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Journal articles on the topic 'Surface mass balance modelling'
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1
Albrecht, Olaf, Peter Jansson, and Heinz Blatter. "Modelling glacier response to measured mass-balance forcing." Annals of Glaciology 31 (2000): 91–96. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756400781819996.
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AbstractMeasurements of summer and winter mass balances have been carried out over the past 53 years on Storglaciären, northern Sweden. Repeated surveys of the glacier have resulted in several maps of surface topography as well as a map of the bed topography A new time-dependent ice flow model allows us to compare the observed surface evolution of the glacier with that computed by the model using measured mass-balance maps as input. The computed volume change compares well with the measured change: the model replicates the distribution of surface elevation to within ±10 m over 30 years of integration. On the model side, these deviations can be attributed to the low-resolution discretization of the model domain as well as to the limited accuracy of the ice rheology and omitted basal sliding. On the other hand, the uncertainties of the topography and mass-balance maps match the model uncertainties. In this sense, the experiments are a validation of both model and observations.
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Zou, Fang, Robert Tenzer, Hok Fok, and Janet Nichol. "Mass Balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet from GRACE and Surface Mass Balance Modelling." Water 12, no. 7 (June 28, 2020): 1847. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w12071847.
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The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) is losing mass at a rate that represents a major contribution to global sea-level rise in recent decades. In this study, we use the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) data to retrieve the time series variations of the GrIS from April 2002 to June 2017. We also estimate the mass balance from the RACMO2.3 and ice discharge data in order to obtain a comparative analysis and cross-validation. A detailed analysis of long-term trend and seasonal and inter-annual changes in the GrIS is implemented by GRACE and surface mass balance (SMB) modeling. The results indicate a decrease of −267.77 ± 8.68 Gt/yr of the GrIS over the 16-year period. There is a rapid decline from 2002 to 2008, which accelerated from 2009 to 2012 before declining relatively slowly from 2013 to 2017. The mass change inland is significantly smaller than that detected along coastal regions, especially in the southeastern, southwestern, and northwestern regions. The mass balance estimates from GRACE and SMB minus ice discharge (SMB-D) are very consistent. The ice discharge manifests itself mostly as a long-term trend, whereas seasonal mass variations are largely attributed to surface mass processes. The GrIS mass changes are mostly attributed to mass loss during summer. Summer mass changes are highly correlated with climate changes.
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Schuler, Thomas V., Regine Hock, Miriam Jackson, Hallgeir Elvehøy, Matthias Braun, Ian Brown, and Jon-Ove Hagen. "Distributed mass-balance and climate sensitivity modelling of Engabreen, Norway." Annals of Glaciology 42 (2005): 395–401. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756405781812998.
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AbstractAssessing the impact of possible climate change on the water resources of glacierized areas requires a reliable model of the climate–glacier-mass-balance relationship. In this study, we simulate the mass-balance evolution of Engabreen, Norway, using a simple mass-balance model based on daily temperature and precipitation data from a nearby climate station. Ablation is calculated using a distributed temperature-index method including potential direct solar radiation, while accumulation is distributed linearly with elevation. The model was run for the period 1974/75–2001/02, for which annual mass-balance measurements and meteorological data are available. Parameter values were determined by a multi-criteria validation including point measurements of mass balance, mass-balance gradients and specific mass balance. The modelled results fit the observed mass balance well. Simple sensitivity experiments indicate a high sensitivity of the mass balance to temperature changes, as expected for maritime glaciers. The results suggest, further, that the mass balance of Engabreen is more sensitive to warming during summer than during winter, while precipitation changes affect almost exclusively the winter balance.
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Kneib, Marin, Amaury Dehecq, Adrien Gilbert, Auguste Basset, Evan S. Miles, Guillaume Jouvet, Bruno Jourdain, et al. "Distributed surface mass balance of an avalanche-fed glacier." Cryosphere 18, no. 12 (December 18, 2024): 5965–83. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5965-2024.
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Abstract. Local snow redistribution processes such as avalanches can considerably impact the spatial variability of accumulation on glaciers. However, this spatial variability is difficult to quantify with traditional surface mass balance measurements or geodetic observations. Here, we leverage high-quality and high-resolution surface velocity and elevation change maps for the period 2012–2021 from Pléiades stereo images and ice thickness measurements of Argentière Glacier (France) to invert for its distributed surface mass balance. Three inversions are conducted using three different ice thickness modelling approaches, two of which are constrained by observations. The inversions all show very good agreement between inverted surface mass balance and in situ measurements (RMSE between 0.50 and 0.96 mw.e.yr-1 for the 11-year average). The detected spatial variability in surface mass balance is consistent between the modelling approaches and much higher than what is predicted from an enhanced-temperature-index model calibrated with measurements from a dense network of stakes. In particular, we find high accumulation rates at the base of steep headwalls on the left-hand side of the glacier, likely related to avalanche deposits at these locations. We calculate distributed precipitation correction factors to reconcile the outputs from the enhanced-temperature-index model with the inverted surface mass balance data. These correction factors agree with the outputs of a parametrisation of snow redistribution by avalanching, indicating an additional 60 % mass input relative to the accumulation from solid precipitation at these specific locations, which was equivalent to an additional 20 % mass accumulation at the scale of Argentière Glacier without its two smaller tributaries. Using these correction factors in a forward-modelling exercise, we show that explicitly accounting for avalanches leads to twice more ice being conserved in the Argentière catchment by 2100 in an RCP 4.5 climate scenario and to a considerably different ice thickness distribution. Our results highlight the need to better account for such spatially variable accumulation processes in glacio-hydrological models.
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Hubbard, Alun, Ian Willis, Martin Sharp, Douglas Mair, Peter Nienow, Bryn Hubbard, and Heinz Blatter. "Glacier mass-balance determination by remote sensing and high-resolution modelling." Journal of Glaciology 46, no. 154 (2000): 491–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756500781833016.
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AbstractAn indirect methodology for determining the distribution of mass balance at high spatial resolution using remote sensing and ice-flow modelling is presented. The method, based on the mass-continuity equation, requires two datasets collected over the desired monitoring interval: (i) the spatial pattern of glacier surface-elevation change, and (ii) the mass-flux divergence field. At Haut Glacier d’Arolla, Valais, Switzerland, the mass-balance distribution between September 1992 and September 1993 is calculated at 20 m resolution from the difference between the pattern of surface-elevation change derived from analytical photogrammetry and the mass-flux divergence field determined from three-dimensional, numerical flow modelling constrained by surface-velocity measurements. The resultant pattern of mass balance is almost totally negative, showing a strong dependence on elevation, but with large localized departures. The computed distribution of mass balance compares well (R2 = 0.91) with mass-balance measurements made at stakes installed along the glacier centre line over the same period. Despite the highly optimized nature of the flow-modelling effort employed in this study, the good agreement indicates the potential this method has as a strategy for deriving high spatial and temporal-resolution estimates of mass balance.
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Vincent, Christian, Diego Cusicanqui, Bruno Jourdain, Olivier Laarman, Delphine Six, Adrien Gilbert, Andrea Walpersdorf, et al. "Geodetic point surface mass balances: a new approach to determine point surface mass balances on glaciers from remote sensing measurements." Cryosphere 15, no. 3 (March 10, 2021): 1259–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1259-2021.
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Abstract. Mass balance observations are very useful to assess climate change in different regions of the world. As opposed to glacier-wide mass balances which are influenced by the dynamic response of each glacier, point mass balances provide a direct climatic signal that depends on surface accumulation and ablation only. Unfortunately, major efforts are required to conduct in situ measurements on glaciers. Here, we propose a new approach that determines point surface mass balances from remote sensing observations. We call this balance the geodetic point surface mass balance. From observations and modelling performed on the Argentière and Mer de Glace glaciers over the last decade, we show that the vertical ice flow velocity changes are small in areas of low bedrock slope. Therefore, assuming constant vertical velocities in time for such areas and provided that the vertical velocities have been measured for at least 1 year in the past, our method can be used to reconstruct annual point surface mass balances from surface elevations and horizontal velocities alone. We demonstrate that the annual point surface mass balances can be reconstructed with an accuracy of about 0.3 m of water equivalent per year (m w.e. a−1) using the vertical velocities observed over the previous years and data from unmanned aerial vehicle images. Given the recent improvements of satellite sensors, it should be possible to apply this method to high-spatial-resolution satellite images as well.
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Huintjes, E., H. Li, T. Sauter, Z. Li, and C. Schneider. "Degree-day modelling of the surface mass balance of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Tian Shan, China." Cryosphere Discussions 4, no. 1 (March 3, 2010): 207–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-4-207-2010.
