scholarly journals Glacier mass balance over the central Nyainqentanglha Range during recent decades derived from remote-sensing data

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (251) ◽  
pp. 422-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
KUNPENG WU ◽  
SHIYIN LIU ◽  
ZONGLI JIANG ◽  
JUNLI XU ◽  
JUNFENG WEI
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Topographic Maps ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Elevation Model

ABSTRACTTo obtain information on changes in glacier mass balance in the central Nyainqentanglha Range, a comprehensive study was carried out based on digital-elevation models derived from the 1968 topographic maps, the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission DEM (2000) and TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (2013). Glacier area changes between 1968 and 2016 were derived from topographic maps and Landsat OLI images. This showed the area contained 715 glaciers, with an area of 1713.42 ± 51.82 km2, in 2016. Ice cover has been shrinking by 0.68 ± 0.05% a−1 since 1968. The glacier area covered by debris accounted for 11.9% of the total and decreased in the SE–NW directions. Using digital elevation model differencing and differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry, a significant mass loss of 0.46 ± 0.10 m w.e. a−1 has been recorded since 1968; mass losses accelerated from 0.42 ± 0.20 m w.e. a−1 to 0.60 ± 0.20 m w.e. a−1 between 1968–2000 and 2000–2013, with thinning noticeably greater on the debris-covered ice than the clean ice. Surface-elevation changes can be influenced by ice cliffs, as well as debris cover and land- or lake-terminating glaciers. Changes showed spatial and temporal heterogeneity and a substantial correlation with climate warming and decreased precipitation.

scholarly journals Remote-sensing estimate of glacier mass balance over the central Nyainqentanglha Range during 1968 – ∼ 2013

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kunpeng Wu ◽  
Shiyin Liu ◽  
Zongli Jiang ◽  
Junli Xu ◽  
Junfeng Wei
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Recent Decade ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Ice Surface ◽  
Air Temperatures ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Changes

Abstract. With high air temperatures and annual precipitation, maritime glaciers in southeastern Tibet are sensitive to climate change. Current glaciological knowledge of those in the central Nyainqentanglha Range is still limited because of their inaccessibility and low-quality data. To obtain information on changes in glacier area, length and mass balance, a comprehensive study was carried out based on topographic maps and Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images (1968 and 2016), and on digital-elevation models (DEM) derived from the 1968 maps, from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM (2000), and from TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (∼ 2013). This showed the area contained 715 glaciers, with an area of 1713.42 ± 51.82 km2, in 2016. Ice cover has been shrinking by 0.68 % ± 0.05% a−1 since 1968, although in the most recent decade this rate has slowed. The glacier area covered by debris accounted for 11.9 % of the total and decreased in SE-NW directions. Using DEM differencing and Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR), a significant mass deficit of 0.46 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 has been recorded since 1968; mass losses accelerating from 0.42 ± 0.05 m w.e. a−1 to 0.60 ± 0.20 m w.e. a−1 during 1968–2000 and 2000–∼ 2013, with thinning noticeably greater on the debris-covered ice than the clean ice. Surface-elevation changes can be influenced by ice cliffs, as well as debris cover, and land- or lake-terminating glaciers and supraglacial lakes. Changes showed spatial and temporal heterogeneity and a substantial correlation with climate warming.

Changes in glacier extent and surface elevations in the Depuchangdake region of northwestern Tibet, China

2016 ◽  
Vol 85 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiguo Li ◽  
Lide Tian ◽  
Hongbo Wu ◽  
Weicai Wang ◽  
Shuhong Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Glacier Retreat ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Laser Altimeter ◽  
Total Mass Loss ◽  
Elevation Model

Remote sensing data, including those from Landsat Thematic Mapper/Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (TM/ETM +), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission Digital Elevation Model (SRTM4.1 DEM), and the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System Ice, Cloud, and Land Elevation Satellite (Glas/ICESat), show that from 1991 to 2013 the glacier area in the Depuchangdake region of northwestern Tibet decreased from 409 to 393 km2, an overall loss of 16 km2, or 3.9% of the entire 1991 glacial area. The mean glacier-thinning rate was − 0.40 ± 0.16 m equivalent height of water per year (w.e./yr), equating to a glacier mass balance of − 0.16 ± 0.07 km3 w.e./yr. Total mass loss from 2003 to 2009 was − 1.13 ± 0.46 km3. Glacier retreat likely reflects increases in annual total radiation, annual positive degree days, and maximum temperature, with concurrent increases in precipitation insufficient to replenish glacial mass loss. The rate of glacier retreat in Depuchangdake is less than that for Himalayan glaciers in Indian monsoon-dominated areas, but greater than that for Karakoram glaciers in mid-latitude westerly-dominated areas. Glacier type, climate zone, and climate change all impact on the differing degrees of long-term regional glacial change rate; however, special glacier distribution forms can sometimes lead to exceptional circumstances.

