scholarly journals Mass-balance observation, reconstruction and sensitivity of Stok glacier, Ladakh region, India, between 1978 and 2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 66 (258) ◽  
pp. 627-642 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Soheb ◽  
Alagappan Ramanathan ◽  
Thupstan Angchuk ◽  
Arindan Mandal ◽  
Naveen Kumar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Glacier Area ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Balance Condition ◽  
Data Period ◽  
Good Agreement

AbstractWe present the first-ever mass-balance (MB) observation (2014–19), reconstruction (between 1978 and 2019) and sensitivity of debris-free Stok glacier (33.98°N, 77.45°E), Ladakh Region, India. In-situ MB was negative throughout the study period except in 2018/19 when the glacier witnessed a balanced condition. For MB modelling, three periods were considered based on the available data. Period I (1978–87, 1988/89) witnessed a near balance condition (−0.03 ± 0.35 m w.e. a−1) with five positive MB years. Whereas Period II (1998–2002, 2003–09) and III (2011–19) experienced high (−0.9 ± 0.35 m w.e. a−1) and moderate (−0.46 ± 0.35 m w.e. a−1) negative MBs, respectively. Glacier area for these periods was derived from the Corona, Landsat and PlanetScope imageries using a semi-automatic approach. The in-situ and modelled MBs were in good agreement with RMSE of 0.23 m w.e. a−1, R2 = 0.92, P < 0.05. The average mass loss was moderate (−0.47 ± 0.35 m w.e. a−1) over 28 hydrological years between 1978 and 2019. Sensitivity analysis showed that the glacier was more sensitive to summer temperature (−0.32 m w.e. a−1 °C−1) and winter precipitation (0.12 m w.e. a−1 for ± 10%). It was estimated that ~27% increase in precipitation is required on Stok glacier to compensate for the mass loss due to 1°C rise in temperature.

scholarly journals Glacier Surface Mass Balance in the Suntar-Khayata Mountains, Northeastern Siberia

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Zhang ◽  
Xin Wang ◽  
Zongli Jiang ◽  
Junfeng Wei ◽  
Hiroyuki Enomoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Mass Balance ◽  
Negative Mass ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Northeastern Siberia ◽  
Response To Temperature ◽  
Rapid Mass

Arctic glaciers comprise a small fraction of the world’s land ice area, but their ongoing mass loss currently represents a large cryospheric contribution to the sea level rise. In the Suntar-Khayata Mountains (SKMs) of northeastern Siberia, in situ measurements of glacier surface mass balance (SMB) are relatively sparse, limiting our understanding of the spatiotemporal patterns of regional mass loss. Here, we present SMB time series for all glaciers in the SKMs, estimated through a glacier SMB model. Our results yielded an average SMB of −0.22 m water equivalents (w.e.) year−1 for the whole region during 1951–2011. We found that 77.4% of these glaciers had a negative mass balance and detected slightly negative mass balance prior to 1991 and significantly rapid mass loss since 1991. The analysis suggests that the rapidly accelerating mass loss was dominated by increased surface melting, while the importance of refreezing in the SMB progressively decreased over time. Projections under two future climate scenarios confirmed the sustained rapid shrinkage of these glaciers. In response to temperature rise, the total present glacier area is likely to decrease by around 50% during the period 2071–2100 under representative concentration pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5).

scholarly journals The geodetic mass balance of Eyjafjallajökull ice cap for 1945–2014: processing guidelines and relation to climate

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (251) ◽  
pp. 395-409 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOAQUÍN M. C. BELART ◽  
EYJÓLFUR MAGNÚSSON ◽  
ETIENNE BERTHIER ◽  
FINNUR PÁLSSON ◽  
GUðFINNA AÐALGEIRSDÓTTIR ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Robust Statistics ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Stereo Images ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Static Sensitivity