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Abstract. A distributed temperature-index melt model including potential shortwave radiation is used to calculate annual mean surface mass balance and the spatial distribution of melt rates on the east branch of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, north-western China. The lack of continuous datasets at higher temporal resolution for various climate variables suggests the application of a degree-day model with only few required input variables. The model is calibrated for a six day period in July 2007, for which daily mass balance measurements and meteorological data are available. Based on point measurements of mass balance, parameter values are optimised running a constrained multivariable function using the simplex search method. To evaluate the model performance, annual mass balances for the period 1987/88–2004/05 are calculated using NCEP/NCAR-Reanalysis data. The modelled values fit the observed mass balance with a correlation of 0.98 and an RMSE of 332 mm w.e. Furthermore, the calculated spatial distribution of melt rates shows an improvement in small-scale variations compared to the simple degree-day approach.
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Machguth, Horst, Frank Paul, Martin Hoelzle, and Wilfried Haeberli. "Distributed glacier mass-balance modelling as an important component of modern multi-level glacier monitoring." Annals of Glaciology 43 (2006): 335–43. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756406781812285.
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AbstractModern concepts of worldwide glacier monitoring include numerical models for (1) interconnecting the different levels of observations (local mass balance, representative length change, glacier inventories for global coverage) and (2) extrapolations in space (coupling with climate models) and time (backward and forward). In this context, one important new tool is distributed mass-balance modelling in complex mountain topography. This approach builds on simplified energy-balance models and can be applied for investigating the spatio-temporal representativity of the few mass-balance measurements, for estimating balance values at the tongue of unmeasured glaciers in order to derive long-term average balance values from a great number of glaciers with known length change, and for assessing special effects such as the influence of Sahara dust falls on the albedo and mass balance or autocorrelation effects due to surface darkening of glaciers with strongly negative balances. Experience from first model runs in the Swiss Alps and from applications to the extreme conditions in summer 2003 provides evidence about the usefulness of this approach for glacier monitoring and analysis of glacier changes in high-mountain regions. The main difficulties concern the spatial variability of the input parameters (e.g. precipitation, snow cover and surface albedo) and the uncertainties in the parameterizations of the components of the energy balance. Field measurements remain essential to tie the models to real ground conditions.
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Krapp, Mario, Alexander Robinson, and Andrey Ganopolski. "SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet." Cryosphere 11, no. 4 (July 3, 2017): 1519–35. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1519-2017.
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Abstract. We present SEMIC, a Surface Energy and Mass balance model of Intermediate Complexity for snow- and ice-covered surfaces such as the Greenland ice sheet. SEMIC is fast enough for glacial cycle applications, making it a suitable replacement for simpler methods such as the positive degree day (PDD) method often used in ice sheet modelling. Our model explicitly calculates the main processes involved in the surface energy and mass balance, while maintaining a simple interface and requiring minimal data input to drive it. In this novel approach, we parameterise diurnal temperature variations in order to more realistically capture the daily thaw–freeze cycles that characterise the ice sheet mass balance. We show how to derive optimal model parameters for SEMIC specifically to reproduce surface characteristics and day-to-day variations similar to the regional climate model MAR (Modèle Atmosphérique Régional, version 2) and its incorporated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT (Soil Ice Snow Vegetation Atmosphere Transfer). A validation test shows that SEMIC simulates future changes in surface temperature and surface mass balance in good agreement with the more sophisticated multilayer snowpack model SISVAT included in MAR. With this paper, we present a physically based surface model to the ice sheet modelling community that is general enough to be used with in situ observations, climate model, or reanalysis data, and that is at the same time computationally fast enough for long-term integrations, such as glacial cycles or future climate change scenarios.
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Willen, Matthias O., Martin Horwath, Eric Buchta, Mirko Scheinert, Veit Helm, Bernd Uebbing, and Jürgen Kusche. "Globally consistent estimates of high-resolution Antarctic ice mass balance and spatially resolved glacial isostatic adjustment." Cryosphere 18, no. 2 (February 20, 2024): 775–90. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-775-2024.
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Abstract. A detailed understanding of how the Antarctic ice sheet (AIS) responds to a warming climate is needed because it will most likely increase the rate of global mean sea level rise. Time-variable satellite gravimetry, realized by the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) and Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment Follow-On (GRACE-FO) missions, is directly sensitive to AIS mass changes. However, gravimetric mass balances are subject to two major limitations. First, the usual correction of the glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) effect by modelling results is a dominant source of uncertainty. Second, satellite gravimetry allows for a resolution of a few hundred kilometres only, which is insufficient to thoroughly explore causes of AIS imbalance. We have overcome both limitations by the first global inversion of data from GRACE and GRACE-FO, satellite altimetry (CryoSat-2), regional climate modelling (RACMO2), and firn densification modelling (IMAU-FDM). The inversion spatially resolves GIA in Antarctica independently from GIA modelling jointly with changes of ice mass and firn air content at 50 km resolution. We find an AIS mass balance of −144 ± 27 Gt a−1 from January 2011 to December 2020. This estimate is the same, within uncertainties, as the statistical analysis of 23 different mass balances evaluated in the Ice sheet Mass Balance Inter-comparison Exercise (IMBIE; Otosaka et al., 2023b). The co-estimated GIA corresponds to an integrated mass effect of 86 ± 21 Gt a−1 over Antarctica, and it fits better with global navigation satellite system (GNSS) results than other GIA predictions. From propagating covariances to integrals, we find a correlation coefficient of −0.97 between the AIS mass balance and the GIA estimate. Sensitivity tests with alternative input data sets lead to results within assessed uncertainties.
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de Kok, Remco J., Philip D. A. Kraaijenbrink, Obbe A. Tuinenburg, Pleun N. J. Bonekamp, and Walter W. Immerzeel. "Towards understanding the pattern of glacier mass balances in High Mountain Asia using regional climatic modelling." Cryosphere 14, no. 9 (September 24, 2020): 3215–34. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3215-2020.
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Abstract. Glaciers in High Mountain Asia (HMA) provide an important water resource for communities downstream, and they are markedly impacted by global warming, yet there is a lack of understanding of the observed glacier mass balances and their spatial variability. In particular, the glaciers in the western Kunlun Shan and Karakoram (WKSK) ranges show neutral to positive mass balances despite global warming. Using models of the regional climate and glacier mass balance, we reproduce the observed patterns of glacier mass balance in High Mountain Asia of the last decades within uncertainties. We show that low temperature sensitivities of glaciers and an increase in snowfall, for a large part caused by increases in evapotranspiration from irrigated agriculture, result in positive mass balances in the WKSK. The pattern of mass balances in High Mountain Asia can thus be understood from the combination of changes in climatic forcing and glacier properties, with an important role for irrigated agriculture.
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Huss, Matthias, Reto Stöckli, Giovanni Kappenberger, and Heinz Blatter. "Temporal and spatial changes of Laika Glacier, Canadian Arctic, since 1959, inferred from satellite remote sensing and mass-balance modelling." Journal of Glaciology 54, no. 188 (2008): 857–66. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214308787779979.
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AbstractThe retreat of Laika Glacier (4.4 km2), part of a small ice cap situated on Coburg Island, Canadian Arctic Archipelago, is analyzed using field data, satellite remote sensing and mass-balance modelling. We present a methodology for merging various data types and numerical models and investigate the temporal and spatial changes of a remote glacier during the past five decades. A glacier mass-balance and surface-evolution model is run for the period 1959–2006, forced with in situ weather observations and climate re-analysis data (ERA-40, NARR). The model is calibrated using the ice-volume change observed between 1959 and 1971, and measured seasonal mass balances. Calculated glacier surface elevation is validated against ICESat GLAS altimeter data and ASTER-derived elevation. Landsatderived glacier outlines are used to validate calculated ice extent. The piedmont tongue of Laika Glacier has retreated considerably and is in a state of disintegration. The modelled glacier mass balance between 1959 and 2006 was −0.41 m w.e. a−1, on average. Model results indicate a significant trend towards higher mass-balance gradients. A complete wastage of Laika Glacier by 2100 is predicted by model runs based on climate scenarios.
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Kääb, Andreas, and Martin Funk. "Modelling mass balance using photogrammetric and geophysical data: a pilot study at Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps." Journal of Glaciology 45, no. 151 (1999): 575–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0022143000001453.