scholarly journals Examining geodetic glacier mass balance in the eastern Pamir transition zone

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (260) ◽  
pp. 927-937
Author(s):  
Mingyang Lv ◽  
Duncan J. Quincey ◽  
Huadong Guo ◽  
Owen King ◽  
Guang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Statistical Difference ◽  
Mass Gain ◽  
High Mountain ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Negative Mass ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Individual Scale

AbstractGlaciers in the eastern Pamir have reportedly been gaining mass during recent decades, even though glaciers in most other regions in High Mountain Asia have been in recession. Questions still remain about whether the trend is strengthening or weakening, and how far the positive balances extend into the eastern Pamir. To address these gaps, we use three different digital elevation models to reconstruct glacier surface elevation changes over two periods (2000–09 and 2000–15/16). We characterize the eastern Pamir as a zone of transition from positive to negative mass balance with the boundary lying at the northern end of Kongur Tagh, and find that glaciers situated at higher elevations are those with the most positive balances. Most (67% of 55) glaciers displayed a net mass gain since the 21st century. This led to an increasing regional geodetic glacier mass balance from −0.06 ± 0.16 m w.e. a−1 in 2000–09 to 0.06 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 in 2000–15/16. Surge-type glaciers, which are prevalent in the eastern Pamir, showed fluctuations in mass balance on an individual scale during and after surges, but no statistical difference compared to non-surge-type glaciers when aggregated across the region.

scholarly journals Geodetic Mass Balances and Area Changes of Echaurren Norte Glacier (Central Andes, Chile) between 1955 and 2015

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 260 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Farías-Barahona ◽  
Sebastián Vivero ◽  
Gino Casassa ◽  
Marius Schaefer ◽  
Flavia Burger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Central Andes ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Positive Mass ◽  
Negative Mass ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Monitoring Service

The Echaurren Norte Glacier is a reference glacier for the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) network and has the longest time series of glacier mass balance data in the Southern Hemisphere. The data has been obtained by the direct glaciological method since 1975. In this study, we calculated glacier area changes using satellite images and historical aerial photographs, as well as geodetic mass balances for different periods between 1955 and 2015 for the Echaurren Norte Glacier in the Central Andes of Chile. Over this period, this glacier lost 65% of its original area and disaggregated into two ice bodies in the late 1990s. The geodetic mass balances were calculated by differencing digital elevation models derived from several sources. The results indicated a mean cumulative glacier wide mass loss of −40.64 ± 5.19 m w.e. (−0.68 ± 0.09 m w.e. a−1). Within this overall downwasting trend, a positive mass balance of 0.54 ± 0.40 m w.e. a−1 was detected for the period 2000–2009. These estimates agree with the results obtained with the glaciological method during the same time span. Highly negative mass change rates were found from 2010 onwards, with −1.20 ± 0.09 m w.e. a−1 during an unprecedented drought in Central Andes of Chile. The observed area and the elevation changes indicate that the Echaurren Norte Glacier may disappear in the coming years if negative mass balance rates prevail.

scholarly journals Changes in the elevation and extent of two glaciers along the Yanglonghe river, Qilian Shan, China

2010 ◽  
Vol 56 (196) ◽  
pp. 309-317 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghui Shangguan ◽  
Shiyin Liu ◽  
Yongjian Ding ◽  
Yingsong Zhang ◽  
Jing Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Historical Data ◽  
Topographic Maps ◽  
Gps Data ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Weather Station ◽  
Volume Depletion ◽  
Ice Volume ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Using Data

AbstractWe use topographic maps, historical data, multispectral satellite data and real-time kinematic GPS data to analyze glacier area, length and ice-elevation changes of two glaciers in the central Qilian Shan, China, between 1956 and 2007. We find that the fronts of Yanglonghe glacier No. 1 (5Y432A1) and Yanglonghe glacier No. 5 (5Y432A5) have retreated by 266.5 ± 37.1 m (5.2 ± 0.73 m a−1) and 181.4 ± 37.1 m (3.6 ± 0.73 m a−1) respectively, and that this retreat accelerated after 1999. During the study period, the glacier areas decreased by ∼4.1% and 15.9% respectively. In addition, spatially non-uniform thinning, which averaged 20.2 ± 11 m (0.4 ± 0.22 m a−1) and 16.9 ± 11 m (0.33 ± 0.22 m a−1) in the ablation areas of 5Y432A1 and 5Y432A5 respectively, is observed using digital elevation models constructed using data from 1956, 1977 and 2007. The ice-volume depletion from 5Y432A1 (2.91 × 107 m3) was 2.7 times greater than from the smaller 5Y432A5 (1.08 × 107 m3). Based on records from nearby Tuole weather station, increasing annual temperatures are principally responsible for the observed glacier thinning and retreat.