ABSTRACTMass-balance measurements of Icelandic glaciers are sparse through the 20th century. However, the large archive of stereo images available allows estimates of glacier-wide mass balance ($\dot{B}$) in decadal time steps since 1945. Combined with climate records, they provide further insight into glacier–climate relationship. This study presents a workflow to process aerial photographs (1945–1995), spy satellite imagery (1977–1980) and modern satellite stereo images (since 2000) using photogrammetric techniques and robust statistics in a highly automated, open-source pipeline to retrieve seasonally corrected, decadal glacier-wide geodetic mass balances. In our test area, Eyjafjallajökull (S-Iceland, ~70 km2), we obtain a mass balance of $<![CDATA[ $ \dot{\curr B}_{\curr 1945}^{\curr 2014} \curr = -0.27 \pm 0.03\,{\rm \curr m\ w}{\rm. \curr e}{\rm.} {\rm \curr a}^{{\rm \ndash \curr 1}}$, with a maximum and minimum of $\dot{\curr B}_{\curr 1984}^{\curr 1989} \curr = 0.77 \curr \pm 0.19\,{\rm \curr m\ \curr w}{\rm\curr . e}{\rm\curr .} {\rm\curr a}^{{\rm\curr \ndash 1}}$ and $\dot{\curr B}_{\curr 1994}^{\curr 1998}\curr = -1.94 \curr \pm 0.34\,{\rm \curr m\ w}{\rm\curr . e}{\rm\curr .} {\rm \curr a}^{{\rm\curr \ndash 1}}$, respectively, attributed to climatic forcing, and $\dot{\curr B}_{\curr 2009}^{\curr 2010} \curr = -3.39{\rm \;} \curr \pm {\rm \;} \curr 0.43\,{\rm \curr m\ w}{\rm\curr . e}{\rm\curr .} {\rm\curr a}^{{\rm\curr \ndash 1}}$, mostly caused by the April 2010 eruption. The reference-surface mass balances correlate with summer temperature and winter precipitation, and linear regression accounts for 80% of the mass-balance variability, yielding a static sensitivity of mass balance to summer temperature and winter precipitation of − 2.1 ± 0.4 m w.e.a–1K–1 and 0.5 ± 0.3 m w.e.a–1 (10%)–1, respectively. This study serves as a template that can be used to estimate the mass-balance changes and glaciers' response to climate.

scholarly journals Decay of a long-term monitored glacier: Careser Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, European Alps)

2013 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 1819-1838 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Carturan ◽  
C. Baroni ◽  
M. Becker ◽  
A. Bellin ◽  
O. Cainelli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
European Alps ◽  
Systematic Observation ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Observation Series ◽  
The 19Th Century

Abstract. The continuation of valuable, long-term glacier observation series is threatened by the accelerated mass loss which currently affects a large portion of so-called "benchmark" glaciers. In this work we present the evolution of the Careser Glacier, from the beginning of systematic observation at the end of the 19th century to its current condition in 2012. In addition to having one of the longest and richest observation records among the Italian glaciers, Careser is unique in the Italian Alps for its 46 yr mass balance series that started in 1967. In the present study, variations in the length, area and volume of the glacier since 1897 are examined, updating and validating the series of direct mass balance observations and adding to the mass balance record into the past using the geodetic method. The glacier is currently strongly out of balance and in rapid decay; its average mass loss rate over the last 3 decades was 1.5 m water equivalent per year, increasing to 2.0 m water equivalent per year in the last decade. Although these rates are not representative at a regional scale, year-to-year variations in mass balance show an unexpected increase in correlation with other glaciers in the Alps, during the last 3 decades. If mass loss continues at this pace, the glacier will disappear within a few decades, putting an end to this unique observation series.

scholarly journals Glaciers and Climate in Svalbard: Statistical Analysis and Reconstruction of the Brøggerbreen Mass Balance for the Last 77 Years

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 148-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lefauconnier ◽  
J.O. Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Multiple Correlation Coefficient ◽  
Wave Radiation ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Multiple Correlation ◽  
Long Wave ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Balance Deficit ◽  
Good Agreement

The long series of mass-balance data obtained by the Norsk Polarinstitutt on Brøggerbreen for the period 1967–88 has been correlated to climatological parameters from the meteorological station in Ny-Ålesund. The best multiple correlation coefficient was obtained between mass balance and positive summer and autumn temperatures combined with winter precipitations, for which R = 0.90. The regression equation gives a very good agreement between observed and estimated mass balance for Brøggerbreen. A test for 8 years which includes summer long-wave radiation, gives a coefficient of R = 0.98. Based on the good correlation between temperatures at several stations, we reconstructed summer temperatures in Longyearbyen and Brøggerbreen mass balances for 1912–88. The end of the cold period before 1918 is connected with historical observations of the maximum advance of cirque glaciers. After an increase between 1912 and 1920, summer and autumn temperatures decreased slowly. From 1920 this decay has been of −0.7°C. Mass balance has been negative since 1918, and the total mass lost at Brøggerbreen is 34.35 m of water equivalent. For the period with available data in Ny-Ålesund (1969–88), a very slight cooling during the ablation period and an increase in winter precipitation has maintained the reduction of the net balance deficit.