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AbstractThe kinematic boundary condition al the glacier surface can be used to give glacier mass balance at a point as a function of changes in the surface elevation, and of the horizontal and vertical velocities. Vertical velocity can in turn be estimated from basal slope, basal ice velocity and surface strain. In a pilot study on the tongue of Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps, the applicability of the relation for modelling area-wide ice flow and mass-balance distribution is tested. The key input of the calculations, i.e. the area-wide surface velocity field, is obtained using a newly developed photogrammetric technique. Ice thickness is derived from radar-echo soundings. Error estimates and comparisons with stake measurements show an average accuracy of approximately ±0.3 ma-1 for the calculated vertical ice velocity at the surface and ±0.7 ma-1 for the calculated mass balance. Due to photogrammetric restrictions and model-inherent sensitivities the applied model appeared to be most suitable for determining area-wide mass balance and ice flow on flat-lying ablation areas, but is so far not very well suited for steep ablation areas and most parts of accumulation areas. Nevertheless, the study on Griesgletscher opens a new and promising perspective for the monitoring of spatial and temporal glacier mass-balance variations.
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Kääb, Andreas, and Martin Funk. "Modelling mass balance using photogrammetric and geophysical data: a pilot study at Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps." Journal of Glaciology 45, no. 151 (1999): 575–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000001453.
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AbstractThe kinematic boundary condition al the glacier surface can be used to give glacier mass balance at a point as a function of changes in the surface elevation, and of the horizontal and vertical velocities. Vertical velocity can in turn be estimated from basal slope, basal ice velocity and surface strain. In a pilot study on the tongue of Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps, the applicability of the relation for modelling area-wide ice flow and mass-balance distribution is tested. The key input of the calculations, i.e. the area-wide surface velocity field, is obtained using a newly developed photogrammetric technique. Ice thickness is derived from radar-echo soundings. Error estimates and comparisons with stake measurements show an average accuracy of approximately ±0.3 ma-1for the calculated vertical ice velocity at the surface and ±0.7 ma-1for the calculated mass balance. Due to photogrammetric restrictions and model-inherent sensitivities the applied model appeared to be most suitable for determining area-wide mass balance and ice flow on flat-lying ablation areas, but is so far not very well suited for steep ablation areas and most parts of accumulation areas. Nevertheless, the study on Griesgletscher opens a new and promising perspective for the monitoring of spatial and temporal glacier mass-balance variations.
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Prinz, R., L. I. Nicholson, T. Mölg, W. Gurgiser, and G. Kaser. "Climatic controls and climate proxy potential of Lewis Glacier, Mt Kenya." Cryosphere Discussions 9, no. 4 (July 28, 2015): 3887–924. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-9-3887-2015.
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Abstract. The Lewis Glacier on Mt Kenya is one of the best studied tropical glaciers and has experienced considerable retreat since a maximum extent in the late 19th century (L19). From distributed mass and energy balance modelling, this study evaluates the current sensitivity of the surface mass and energy balance to climatic drivers, explores climate conditions under which the L19 maximum extent might have sustained, and discusses the potential for using the glacier retreat to quantify climate change. Multiyear meteorological measurements at 4828 m provide data for input, optimization and evaluation of a spatially distributed glacier mass balance model to quantify the exchanges of energy and mass at the glacier–atmosphere interface. Currently the glacier loses mass due to the imbalance between insufficient accumulation and enhanced melt, because radiative energy gains cannot be compensated by turbulent energy sinks. Exchanging model input data with synthetic climate scenarios, which were sampled from the meteorological measurements and account for coupled climatic variable perturbations, reveal that the current mass balance is most sensitive to changes in atmospheric moisture (via its impact on solid precipitation, cloudiness and surface albedo). Positive mass balances result from scenarios with an increase of annual (seasonal) accumulation of 30 % (100 %), compared to values observed today, without significant changes in air temperature required. Scenarios with lower air temperatures are drier and associated with lower accumulation and increased net radiation due to reduced cloudiness and albedo. If the scenarios currently producing positive mass balances are applied to the L19 extent, negative mass balances are the result, meaning that the conditions required to sustain the glacier in its L19 extent are not reflected in today's observations. Alternatively, a balanced mass budget for the L19 extent can be explained by changing model parameters that imply a distinctly different coupling between the glacier's local surface-air layer and its surrounding boundary-layer. This result underlines the difficulty of deriving paleoclimates for larger glacier extents on the basis of modern measurements of small glaciers.
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Acharya, Anushilan, and Rijan Kayastha. "Mass and Energy Balance Estimation of Yala Glacier (2011–2017), Langtang Valley, Nepal." Water 11, no. 1 (December 20, 2018): 6. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w11010006.
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Six-year glaciological mass balance measurements, conducted at the Yala Glacier between November 2011 and November 2017 are presented and analyzed. A physically-based surface energy balance model is used to simulate summer mass and energy balance of the Yala Glacier for the 2012–2014 period. Cumulative mass balance of the Yala Glacier for the 2011–2017 period was negative at −4.88 m w.e. The mean annual glacier-wide mass balance was −0.81 ± 0.27 m w.e. with a standard deviation of ±0.48 m w.e. The modelled mass balance values agreed well with observations. Modelling showed that net radiation was the primary energy source for the melting of the glacier followed by sensible heat and heat conduction fluxes. Sensitivity of mass balance to changes in temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, surface albedo and snow density were examined. Mass balance was found to be most sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation.
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Romero, Abelardo, Andreas Richter, Amilcar Juarez, Federico Suad Corbetta, Eric Marderwald, Pedro Granovsky, Thorben Döhne, and Martin Horwath. "GRACE gravity analysis exploring climatic influences on mass changes in the Antarctic Peninsula." International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences XLVIII-2/W6-2024 (December 17, 2024): 51–58. https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-xlviii-2-w6-2024-51-2024.
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Abstract. Antarctic ice-mass balance is key to project sea-level changes, to assess future shifts in the global water cycle and ocean circulation, and to predict the fate of the White Continent. The ice mass of the Antarctic Peninsula is sensitive to the atmospheric and ocean circulation. The geographical conditions pose a challenge for modelling surface mass balance in this area. We use GRACE and GRACE Follow-On satellite gravimetry to derive a mass variation time series for the Antarctic peninsula region 2002–2024. We investigate whether these mass variations correlate with a surface mass balance model or with global climate indexes. Our analysis indicates a mass loss over two decades, mainly due to a period of enhanced mass-loss rate between 2007 and 2015. Our results suggest that interannual mass variations are primarily controlled by the surface mass balance which is influenced by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation phenomenon.
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Möller, Marco, Roman Finkelnburg, Matthias Braun, Dieter Scherer, and Christoph Schneider. "Variability of the climatic mass balance of Vestfonna ice cap, northeastern Svalbard, 1979-2011." Annals of Glaciology 54, no. 63 (2013): 254–64. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2013aog63a407.
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AbstractVestfonna ice cap, northeastern Svalbard, is one of the largest ice bodies in the European Arctic, but little is known about the evolution of its mass balance. This study presents a reconstruction of the climatic mass balance of the ice cap for the period 1979/80-2010/11. The reconstruction is based on calculations using a mass-balance model that combines a surface-elevation-dependent accumulation scheme with a spatially distributed temperature-index ablation model that includes net shortwave radiation. Refreezing is included, based on the basic Pmax approach. The model accounts for cloud-cover effects and surface albedo variations that are calculated by a statistical albedo model. ERA-Interim derived air temperature, precipitation and total cloud-cover data are used as input. Results reveal a mean climatic mass-balance rate of +0.09 ± 0.15 m w.e. a–1 for the study period. Annual balances show a slight, insignificant trend towards less positive values over the study period. Refreezing is estimated to contribute about one-third to annual accumulation, and a significant positive trend in refreezing is present over the study period. The modelling results reveal a significant steepening of the climatic mass-balance gradient and indicate a lengthening of the characteristic 3 month ablation period in recent years.
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Butler, T. M., I. Simmonds, and P. J. Rayner. "Mass balance inverse modelling of methane in the 1990s using a Chemistry Transport Model." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions 4, no. 3 (June 22, 2004): 3419–83. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acpd-4-3419-2004.
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Abstract. A mass balance inverse modelling procedure is applied with a time-dependent methane concentration boundary condition and a chemical transport model to relate observed changes in the surface distribution of methane mixing ratios during the 1990s to changes in its surface sources. This work serves as an important starting point for future inverse modelling work examining changes in both the source and sink terms in the methane budget together. The model reproduces essential features of the global methane cycle, such as the latitudinal distribution and seasonal cycle of fluxes, without using a priori knowledge of methane fluxes. A detailed description of the temporal and spatial variability of the fluxes diagnosed by the inverse procedure is presented, and compared with previously hypothesised changes in the methane budget, and previous inverse modelling studies. The sensitivity of the inverse results to the forcing data supplied by surface measurements of methane from the NOAA CMDL cooperative air sampling network is also examined.