scholarly journals Glacier variations at Aru Co in western Tibet from 1971 to 2016 derived from remote-sensing data

2018 ◽  
Vol 64 (245) ◽  
pp. 397-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZHEN ZHANG ◽  
SHIYIN LIU ◽  
YONG ZHANG ◽  
JUNFENG WEI ◽  
ZONGLI JIANG ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Remote Sensing Data ◽  
Topographic Maps ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Positive Mass ◽  
Landsat Images ◽  
Pressure Melting ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance ◽  
Sustained Increase

ABSTRACTTwin glaciers collapsed in 2016 near Aru Co, western Tibet and caused extreme loss to human beings. In this study, we attempted to track the dynamics of glaciers in the region, for example the glacier area and mass changes in Aru Co for the period 1971–2016, which were determined using topographic maps and Landsat images and ASTER-derived DEMs (2011–16), the Shuttle Radar Terrain Mission DEM (2000) and topographic maps (1971). Our results showed that the glacier area of Aru Co decreased by −0.4 ± 4.1% during 1971–2016. The geodetic mass-balance results showed that the glaciers in Aru Co lost mass at a rate of −0.15 ± 0.30 m w.e. a−1 during 1971–99, while they gained mass at a rate of 0.33 ± 0.61 m w.e. a−1 for the period 1999–2016. The twin glaciers experienced a larger negative mass budget than the others in the region before 1999. This process produced large amounts of meltwater, followed by a sustained increase in the meltwater on the pressure melting point, possibly in response to a period of positive mass balance (1999–2016) and then, transferred to the glacier bed until the glaciers collapsed.

scholarly journals Recent glacier mass balance and area changes in the Kangri Karpo Mountain derived from multi-sources of DEMs and glacier inventories

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wu Kunpeng ◽  
Liu Shiyin ◽  
Jiang Zongli ◽  
Xu Junli ◽  
Wei Junfeng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Labor Costs ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Increase Risk ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Length Changes ◽  
Global Mean Sea Level

Abstract. Due to the effect of Indian monsoon, the Kangri Karpo Mountain, located in southeast Tibetan Plateau, is the most humid region of Tibetan Plateau, and become one of the most important and concentrated regions with maritime (temperate) glaciers development. Glacier mass loss in Kangri Karpo Mountain is important contributor to global mean sea level rise, and it change runoff distribution, increase risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Because of their difficult accessibility and high labor costs, the knowledge of glaciological parameters of glaciers in the Kangri Karpo Mountain is still limited. This study presents glacier elevation changes in the Kangri Karpo Mountain, by utilizing geodetic methods based on digital elevation models (DEM) derived from Topographic Maps (1980), the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM (2000), and TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (2014). Glacier area and length changes were derived from Topographical Maps and Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images between 1980 and 2015. Our results show that the Kangri Karpo Mountain contains 1166 glaciers, with an area of 2048.50 ± 48.65 km2 in 2015. Ice cover in the Kangri Karpo Mountain diminished by 679.51 ± 59.49 km2 (24.9 % ± 2.2 %) or 0.71 % ± 0.06 % a-1 from 1980–2015, however, with nine glaciers in advance from 1980–2015. Glaciers with area of 788.28 km2 in the region, as derived from DEM differencing, have experienced a mean mass deficit of 0.46 ± 0.08 m w.e. a-1 from 1980–2014. These glaciers showed slight accelerated shrinkage and significant accelerated mass loss during 2000–2015 compared to that during 1980–2000, which is consistent with the tendency of climate warming.

scholarly journals Mass-balance changes of the debris-covered glaciers in the Langtang Himal, Nepal, from 1974 to 1999

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (226) ◽  
pp. 373-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Pellicciotti ◽  
Christa Stephan ◽  
Evan Miles ◽  
Sam Herreid ◽  
Walter W. Immerzeel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Low Velocity ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Supraglacial Lakes ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Spatial Differences ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Glacier Ablation ◽  
The Himalaya

