CHANGES IN THE DOWNWARD AND NET LONGWAVE SURFACE RADIATION FLUXES IN HIGH LATITUDES
Longwave radiation balance at the earth’s surface is one of the most important components of the climate system at high latitudes. Changes in the downward flux of longwave radiation and net longwave radiation during the last twenty years are considered on the basis of surface observations’ data at Ny Alesund and Barrow polar stations. It is shown that substantial increase in the annual downward flux of longwave radiation is intrinsic of the period, up to ~5W/m2 per 10 years. Changes in net longwave radiation of the earth’s surface are also substantial. They are associated mainly with the frequency of cloudy and clear sky conditions.