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Butler, T. M., I. Simmonds, and P. J. Rayner. "Mass balance inverse modelling of methane in the 1990s using a Chemistry Transport Model." Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics 4, no. 11/12 (December 16, 2004): 2561–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/acp-4-2561-2004.
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Abstract. A mass balance inverse modelling procedure is applied with a time-dependent methane concentration boundary condition and a chemical transport model to relate observed changes in the surface distribution of methane mixing ratios during the 1990s to changes in its surface sources. The model reproduces essential features of the global methane cycle, such as the latitudinal distribution and seasonal cycle of fluxes, without using a priori knowledge of methane fluxes. A detailed description of the temporal and spatial variability of the fluxes diagnosed by the inverse procedure is presented, and compared with previously hypothesised changes in the methane budget, and previous inverse modelling studies. The sensitivity of the inverse results to the forcing data supplied by surface measurements of methane from the NOAA CMDL cooperative air sampling network is also examined. This work serves as an important starting point for future inverse modelling work examining changes in both the source and sink terms in the methane budget together.
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Hulton, Nicholas R. J., and David E. Sugden. "Modelling mass balance on former maritime ice caps: a Patagonian example." Annals of Glaciology 21 (1995): 304–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0260305500015986.
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Understanding the response of present and former ice caps to climatic fluctuations depends on an effective means of modelling mass balance. Ablation can be reasonably well approximated from surface energy-balance calculations, but changes in snowfall, the primary mass-gain mechanism, are poorly understood. This is a particularly important limitation in those mid-latitude areas where the location of precipitation belts changes from glacial to interglacial conditions. This paper develops a method of modelling the spatial and temporal variability of snowfall in Patagonia. Snowfall is predicted from a vertically integrated moisture-balance equation representing winter, equinoctial and summer seasons. Inputs to the model are sea-surface temperatures and the geostrophic wind at 700 mbar. The dominant process affecting precipitation is the advection of moisture in an air column whose ability to hold moisture is dependent on temperature and altitude. Relative humidity controls evaporation and precipitation, both of which increase with higher wind speeds. Snowfall is calculated from seasonal precipitation and the annual temperature regime, while ablation is estimated from degree-day calculations. The model successfully simulates present-day precipitation and mass-balance patterns in Patagonia. We also run the model for full-glacial conditions with and without an ice cap, revealing the extreme variability of mass balance at different stages of a glacial cycle and the relative importance of altitude/mass-balance feed-back in ice-cap growth. Since the model is driven by wind and temperature fields it has the potential to use the results of GCMs as input.
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Hulton, Nicholas R. J., and David E. Sugden. "Modelling mass balance on former maritime ice caps: a Patagonian example." Annals of Glaciology 21 (1995): 304–10. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0260305500015986.
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Understanding the response of present and former ice caps to climatic fluctuations depends on an effective means of modelling mass balance. Ablation can be reasonably well approximated from surface energy-balance calculations, but changes in snowfall, the primary mass-gain mechanism, are poorly understood. This is a particularly important limitation in those mid-latitude areas where the location of precipitation belts changes from glacial to interglacial conditions. This paper develops a method of modelling the spatial and temporal variability of snowfall in Patagonia. Snowfall is predicted from a vertically integrated moisture-balance equation representing winter, equinoctial and summer seasons. Inputs to the model are sea-surface temperatures and the geostrophic wind at 700 mbar. The dominant process affecting precipitation is the advection of moisture in an air column whose ability to hold moisture is dependent on temperature and altitude. Relative humidity controls evaporation and precipitation, both of which increase with higher wind speeds. Snowfall is calculated from seasonal precipitation and the annual temperature regime, while ablation is estimated from degree-day calculations. The model successfully simulates present-day precipitation and mass-balance patterns in Patagonia. We also run the model for full-glacial conditions with and without an ice cap, revealing the extreme variability of mass balance at different stages of a glacial cycle and the relative importance of altitude/mass-balance feed-back in ice-cap growth. Since the model is driven by wind and temperature fields it has the potential to use the results of GCMs as input.
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Prinz, R., L. I. Nicholson, T. Mölg, W. Gurgiser, and G. Kaser. "Climatic controls and climate proxy potential of Lewis Glacier, Mt. Kenya." Cryosphere 10, no. 1 (January 18, 2016): 133–48. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-133-2016.
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Abstract. The Lewis Glacier on Mt. Kenya is one of the best studied tropical glaciers and has experienced considerable retreat since a maximum extent in the late 19th century (L19). From distributed mass and energy balance modelling, this study evaluates the current sensitivity of the surface mass and energy balance to climatic drivers, explores climate conditions under which the L19 maximum extent might have been sustained, and discusses the potential for using the glacier retreat to quantify climate change. Multi-year meteorological measurements at 4828 m provide data for input, optimization, and evaluation of a spatially distributed glacier mass balance model to quantify the exchanges of energy and mass at the glacier–atmosphere interface. Currently the glacier loses mass due to the imbalance between insufficient accumulation and enhanced melt, because radiative energy gains cannot be compensated by turbulent energy sinks. Exchanging model input data with synthetic climate scenarios, which were sampled from the meteorological measurements and account for coupled climatic variable perturbations, reveals that the current mass balance is most sensitive to changes in atmospheric moisture (via its impact on solid precipitation, cloudiness, and surface albedo). Positive mass balances result from scenarios with an increase of annual (seasonal) accumulation of 30 % (100 %), compared to values observed today, without significant changes in air temperature required. Scenarios with lower air temperatures are drier and associated with lower accumulation and increased net radiation due to reduced cloudiness and albedo. If the scenarios currently producing positive mass balances are applied to the L19 extent, negative mass balances are the result, meaning that the conditions required to sustain the glacier in its L19 extent are not reflected in today's meteorological observations using model parameters optimized for the present-day glacier. Alternatively, a balanced mass budget for the L19 extent can be achieved by changing both climate and optimized gradients (used to extrapolate the meteorological measurements over the glacier) in a manner that implies a distinctly different coupling between the glacier's local surface-air layer and its surrounding boundary layer. This result underlines the difficulty of deriving palaeoclimates for larger glacier extents on the basis of modern measurements of small glaciers.
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Elliott, Alexander Hewgill, Channa Rajanayaka, and Jing Yang. "Simplified Modelling of Coupled Surface-Groundwater Transport Using a Subcatchment Mass Balance Approach." Water 14, no. 3 (January 25, 2022): 350. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/w14030350.
Full textAbstract:
Catchment models based on steady-state mass balances enable rapid assessment of contaminant fluxes and concentrations in rivers. However, such models often focus on surface drainage, without taking groundwater into account. This paper presents a novel steady-state mass-balance catchment model that includes groundwater. The model incorporates a conceptual reservoir under each surface subcatchment, with lateral subsurface exchanges between adjacent reservoirs and vertical exchanges between the reservoirs and the surface drainage network. This leads to an easily solved coupled algebraic system of equations. The approach is demonstrated for nitrogen in a meso-scale catchment in New Zealand. Exchange coefficients were extracted from a full groundwater model, while recharge sources were obtained from separate hydrological and leaching models. Other parameters such as decay coefficients were determined through calibration. Although the exchange coefficients are generated from a detailed groundwater model, alternatives such as simple groundwater models or phreatic contours could be used instead. The effective decay parameters were different from what was expected, which is partly due to the model structure (for example, the assumption of complete mixing in each reservoir), but may also be due to input uncertainty. The applications demonstrated the successful deployment of a novel, simple, fast-running and flexible coupled surface-groundwater model.
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Mölg, Thomas, Nicolas J. Cullen, and Georg Kaser. "Solar radiation, cloudiness and longwave radiation over low-latitude glaciers: implications for mass-balance modelling." Journal of Glaciology 55, no. 190 (2009): 292–302. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214309788608822.
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AbstractBroadband radiation schemes (parameterizations) are commonly used tools in glacier mass-balance modelling, but their performance at high altitude in the tropics has not been evaluated in detail. Here we take advantage of a high-quality 2 year record of global radiation (G ) and incoming longwave radiation (L ↓) measured on Kersten Glacier, Kilimanjaro, East Africa, at 5873 m a.s.l., to optimize parameterizations of G and L ↓. We show that the two radiation terms can be related by an effective cloud-cover fraction neff , so G or L ↓ can be modelled based on neff derived from measured L ↓ or G, respectively. At neff = 1, G is reduced to 35% of clear-sky G, and L ↓ increases by 45–65% (depending on altitude) relative to clear-sky L ↓. Validation for a 1 year dataset of G and L ↓ obtained at 4850 m on Glaciar Artesonraju, Peruvian Andes, yields a satisfactory performance of the radiation scheme. Whether this performance is acceptable for mass-balance studies of tropical glaciers is explored by applying the data from Glaciar Artesonraju to a physically based mass-balance model, which requires, among others, G and L ↓ as forcing variables. Uncertainties in modelled mass balance introduced by the radiation parameterizations do not exceed those that can be caused by errors in the radiation measurements. Hence, this paper provides a tool for inclusion in spatially distributed mass-balance modelling of tropical glaciers and/or extension of radiation data when only G or L ↓ is measured.