AbstractThick debris cover on glaciers can significantly reduce ice melt. However, several studies have suggested that debris-covered glaciers in the Himalaya might have lost mass at a rate similar to debris-free glaciers. We reconstruct elevation and mass changes for the debris-covered glaciers of the upper Langtang valley, Nepalese Himalaya, using a digital elevation model (DEM) from 1974 stereo Hexagon satellite data and the 2000 SRTM (Shuttle Radar Topography Mission) DEM. Uncertainties are high in the accumulation areas, due to data gaps in the SRTM and difficulties with delineation of the glacier borders. Even with these uncertainties, we obtain thinning rates comparable to those of several other studies in the Himalaya. In particular, we obtain a total mass balance for the investigated debris-covered glaciers of the basin of –0.32 ± 0.18 m w.e. a−1. However, there are major spatial differences both between glaciers and within any single glacier, exhibiting a very distinct nonlinear mass-balance profile with elevation. Through analysis of surface velocities derived from Landsat ETM+ imagery, we show that thinning occurs in areas of low velocity and low slope. These areas are prone to a general, dynamic decay of surface features and to the development of supraglacial lakes and ice cliffs, which may be responsible for a considerable increase in overall glacier ablation.

scholarly journals An 11-year record of mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, determined using a geostatistical approach

2016 ◽  
Vol 63 (238) ◽  
pp. 199-217 ◽  
Author(s):  
NICOLAS J. CULLEN ◽  
BRIAN ANDERSON ◽  
PASCAL SIRGUEY ◽  
DOROTHEA STUMM ◽  
ANDREW MACKINTOSH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Spatial Density ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Geostatistical Approach ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Kriging Approach ◽  
Better Than

ABSTRACTRecognising the scarcity of glacier mass-balance data in the Southern Hemisphere, a mass-balance measurement programme was started at Brewster Glacier in the Southern Alps of New Zealand in 2004. Evolution of the measurement regime over the 11 years of data recorded means there are differences in the spatial density of data obtained. To ensure the temporal integrity of the dataset a new geostatistical approach is developed to calculate mass balance. Spatial co-variance between elevation and snow depth allows a digital elevation model to be used in a co-kriging approach to develop a snow depth index (SDI). By capturing the observed spatial variability in snow depth, the SDI is a more reliable predictor than elevation and is used to adjust each year of measurements consistently despite variability in sampling spatial density. The SDI also resolves the spatial structure of summer balance better than elevation. Co-kriging is used again to spatially interpolate a derived mean summer balance index using SDI as a co-variate, which yields a spatial predictor for summer balance. The average glacier-wide surface winter, summer and annual balances over the period 2005–15 are 2484, −2586 and −102 mm w.e., respectively, with changes in summer balance explaining most of the variability in annual balance.

scholarly journals Recent geodetic mass balance of Monte Tronador glaciers, northern Patagonian Andes

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 619-634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucas Ruiz ◽  
Etienne Berthier ◽  
Maximiliano Viale ◽  
Pierre Pitte ◽  
Mariano H. Masiokas
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Shuttle Radar Topography Mission ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Mass Budget ◽  
Mountain Glaciers ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Patagonian Andes

Abstract. Glaciers in the northern Patagonian Andes (35–46° S) have shown a dramatic decline in area in the last decades. However, little is known about glacier mass balance changes in this region. This study presents a geodetic mass balance estimate of Monte Tronador (41.15° S; 71.88° W) glaciers by comparing a Pléiades digital elevation model (DEM) acquired in 2012 with the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) X-band DEM acquired in 2000. We find a slightly negative Monte-Tronador-wide mass budget of −0.17 m w.e. a−1 (ranging from −0.54 to 0.14 m w.e. a−1 for individual glaciers) and a slightly negative trend in glacier extent (−0.16 % a−1) over the 2000–2012 period. With a few exceptions, debris-covered valley glaciers that descend below a bedrock cliff are losing mass at higher rates, while mountain glaciers with termini located above this cliff are closer to mass equilibrium. Climate variations over the last decades show a notable increase in warm season temperatures in the late 1970s but limited warming afterwards. These warmer conditions combined with an overall drying trend may explain the moderate ice mass loss observed at Monte Tronador. The almost balanced mass budget of mountain glaciers suggests that they are probably approaching a dynamic equilibrium with current (post-1977) climate, whereas the valley glaciers tongues will continue to retreat. The slightly negative overall mass budget of Monte Tronador glaciers contrasts with the highly negative mass balance estimates observed in the Patagonian ice fields further south.

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