scholarly journals Local topography increasingly influences the mass balance of a retreating cirque glacier

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Florentine ◽  
Joel Harper ◽  
Daniel Fagre ◽  
Johnnie Moore ◽  
Erich Peitzsch
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Regional Climate ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Variables ◽  
Climate Data ◽  
Local Effects ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Measured Mass

Abstract. Local topographically driven processes such as wind drifting, avalanching, and shading, are known to alter the relationship between the mass balance of small cirque glaciers and regional climate. Yet partitioning such local effects apart from regional climate influence has proven difficult, creating uncertainty in the climate representativeness of some glaciers. We address this problem for Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, USA using field-measured surface mass balance, geodetic constraints on mass balance, and regional climate data recorded at a network of meteorological stations. Geodetically derived mass changes between 1950–1960, 1960–2005, and 2005–2014 document average mass loss rates during each period at −0.22±0.12 m w.e. yr−1, −0.18±0.05 m w.e. yr−1, and −0.10±0.03 m w.e. yr−1. A correlation of field-measured mass balance and regional climate variables closely predicts the geodetically measured mass loss from 2005–2014. However, this correlation overestimates glacier mass balance for 1950–1960 by +1.18±0.92 m w.e. yr−1. This suggests that local effects, not represented in regional climate variables, have become a more dominant driver of the net mass balance as the glacier lost 0.50 km2 and retreated further into its cirque.

scholarly journals GrSMBMIP: Intercomparison of the modelled 1980-2012 surface mass balance over the Greenland Ice sheet

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xavier Fettweis ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Models ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Cores ◽  
Surface Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Meltwater Runoff

&lt;p&gt;The Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) mass loss has been accelerating at a rate of about 20 +/- 10 Gt/yr&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; since the end of the 1990's, with around 60% of this mass loss directly attributed to enhanced surface meltwater runoff. However, in the climate and glaciology communities, different approaches exist on how to model the different surface mass balance (SMB) components using: (1) complex physically-based climate models which are computationally expensive; (2) intermediate complexity energy balance models; (3) simple and fast positive degree day models which base their inferences on statistical principles and are computationally highly efficient. Additionally, many of these models compute the SMB components based on different spatial and temporal resolutions, with different forcing fields as well as different ice sheet topographies and extents, making inter-comparison difficult. In the GrIS SMB model intercomparison project (GrSMBMIP) we address these issues by forcing each model with the same data (i.e., the ERA-Interim reanalysis) except for two global models for which this forcing is limited to the oceanic conditions, and at the same time by interpolating all modelled results onto a common ice sheet mask at 1 km horizontal resolution for the common period 1980-2012. The SMB outputs from 13 models are then compared over the GrIS to (1) SMB estimates using a combination of gravimetric remote sensing data from GRACE and measured ice discharge, (2) ice cores, snow pits, in-situ SMB observations, and (3) remotely sensed bare ice extent from MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). Our results reveal that the mean GrIS SMB of all 13 models has been positive between 1980 and 2012 with an average of 340 +/- 112 Gt/yr, but has decreased at an average rate of -7.3 Gt/yr&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; (with a significance of 96%), mainly driven by an increase of 8.0 Gt/yr&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; (with a significance of 98%) in meltwater runoff. Spatially, the largest spread among models can be found around the margins of the ice sheet, highlighting the need for accurate representation of the GrIS ablation zone extent and processes driving the surface melt. In addition, a higher density of in-situ SMB observations is required, especially in the south-east accumulation zone, where the model spread can reach 2 mWE/yr due to large discrepancies in modelled snowfall accumulation. Overall, polar regional climate models (RCMs) perform the best compared to observations, in particular for simulating precipitation patterns. However, other simpler and faster models have biases of same order than RCMs with observations and remain then useful tools for long-term simulations. It is also interesting to note that the ensemble mean of the 13 models produces the best estimate of the present day SMB relative to observations, suggesting that biases are not systematic among models. Finally, results from MAR forced by ERA5 will be added in this intercomparison to evaluate the added value of using this new reanalysis as forcing vs the former ERA-Interim reanalysis (used in SMBMIP).&amp;#160;&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Relation between the Mass Balance of Western Canadian Mountain Glaciers and Meteorological Data

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (116) ◽  
pp. 11-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Letréguilly
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Equilibrium Line ◽  
Regression Equations ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Mountain Glaciers