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Jarosch, Alexander H., Eyjólfur Magnússon, Krista Hannesdóttir, Joaquín M. C. Belart, and Finnur Pálsson. "Geothermal heat source estimations through ice flow modelling at Mýrdalsjökull, Iceland." Cryosphere 18, no. 5 (May 17, 2024): 2443–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2443-2024.
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Abstract. Geothermal heat sources beneath glaciers and ice caps influence local ice-dynamics and mass balance but also control ice surface depression evolution as well as subglacial water reservoir dynamics. Resulting jökulhlaups (i.e., glacier lake outburst floods) impose danger to people and infrastructure, especially in Iceland, where they are closely monitored. Due to hundreds of meters of ice, direct measurements of heat source strength and extent are not possible. We present an indirect measurement method which utilizes ice flow simulations and glacier surface data, such as surface mass balance and surface depression evolution. Heat source locations can be inferred accurately to simulation grid scales; heat source strength and spatial distributions are also well quantified. Our methods are applied to the Mýrdalsjökull ice cap in Iceland, where we are able to refine previous heat source estimates.
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Radić, Valentina, Regine Hock, and Johannes Oerlemans. "Volume–area scaling vs flowline modelling in glacier volume projections." Annals of Glaciology 46 (2007): 234–40. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756407782871288.
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AbstractVolume–area scaling provides a practical alternative to ice-flow modelling to account for glacier size changes when modelling the future evolution of glaciers; however, uncertainties remain as to the validity of this approach under non-steady conditions. We address these uncertainties by deriving scaling exponents in the volume–area relationship from one-dimensional ice-flow modelling. We generate a set of 37 synthetic steady-state glaciers of different sizes, and then model their volume evolution due to climate warming and cooling as prescribed by negative and positive mass-balance perturbations, respectively, on a century timescale. The scaling exponent derived for the steady-state glaciers (γ = 1.56) differs from the exponents derived for the glaciers in transient (non-steady) state by up to 86%. Nevertheless, volume projections employing volume–area scaling are relatively insensitive to these differences in scaling exponents. Volume–area scaling agrees well with the results from ice-flow modelling. In addition, the scaling method is able to simulate the approach of a glacier to a new steady state, if mass-balance elevation feedback is approximated by removing or adding elevation bands at the lowest part of the glacier as the glacier retreats or advances. If area changes are approximated in the mass-balance computations in this way, our results indicate that volume–area scaling is a powerful tool for glacier volume projections on multi-century timescales.
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Trachsel, M., and A. Nesje. "Modelling annual mass balances of eight Scandinavian glaciers using statistical models." Cryosphere Discussions 9, no. 1 (January 15, 2015): 383–415. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-9-383-2015.
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Abstract. Glacier mass balances are mainly influenced by accumulation-season precipitation and ablation-season temperature. We use a suite of statistical models to determine the influence of accumulation-season precipitation and ablation-season temperature on annual mass balances of eight Scandinavian glaciers, ranging from near coastal, maritime glaciers to inland, continental glaciers. Accumulation-season precipitation is more important for maritime glaciers, whereas ablation-season temperature is more important for annual balances of continental glaciers. However, the importances are not stable in time. For instance, accumulation-season precipitation is more important than ablation-season temperature for all glaciers in the 30 year period 1968–1997. In this time period the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO) index was consistently negative and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) Index was consistently positive between 1987 and 1995, both being favourable for glacier growth. Hence, the relative importance of precipitation and temperature for mass balances is possibly influenced by the AMO and the NAO. Climate sensitivities estimated by statistical models are similar to climate sensitivities based on degree-day models, but are lower than climate sensitivities of energy balance models. Hence, future projections of mass balances found with our models seem rather optimistic. Still, all average mass balances found for the years 2050 and 2100 are negative.
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Braithwaite, Roger J., Sarah C. B. Raper, and Romain Candela. "Recent changes (1991–2010) in glacier mass balance and air temperature in the European Alps." Annals of Glaciology 54, no. 63 (2013): 139–46. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2013aog63a285.
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AbstractWe estimate temperature sensitivity of observed mass balance for glaciers in the European Alps to compare with our earlier estimates from modelling. We treat 1961-90 as our reference period and compare mass balance for 1991-2010 with this reference period. There are eight Alpine glaciers with long enough records. The mean mass balance for the eight glaciers is close to zero for the reference period, very negative for 1991-2010 and highly negative in the exceptionally warm year 2003. Mass-balance changes are compared with 1991-2010 temperature anomalies to give an average temperature sensitivity of approximately -0.7 ± 0.2 m w.e. a-1 K-1 for the eight glaciers. There is considerable variation between individual glaciers, with higher sensitivity for western glaciers and lower sensitivity for eastern glaciers. Temperature sensitivity for the eight glaciers is strongly correlated with the standard deviation of observed mass balance, which from earlier work is known to be correlated with winter balance. The mean temperature sensitivity for observed mass balance is in reasonable agreement with values from earlier models, but changes in glacier hypsometry during 1991-2010 may have further increased observed mass loss.
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Eckert, N., H. Baya, E. Thibert, and C. Vincent. "Extracting the temporal signal from a winter and summer mass-balance series: application to a six-decade record at Glacier de Sarennes, French Alps." Journal of Glaciology 57, no. 201 (2011): 134–50. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/002214311795306673.
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AbstractTemporal trends related to recent climatic fluctuations are extracted from the longest glacier-wide winter and summer mass-balance series recorded in the Alps, at Glacier de Sarennes, France. For this, all point balances measured at the glacier surface are used, and different statistical models are developed and tested. First, Lliboutry’s linear variance analysis model is extended to the two seasonal components of the balance. The explicit modelling of variability sources and correlations is proved useful for appropriately quantifying uncertainties in the different components of the balance and estimating missing data. Next, a non-exchangeable structure is added to model the winter and summer balance time series. Two change points separating different underlying trends are thus detected. The first change was in 1976, with a shift of +23% in the winter balance. The second was in 1982 for the summer balance series. These systematic changes explain 20–30% of the variability of the different components of the balance, the rest being made up of random interannual fluctuations. Simplified and/or less physically based models are less efficient in capturing data variability. As a result, the cumulative glacier-wide balance shows systematic parabolic trends, which result in an accelerated mass loss for Glacier de Sarennes over the last 25 years.
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Huss, M. "Extrapolating glacier mass balance to the mountain range scale: the European Alps 1900–2100." Cryosphere Discussions 6, no. 2 (March 15, 2012): 1117–56. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-6-1117-2012.
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Abstract. This study addresses the extrapolation of single glacier mass balance measurements to the mountain range scale and aims at deriving time series of area-averaged mass balance and ice volume change for all glaciers in the European Alps for the period 1900–2100. Long-term mass balance series for 50 Swiss glaciers based on a combination of field data and modelling, and WGMS data for glaciers in Austria, France and Italy are used. A complete glacier inventory is available for the year 2003. Mass balance extrapolation is performed based on (1) arithmetic averaging, (2) glacier hypsometry, and (3) multiple regression. Given a sufficient number of data series, multiple regression with variables describing glacier geometry performs best in reproducing observed spatial mass balance variability. Future mass changes are calculated by driving a combined model for mass balance and glacier geometry with GCM ensembles based on four emission scenarios. Mean glacier mass balance in the European Alps is −0.32 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 in 1900–2011, and −1 m w.e. a−1 over the last decade. Total ice volume change since 1900 is −100 ± 13 km3; annual values vary between −5.9 km3 (1947) and +3.9 km3 (1977). Mean mass balances are expected to be around −1.3 m w.e. a−1 by 2050. Model results indicate a glacier area reduction to 4–18% relative to 2003 for the end of the 21st century.
