 The annual surface energy budget of a high-arctic permafrost site on Svalbard, Norway S. Westermann sebastian.westermann@awi.de J. Lüers M. Langer K. Piel J. Boike Alfred-Wegener-Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Telegrafenberg A43, 14473 Potsdam, Germany Department of Micrometeorology, University of Bayreuth, 95440 Bayreuth, Germany Independent measurements of radiation, sensible and latent heat fluxes and the ground heat flux are used to describe the annual cycle of the surface energy budget at a high-arctic permafrost site on Svalbard. During summer, the net short-wave radiation is the dominant energy source, while well developed turbulent processes and the heat flux in the ground lead to a cooling of the surface. About 15% of the net radiation is consumed by the seasonal thawing of the active layer in July and August. The Bowen ratio is found to vary between 0.25 and 2, depending on water content of the uppermost soil layer. During the polar night in winter, the net long-wave radiation is the dominant energy loss channel for the surface, which is mainly compensated by the sensible heat flux and, to a lesser extent, by the ground heat flux, which originates from the refreezing of the active layer. The average annual sensible heat flux of −6.9 Wm^−2 is composed of strong positive fluxes in July and August, while negative fluxes dominate during the rest of the year. With 6.8 Wm^−2, the latent heat flux more or less compensates the sensible heat flux in the annual average. 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