AbstractThe mass balance, summer balance, winter balance, and equilibrium-line altitude of three Canadian glaciers (Peyto, Place, and Sentinel Glaciers) are compared with the meteorological records of neighbouring stations for the period 1966—84. While Peyto Glacier’s mass balance is almost entirely related to summer temperature, Sentinel Glacier’s mass balance is mostly controlled by winter precipitation. Place Glacier is influenced by both elements. Statistical reconstructions are presented for the three glaciers, using the best regression equations with the meteorological records since 1938.

scholarly journals Mass balance in the Glacier Bay area of Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, 1995–2011, using airborne laser altimetry

2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (216) ◽  
pp. 632-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Austin J. Johnson ◽  
Christopher F. Larsen ◽  
Nathaniel Murphy ◽  
Anthony A. Arendt ◽  
S. Lee Zirnheld
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Mass Loss Rate ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Center Line ◽  
Laser Altimetry ◽  
Average Mass ◽  
Glacier Bay ◽  
Airborne Laser

AbstractThe Glacier Bay region of southeast Alaska, USA, and British Columbia, Canada, has undergone major glacier retreat since the Little Ice Age (LIA). We used airborne laser altimetry elevation data acquired between 1995 and 2011 to estimate the mass loss of the Glacier Bay region over four time periods (1995–2000, 2000–05, 2005–09, 2009–11). For each glacier, we extrapolated from center-line profiles to the entire glacier to estimate glacier-wide mass balance, and then averaged these results over the entire region using three difference methods (normalized elevation, area-weighted method and simple average). We found that there was large interannual variability of the mass loss since 1995 compared with the long-term (post-LIA) average. For the full period (1995–2011) the average mass loss was 3.93 ± 0.89 Gt a−1 (0.6 ± 0.1 m w.e. a−1), compared with 17.8 Gt a−1 for the post-LIA (1770–1948) rate. Our mass loss rate is consistent with GRACE gravity signal changes for the 2003–10 period. Our results also show that there is a lower bias due to center-line profiling than was previously found by a digital elevation model difference method.

scholarly journals Favorable climatic regime for maintaining the present-day geometry of the Gregoriev Glacier, Inner Tien Shan

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 539-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Fujita ◽  
N. Takeuchi ◽  
S. A. Nikitin ◽  
A. B. Surazakov ◽  
S. Okamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Current State ◽  
Climatic Regime ◽  
Good Agreement

Abstract. We conducted 2 yr (2005–2007) of in situ meteorological and glaciological observations on the Gregoriev Glacier, a flat-top glacier within the Inner Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan. Relative carrier-phase GPS surveys reveal a vertical lowering at the summit of the glacier. Based on snow density data and an energy-mass balance model, we estimate that the annual precipitation and summer mean temperature required to maintain the glacier in the current state are 289 mm and −3.8 °C at the glacier summit (4600 m a.s.l.), respectively. The good agreement between dynamically derived precipitation and the long-term observed precipitation at a nearby station in the Tien Shan (296 mm at 3614 m a.s.l. for the period 1930–2002) suggests that the glacier has been in a near steady-state in terms of mass supply. The glacier mass-balance, reconstructed based on meteorological data from the Tien Shan station for the past 80 yr, explains the observed fluctuations in glacier extent, particularly the negative mass balance in the 1990s.

scholarly journals Long-Term Glacier Mass-Balance Investigations in Svalbard, 1950–88

1990 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 102-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jon Ove Hagen ◽  
Olav Liestøl
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Climatic Warming ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Stable Conditions ◽  
The Mean ◽  
One Year

Mass-balance investigations on glaciers in Svalbard at high latitudes (78°N) show that the ice masses have been steadily decreasing during the period 1950–88. Detailed annual observations have been carried out on Brøggerbreen since 1966 and Lovénbreen since 1967. The mean specific net balances are −0.46 and −0.37 m year−1 water equivalent respectively. Only one year had positive net balance in this period. The cumulative mass lost in the period is then more than 10% of the volume in 1967. Zero net balance would be obtained if the summer temperature was lowered about 1°C or if the winter precipitation increased about 50%. There is a strong correlation between the net mass balance and the height of the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA). Because of the high amount of superimposed ice (10–30% of winter balance) stake readings are necessary to find the ELA. There is no sign of climatic warming through increased melting. The trend analysis of the data from the last 20 years shows stable conditions with a slight increase of the winter balance. The net balance is then slightly increasing and thus less negative than 20 years ago.

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