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Huss, M. "Extrapolating glacier mass balance to the mountain-range scale: the European Alps 1900–2100." Cryosphere 6, no. 4 (July 6, 2012): 713–27. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-713-2012.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. This study addresses the extrapolation of in-situ glacier mass balance measurements to the mountain-range scale and aims at deriving time series of area-averaged mass balance and ice volume change for all glaciers in the European Alps for the period 1900–2100. Long-term mass balance series for 50 Swiss glaciers based on a combination of field data and modelling, and WGMS data for glaciers in Austria, France and Italy are used. A complete glacier inventory is available for the year 2003. Mass balance extrapolation is performed based on (1) arithmetic averaging, (2) glacier hypsometry, and (3) multiple regression. Given a sufficient number of data series, multiple regression with variables describing glacier geometry performs best in reproducing observed spatial mass balance variability. Future mass changes are calculated by driving a combined model for mass balance and glacier geometry with GCM ensembles based on four emission scenarios. Mean glacier mass balance in the European Alps is −0.31 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 in 1900–2011, and −1 m w.e. a−1 over the last decade. Total ice volume change since 1900 is −96 ± 13 km3; annual values vary between −5.9 km3 (1947) and +3.9 km3 (1977). Mean mass balances are expected to be around −1.3 m w.e. a−1 by 2050. Model results indicate a glacier area reduction of 4–18% relative to 2003 for the end of the 21st century.
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De Smedt, Bert, and Frank Pattyn. "Numerical modelling of historical front variations and dynamic response of Sofiyskiy glacier, Altai mountains, Russia." Annals of Glaciology 37 (2003): 143–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756403781815654.
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AbstractThe recent fluctuation of the central Asian climate, and its effect on the region’s glaciers, is poorly known, largely because of a lack of knowledge of the dynamic behaviour of so-called summer-accumulation-type glaciers. In this study, a one-dimensional numerical glacier model is used to simulate the dynamic response of Sofiyskiy glacier, Altai mountains, Russia, to climate forcing. A successful simulation of the observed historical front variations was accomplished by dynamic calibration. This resulted in a reconstruction of the recent mass-balance history of the glacier, showing a distinct decline in surface mass balance in the second half of the 19th century, a slightly higher mass balance at the beginning of the 20th century, followed by a steady decline towards present conditions. The future response of Sofiyskiy glacier was projected for six 21st-century climate scenarios. Under a “no-change” scenario, the glacier will retreat > 2 km by 2100. If air temperature gradually rises by > 5°C during this century, the glacier will vanish around 2100. Basic response characteristics of Sofiyskiy glacier were determined. These indicate rather low mass-balance sensitivity to temperature change, but a strong front reaction due to geometric conditions.
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Marsiat, I. "The waxing and waning of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets." Annals of Glaciology 21 (1995): 96–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0260305500015664.
Full textAbstract:
Past modelling studies have shown that the energy balance of the ice-sheet surface is of primary importance in representing the 100 000 year glacial cycle. In particular, modelling of the net mass-balance function is an important part of coupled ice-sheet/climate models. We conduct a series of palaeoclimatic simulations with a vertically integrated ice-flow model coupled to the two-dimensional statistical-dynamical LLN (Louvain-la-Neuve) climate model. The models are coupled through a land-surface model which computes seasonal cycles of surface temperature and precipitation at the real altitude of the surface and evaluates the annual snow and/or ice-mass budget. The present-day climate of the Northern Hemisphere, the Greenland mass balance and the snowfield characteristics are quite well represented despite the relative simplicity of the model. Total ice-volume and sea-level variations during the last glacial cycle are well simulated. This suggests that the physical mechanisms included in the models are sufficient to explain the most striking features of the ice-age cycle. Introducing an improved and more detailed topography improves the simulation of the total ice volume but fails to correct inadequacies in the simulated ice distribution on the surface of the Earth.
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Marsiat, I. "The waxing and waning of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets." Annals of Glaciology 21 (1995): 96–102. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0260305500015664.
Full textAbstract:
Past modelling studies have shown that the energy balance of the ice-sheet surface is of primary importance in representing the 100 000 year glacial cycle. In particular, modelling of the net mass-balance function is an important part of coupled ice-sheet/climate models. We conduct a series of palaeoclimatic simulations with a vertically integrated ice-flow model coupled to the two-dimensional statistical-dynamical LLN (Louvain-la-Neuve) climate model. The models are coupled through a land-surface model which computes seasonal cycles of surface temperature and precipitation at the real altitude of the surface and evaluates the annual snow and/or ice-mass budget. The present-day climate of the Northern Hemisphere, the Greenland mass balance and the snowfield characteristics are quite well represented despite the relative simplicity of the model. Total ice-volume and sea-level variations during the last glacial cycle are well simulated. This suggests that the physical mechanisms included in the models are sufficient to explain the most striking features of the ice-age cycle. Introducing an improved and more detailed topography improves the simulation of the total ice volume but fails to correct inadequacies in the simulated ice distribution on the surface of the Earth.
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Zuo, Z., and J. Oerlemans. "Modelling albedo and specific balance of the Greenland ice sheet: calculations for the Søndre Strømfjord transect." Journal of Glaciology 42, no. 141 (1996): 305–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000004160.
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AbstractGlacio-meteorological data obtained during the Greenland Ice Margin Experiment (GIMEX) investigations in West Greenland (the Søndre Strømfjord transect) have been used to test and calibrate energy-balance/mass-balance models for the ice/snow surface. The region is characterised by the development of a wide zone of low surface albedo in the course of the melting season. This zone was simulated in one of the energy-balance models by including the effect of surficial meltwater on albedo. Observed mass-balance and albedo data were used to constrain the models. Although all the models are capable of predicting the transect balance reasonably well, only the model with the meltwater albedo coupling, is able to reproduce the observed albedo pattern and mass-balance profile along the transect. By including the feedback between surficial meltwater and albedo in the model, the sensitivity of the specific balance to changes in air temperature is found to be greatest just below the equilibrium line (in contrast to what is generally found for valley glaciers). A 1 K warming of the air temperature would increase the mean ablation along the transect by 0.5 m w.e.year−1.
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Zuo, Z., and J. Oerlemans. "Modelling albedo and specific balance of the Greenland ice sheet: calculations for the Søndre Strømfjord transect." Journal of Glaciology 42, no. 141 (1996): 305–17. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0022143000004160.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractGlacio-meteorological data obtained during the Greenland Ice Margin Experiment (GIMEX) investigations in West Greenland (the Søndre Strømfjord transect) have been used to test and calibrate energy-balance/mass-balance models for the ice/snow surface. The region is characterised by the development of a wide zone of low surface albedo in the course of the melting season. This zone was simulated in one of the energy-balance models by including the effect of surficial meltwater on albedo. Observed mass-balance and albedo data were used to constrain the models. Although all the models are capable of predicting the transect balance reasonably well, only the model with the meltwater albedo coupling, is able to reproduce the observed albedo pattern and mass-balance profile along the transect. By including the feedback between surficial meltwater and albedo in the model, the sensitivity of the specific balance to changes in air temperature is found to be greatest just below the equilibrium line (in contrast to what is generally found for valley glaciers). A 1 K warming of the air temperature would increase the mean ablation along the transect by 0.5 m w.e.year −1.
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Falk, Ulrike, Damián A. López, and Adrián Silva-Busso. "Multi-year analysis of distributed glacier mass balance modelling and equilibrium line altitude on King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula." Cryosphere 12, no. 4 (April 10, 2018): 1211–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1211-2018.
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Abstract. The South Shetland Islands are located at the northern tip of the Antarctic Peninsula (AP). This region was subject to strong warming trends in the atmospheric surface layer. Surface air temperature increased about 3 K in 50 years, concurrent with retreating glacier fronts, an increase in melt areas, ice surface lowering and rapid break-up and disintegration of ice shelves. The positive trend in surface air temperature has currently come to a halt. Observed surface air temperature lapse rates show a high variability during winter months (standard deviations up to ±1.0K(100m)-1) and a distinct spatial heterogeneity reflecting the impact of synoptic weather patterns. The increased mesocyclonic activity during the wintertime over the past decades in the study area results in intensified advection of warm, moist air with high temperatures and rain and leads to melt conditions on the ice cap, fixating surface air temperatures to the melting point. Its impact on winter accumulation results in the observed negative mass balance estimates. Six years of continuous glaciological measurements on mass balance stake transects as well as 5 years of climatological data time series are presented and a spatially distributed glacier energy balance melt model adapted and run based on these multi-year data sets. The glaciological surface mass balance model is generally in good agreement with observations, except for atmospheric conditions promoting snow drift by high wind speeds, turbulence-driven snow deposition and snow layer erosion by rain. No drift in the difference between simulated mass balance and mass balance measurements can be seen over the course of the 5-year model run period. The winter accumulation does not suffice to compensate for the high variability in summer ablation. The results are analysed to assess changes in meltwater input to the coastal waters, specific glacier mass balance and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The Fourcade Glacier catchment drains into Potter cove, has an area of 23.6 km2 and is glacierized to 93.8 %. Annual discharge from Fourcade Glacier into Potter Cove is estimated to q¯=25±6hm3yr-1 with the standard deviation of 8 % annotating the high interannual variability. The average ELA calculated from our own glaciological observations on Fourcade Glacier over the time period 2010 to 2015 amounts to 260±20 m. Published studies suggest rather stable conditions of slightly negative glacier mass balance until the mid-1980s with an ELA of approx. 150 m. The calculated accumulation area ratio suggests dramatic changes in the future extent of the inland ice cap for the South Shetland Islands.
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Machguth, H., R. S. Purves, J. Oerlemans, M. Hoelzle, and F. Paul. "Exploring uncertainty in glacier mass balance modelling with Monte Carlo simulation." Cryosphere Discussions 2, no. 3 (June 30, 2008): 447–85. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-2-447-2008.
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Abstract. By means of Monte Carlo simulations we calculated uncertainty in modelled cumulative mass balance over 400 days at one particular point on the tongue of Morteratsch Glacier, Switzerland, using a glacier energy balance model of intermediate complexity. Before uncertainty assessment, the model was tuned to observed mass balance for the investigated time period and its robustness was tested by comparing observed and modelled mass balance over 11 years, yielding very small deviations. Both systematic and random uncertainties are assigned to twelve input parameters and their respective values estimated from the literature or from available meteorological data sets. The calculated overall uncertainty in the model output is dominated by systematic errors and amounts to 0.7 m w.e. or approximately 10% of total melt over the investigated time span. In order to provide a first order estimate on variability in uncertainty depending on the quality of input data, we conducted a further experiment, calculating overall uncertainty for different levels of uncertainty in measured global radiation and air temperature. Our results show that the output of a well calibrated model is subject to considerable uncertainties, in particular when applied for extrapolation in time and space where systematic errors are likely to be an important issue.
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Machguth, H., R. S. Purves, J. Oerlemans, M. Hoelzle, and F. Paul. "Exploring uncertainty in glacier mass balance modelling with Monte Carlo simulation." Cryosphere 2, no. 2 (December 8, 2008): 191–204. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-2-191-2008.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. By means of Monte Carlo simulations we calculated uncertainty in modelled cumulative mass balance over 400 days at one particular point on the tongue of Morteratsch Glacier, Switzerland, using a glacier energy balance model of intermediate complexity. Before uncertainty assessment, the model was tuned to observed mass balance for the investigated time period and its robustness was tested by comparing observed and modelled mass balance over 11 years, yielding very small deviations. Both systematic and random uncertainties are assigned to twelve input parameters and their respective values estimated from the literature or from available meteorological data sets. The calculated overall uncertainty in the model output is dominated by systematic errors and amounts to 0.7 m w.e. or approximately 10% of total melt over the investigated time span. In order to provide a first order estimate on variability in uncertainty depending on the quality of input data, we conducted a further experiment, calculating overall uncertainty for different levels of uncertainty in measured global radiation and air temperature. Our results show that the output of a well calibrated model is subject to considerable uncertainties, in particular when applied for extrapolation in time and space where systematic errors are likely to be an important issue.
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Pelt, Ward Van, and Jack Kohler. "Modelling the long-term mass balance and firn evolution of glaciers around Kongsfjorden, Svalbard." Journal of Glaciology 61, no. 228 (2015): 731–44. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/2015jog14j223.
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AbstractWe analyse the long-term (1961–2012) distributed surface mass balance and firn evolution of the Kongsvegen and Holtedahlfonna glacier systems in northwestern Svalbard. We couple a surface energy-balance model to a firn model, with forcing provided from regional climate model output. In situ observational data are used to calibrate model parameters and validate the output. The simulated area-averaged surface mass balance for 1961–2012 is slightly positive (0.08 mw.e.a−1), which only fractionally compensates for mass loss by calving. Refreezing of percolating water in spring/summer (0.13 m w.e. a−1) and stored water in fall/winter (0.18 m w.e. a−1) provides a buffer for runoff. Internal accumulation, i.e. refreezing below the previous year’s summer surface in the accumulation zone, peaks up to 0.22 m w.e. a−1, and is unaccounted for by stake observations. Superimposed ice formation in the lower accumulation zone ranges as high as 0.25 m w.e. a−1. A comparison of the periods 1961–99 and 2000–12 reveals 21% higher annual melt rates since 2000 and a 31% increase in runoff, which can only in part be ascribed to recent warmer and drier conditions. In response to firn line retreat, both albedo lowering (snow/ice–albedo feedback) and lower refreezing rates (refreezing feedback) further amplified runoff.
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Aðalgeirsdóttir, G., S. Guðmundsson, H. Björnsson, F. Pálsson, T. Jóhannesson, H. Hannesdóttir, S. Þ. Sigurðsson, and E. Berthier. "Modelling the 20th and 21st century evolution of Hoffellsjökull glacier, SE-Vatnajökull, Iceland." Cryosphere Discussions 5, no. 2 (April 6, 2011): 1055–88. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-5-1055-2011.
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Abstract. The Little Ice Age maximum extent of glaciers in Iceland was reached about 1890 AD and most glaciers in the country have retreated during the 20th century. A model for the surface mass balance and the flow of glaciers is used to reconstruct the 20th century retreat history of Hoffellsjökull, a south-flowing outlet glacier of Vatnajökull, which is located close to the southeast coast of Iceland. The bedrock topography was surveyed with radio-echo soundings in 2001. A wealth of data are available to force and constrain the model, e.g. surface elevation maps from ~1890, 1936, 1946, 1986, 2001, 2008 and 2010, mass balance observations conducted in 1936–1938 and after 2001, energy balance measurements after 2001, and glacier surface velocity derived by DGPS and correlation of SPOT5 images. The 21% volume loss of this glacier in the period 1895–2010 is realistically simulated with the model. After calibration of the model with past observations, it is used to simulate the future response of the glacier during the 21st century. The mass balance model was forced with an ensemble of temperature and precipitation scenarios from a study of the effect of climate change on energy production in the Nordic countries (the CES project). If the average climate of 2000–2009 is maintained into the future, the volume of the glacier is projected to be reduced by 30% with respect to the present at the end of this century, and the glacier will almost disappear if the climate warms as suggested by most of the climate change scenarios. Runoff from the glacier is predicted to increase for the next 30–40 years and decrease after that as a consequence of the diminishing ice-covered area.
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Aðalgeirsdóttir, G., S. Guðmundsson, H. Björnsson, F. Pálsson, T. Jóhannesson, H. Hannesdóttir, S. Þ. Sigurðsson, and E. Berthier. "Modelling the 20th and 21st century evolution of Hoffellsjökull glacier, SE-Vatnajökull, Iceland." Cryosphere 5, no. 4 (November 2, 2011): 961–75. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-961-2011.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. The Little Ice Age maximum extent of glaciers in Iceland was reached about 1890 AD and most glaciers in the country have retreated during the 20th century. A model for the surface mass balance and the flow of glaciers is used to reconstruct the 20th century retreat history of Hoffellsjökull, a south-flowing outlet glacier of the ice cap Vatnajökull, which is located close to the southeastern coast of Iceland. The bedrock topography was surveyed with radio-echo soundings in 2001. A wealth of data are available to force and constrain the model, e.g. surface elevation maps from ~1890, 1936, 1946, 1989, 2001, 2008 and 2010, mass balance observations conducted in 1936–1938 and after 2001, energy balance measurements after 2001, and glacier surface velocity derived by kinematic and differential GPS surveys and correlation of SPOT5 images. The approximately 20% volume loss of this glacier in the period 1895–2010 is realistically simulated with the model. After calibration of the model with past observations, it is used to simulate the future response of the glacier during the 21st century. The mass balance model was forced with an ensemble of temperature and precipitation scenarios derived from 10 global and 3 regional climate model simulations using the A1B emission scenario. If the average climate of 2000–2009 is maintained into the future, the volume of the glacier is projected to be reduced by 30% with respect to the present at the end of this century. If the climate warms, as suggested by most of the climate change scenarios, the model projects this glacier to almost disappear by the end of the 21st century. Runoff from the glacier is predicted to increase for the next 30–40 yr and decrease after that as a consequence of the diminishing ice-covered area.
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Sugiyama, Shin, Andreas Bauder, Conradin Zahno, and Martin Funk. "Evolution of Rhonegletscher, Switzerland, over the past 125 years and in the future: application of an improved flowline model." Annals of Glaciology 46 (2007): 268–74. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/172756407782871143.
Full textAbstract:
AbstractTo study the past and future evolution of Rhonegletscher, Switzerland, a flowline model was developed to include valley shape effects more accurately than conventional flowband models. In the model, the ice flux at a gridpoint was computed by a two-dimensional ice-flow model applied to the valley cross-section. The results suggested the underestimation of the accumulation area, which seems to be a general problem of flowline modelling arising from the model’s one-dimensional nature. The corrected mass balance was coupled with the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) change, which was reconstructed for the period 1878–2003 from temperature and precipitation records, to run the model for the past 125 years. The model satisfactorily reproduced both changes in the terminus position and the total ice volume derived from digital elevation models of the surface obtained by analyses of old maps and aerial photographs. This showed the model’s potential to simulate glacier evolution when an accurate mass balance could be determined. The future evolution of Rhonegletscher was evaluated with three mass-balance conditions: the mean for the period 1994–2003, and the most negative (2003) and positive (1978) mass-balance values for the past 50 years. The model predicted volume changes of –18%, –58% and +38% after 50 years for the three conditions, respectively.
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Delcourt, C., F. Pattyn, and M. Nolan. "Modelling historical and recent mass loss of McCall Glacier, Alaska, USA." Cryosphere Discussions 1, no. 2 (November 5, 2007): 385–409. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tcd-1-385-2007.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Volume loss of valley glaciers is now considered to be a significant contribution to sea level rise. Understanding and identifying the processes involved in accelerated mass loss are necessary to determine their impact on the global system. Here we present results from a series of model experiments with a higher-order thermomechanically coupled flowline model (Pattyn, 2002). Boundary conditions to the model are parameterizations of surface mass balance, geothermal heating, observed surface and 10 m ice depth temperatures. The time-dependent experiments aim at simulating the glacier retreat from its LIA expansion to present according to different scenarios and model parameters. Model output was validated against measurements of ice velocity, ice surface elevation and terminus position at different stages. Results demonstrate that a key factor in determining the glacier retreat history is the importance of internal accumulation (>50%) in the total mass balance. The persistence of a basal temperate zone characteristic for this polythermal glacier depends largely on its contribution. Accelerated glacier retreat since the early nineties seems directly related to the increase in ELA and the sudden reduction in AAR due to the fact that a large lower elevation cirque – previously an important accumulation area – became part of the ablation zone.
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Delcourt, C., F. Pattyn, and M. Nolan. "Modelling historical and recent mass loss of McCall Glacier, Alaska, USA." Cryosphere 2, no. 1 (March 18, 2008): 23–31. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-2-23-2008.
Full textAbstract:
Abstract. Volume loss of valley glaciers is now considered to be a significant contribution to sea level rise. Understanding and identifying the processes involved in accelerated mass loss are necessary to determine their impact on the global system. Here we present results from a series of model experiments with a higher-order thermomechanically coupled flowline model (Pattyn, 2002). Boundary conditions to the model are parameterizations of surface mass balance, geothermal heating, observed surface and 10 m ice depth temperatures. The time-dependent experiments aim at simulating the glacier retreat from its LIA expansion to present according to different scenarios and model parameters. Model output was validated against measurements of ice velocity, ice surface elevation and terminus position at different stages. Results demonstrate that a key factor in determining the glacier retreat history is the importance of internal accumulation (>50%) in the total mass balance. The persistence of a basal temperate zone characteristic for this polythermal glacier depends largely on its contribution. Accelerated glacier retreat since the early nineties seems directly related to the increase in ELA and the sudden reduction in AAR due to the fact that a large lower elevation cirque – previously an important accumulation area – became part of the ablation zone.
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Vincent, Christian, Patrick Wagnon, Joseph M. Shea, Walter W. Immerzeel, Philip Kraaijenbrink, Dibas Shrestha, Alvaro Soruco, et al. "Reduced melt on debris-covered glaciers: investigations from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal." Cryosphere 10, no. 4 (August 22, 2016): 1845–58. http://dx.doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1845-2016.
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Abstract. Approximately 25 % of the glacierized area in the Everest region is covered by debris, yet the surface mass balance of debris-covered portions of these glaciers has not been measured directly. In this study, ground-based measurements of surface elevation and ice depth are combined with terrestrial photogrammetry, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and satellite elevation models to derive the surface mass balance of the debris-covered tongue of Changri Nup Glacier, located in the Everest region. Over the debris-covered tongue, the mean elevation change between 2011 and 2015 is −0.93 m year−1 or −0.84 m water equivalent per year (w.e. a−1). The mean emergence velocity over this region, estimated from the total ice flux through a cross section immediately above the debris-covered zone, is +0.37 m w.e. a−1. The debris-covered portion of the glacier thus has an area-averaged mass balance of −1.21 ± 0.2 m w.e. a−1 between 5240 and 5525 m above sea level (m a.s.l.). Surface mass balances observed on nearby debris-free glaciers suggest that the ablation is strongly reduced (by ca. 1.8 m w.e. a−1) by the debris cover. The insulating effect of the debris cover has a larger effect on total mass loss than the enhanced ice ablation due to supraglacial ponds and exposed ice cliffs. This finding contradicts earlier geodetic studies and should be considered for modelling the future evolution of debris-covered glaciers.
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Cogley, J. Graham, W. P. Adams, M. A. Ecclestone, F. Jung-Rothenhäusler, and C. S. L. Ommanney. "Mass balance of White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, N.W.T., Canada, 1960–91." Journal of Glaciology 42, no. 142 (1996): 548–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0022143000003531.
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AbstractWhite Glacier is a valley glacier at 79.5°N with an area of 38.7 km2. Its mass balance has been measured, over 32 years with a 3 year gap, by standard techniques using the stratigraphic system with a stake density of the order of one stake per km2. Errors in stake mass balance are about ±(200–250) mm, due largely to the local unrepresentativeness of measurements. Errors in the whole-glacier mass balance B are of the same order as single-slake errors. However, the lag-1 autocorrelation in the time series of B is effectively zero, so it consists of independent random samples, and the error in the long-term “balance normal” 〈B〉 is noticeably less. 〈B〉 is −100 ± 48 mm. The equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) averages 970 m. with a range of 470–1400 m. Mass balance is well correlated with ELA, but detailed modelling shows that the equilibrium line is undetectable on visible-band satellite images. A reduced network of a few stakes could give acceptable but less accurate estimates of the mass balance, as could estimates based on data from a weather station 120 km away. There is no evidence of a trend in the mass balance of White Glacier. To detect a climatologically plausible trend will require a ten-fold reduction of measurement error, a conclusion which may well apply to most estimates of mass balance based on similar stake densities.
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Fierz, Charles, Christian Plüss, and Eric Martin. "Modelling the snow cover in a complex Alpine topography." Annals of Glaciology 25 (1997): 312–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.3189/s0260305500014208.
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The areal distribution of snow cover and the variability of its characteristics were investigated at various locations in the eastern Swiss Alps. An areal energy-balance (AEB) model was used to calculate the predominant energy fluxes at the snow–atmosphere interface based on automatic meteorological measurements as input. By coupling the AEB model with a one-dimensional, physically based mass and energy-balance model of the snowpack, temperature distribution as well as energy and mass flow in the snowpack were simulated at three different locations in the topographically complex environment at Weissfluhjoch-Davos, 2540 m a.s.l. On a horizontal test site, calculated energy fluxes and characteristics of the snow cover are in good agreement with their measured counterparts. On inclined slopes, the temperature distribution is well represented by the coupled models, but the snow depth and density are not yet satisfactorily simulated. This discrepancy may be attributed to inhomogeneous accumulation and deposition of snow on the weather and lee sides.
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Fierz, Charles, Christian PlÜss, and Eric Martin. "Modelling the snow cover in a complex Alpine topography." Annals of Glaciology 25 (1997): 312–16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0260305500014208.
Full textAbstract:
The areal distribution of snow cover and the variability of its characteristics were investigated at various locations in the eastern Swiss Alps. An areal energy-balance (AEB) model was used to calculate the predominant energy fluxes at the snow atmosphere interface based on automatic meteorological measurements as input. By coupling the AEB model with a one-dimensional, physically based mass and energy-balance model of the snowpack, temperature distribution as well as energy and mass flow-in the snowpack were simulated at three different locations in the topographically complex environment at Weissfluhjoch-Davos, 2540 m a.s.l. On a horizontal test site, calculated energy fluxes and characteristics of the snow cover are in good agreement with their measured counterparts. On inclined slopes, the temperature distribution is well represented by the coupled models, but the snow depth and density are not yet satisfactorily simulated. This discrepancy may be attributed to inhomogeneous accumulation and deposition of snow on the weather and lee sides.