scholarly journals Analyses of a surging outlet glacier of Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 23-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir ◽  
Helgi Björnsson ◽  
Finnur Pálsson ◽  
Eyjolfur Magnússon
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
History Of ◽  
Northern Side ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Approximation Type

AbstractMany of the large outlet glaciers of Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland, have a history of regular surges. The mass transport during surges can be up to 25% of the total ice flux. This is a considerable amount that affects the whole ice cap, the location of the ice divides, the flow field and the size and shape of the ice cap. Data from the surging outlet Dyngjujökull, on the northern side of Vatnajökull, which surged during the period 1998-2000, are presented: surface elevation changes, displacement and total mass tr ansport. The total gain in ice volume in the receiving area, due to the surge, is considerably smaller than the loss in the reservoir area. The difference is mainly due to enhanced melting rates on the larger surface area of the crevassed glacier surface, and increased turbulent fluxes above the surface, but also due to increased frictional melting at the bed during the surge. A two-dimensional vertically integrated numerical flow model, of standard shallow-ice approximation type, is used to show that a modeled glacier that is similar in size to Dyngjujökull and subject to the same mass balance has three times higher velocities than the measured velocity during the quiescent phase. Adding surges in the numerical model, by periodically increasing the sliding velocity, causes the glacier to retreat and oscillate around a smaller state when subject to the same mass-balance regime. Lowering the equilibrium line by 50 m lets the modeled surging glacier oscillate around a size similar to that of the present glacier, indicating that surging is an efficient long-term ablation mechanism.

scholarly journals Impact of dust deposition on the albedo of Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 741-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Wittmann ◽  
Christine Dorothea Groot Zwaaftink ◽  
Louise Steffensen Schmidt ◽  
Sverrir Guðmundsson ◽  
Finnur Pálsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Weather Stations ◽  
Dust Events

Abstract. Deposition of small amounts of airborne dust on glaciers causes positive radiative forcing and enhanced melting due to the reduction of surface albedo. To study the effects of dust deposition on the mass balance of Brúarjökull, an outlet glacier of the largest ice cap in Iceland, Vatnajökull, a study of dust deposition events in the year 2012 was carried out. The dust-mobilisation module FLEXDUST was used to calculate spatio-temporally resolved dust emissions from Iceland and the dispersion model FLEXPART was used to simulate atmospheric dust dispersion and deposition. We used albedo measurements at two automatic weather stations on Brúarjökull to evaluate the dust impacts. Both stations are situated in the accumulation area of the glacier, but the lower station is close to the equilibrium line. For this site ( ∼  1210 m a.s.l.), the dispersion model produced 10 major dust deposition events and a total annual deposition of 20.5 g m−2. At the station located higher on the glacier ( ∼  1525 m a.s.l.), the model produced nine dust events, with one single event causing  ∼  5 g m−2 of dust deposition and a total deposition of  ∼  10 g m−2 yr−1. The main dust source was found to be the Dyngjusandur floodplain north of Vatnajökull; northerly winds prevailed 80 % of the time at the lower station when dust events occurred. In all of the simulated dust events, a corresponding albedo drop was observed at the weather stations. The influence of the dust on the albedo was estimated using the regional climate model HIRHAM5 to simulate the albedo of a clean glacier surface without dust. By comparing the measured albedo to the modelled albedo, we determine the influence of dust events on the snow albedo and the surface energy balance. We estimate that the dust deposition caused an additional 1.1 m w.e. (water equivalent) of snowmelt (or 42 % of the 2.8 m w.e. total melt) compared to a hypothetical clean glacier surface at the lower station, and 0.6 m w.e. more melt (or 38 % of the 1.6 m w.e. melt in total) at the station located further upglacier. Our findings show that dust has a strong influence on the mass balance of glaciers in Iceland.

scholarly journals Glaciological observations of Brúarjökull, Iceland, using synthetic aperture radar and thematic mapper satellite data

1995 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy K. Hall ◽  
Richard S. Williams ◽  
Oddur Sigurdsson
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Synthetic Aperture ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Scatter Coefficient ◽  
History Of ◽  
Aperture Radar

The first European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images offer opportunities for studying glacier surface properties and near-surface features. Analysis of back-scatter values from digital SAR data from 18 January, 7 June, 1 September and 25 October 1993 of Brúarjökull, an outlet glacier on the northeastern margin of the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland, that has a history of episodic surges, reveals several back-scatter boundaries that may relate to glacier facies and, inferentially, to mass balance. For example, a strong back-scatter boundary on the 18 January image of the snow-covered glacier, representing a back-scatter coefficient, σ°, difference of 4.34dB, appears to coincide with the position of the transient snow line at the end of the 1990–91 budget year. The boundary is visible on the 7 September 1991 Landsat thematic mapper (TM) image. The terminus is very difficult to define because of back-wasting from the last surge (1963–64) but is most easily delineated on the 1 September 1993 SAR and the 7 September 1991 TM images, in part due to the presence of ice-margin lakes.

scholarly journals Glaciological observations of Brúarjökull, Iceland, using synthetic aperture radar and thematic mapper satellite data

1995 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 271-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorothy K. Hall ◽  
Richard S. Williams ◽  
Oddur Sigurdsson
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Aperture Radar ◽  
Thematic Mapper ◽  
Synthetic Aperture ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Scatter Coefficient ◽  
History Of ◽  
Aperture Radar

The first European Remote Sensing Satellite (ERS-1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images offer opportunities for studying glacier surface properties and near-surface features. Analysis of back-scatter values from digital SAR data from 18 January, 7 June, 1 September and 25 October 1993 of Brúarjökull, an outlet glacier on the northeastern margin of the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland, that has a history of episodic surges, reveals several back-scatter boundaries that may relate to glacier facies and, inferentially, to mass balance. For example, a strong back-scatter boundary on the 18 January image of the snow-covered glacier, representing a back-scatter coefficient, σ°, difference of 4.34dB, appears to coincide with the position of the transient snow line at the end of the 1990–91 budget year. The boundary is visible on the 7 September 1991 Landsat thematic mapper (TM) image. The terminus is very difficult to define because of back-wasting from the last surge (1963–64) but is most easily delineated on the 1 September 1993 SAR and the 7 September 1991 TM images, in part due to the presence of ice-margin lakes.

scholarly journals Impact of dust deposition on the albedo of Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monika Dragosics ◽  
Christine D Groot Zwaaftink ◽  
Louise Steffensen Schmidt ◽  
Sverrir Guðmundsson ◽  
Finnur Pálsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Radiative Forcing ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Dispersion Model ◽  
Dust Deposition ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Weather Stations ◽  
Dust Events

Abstract. Deposition of small amounts of airborne dust on glaciers causes positive radiative forcing and enhanced melting due to the reduction of surface albedo. To study the effects of dust deposition on the mass balance of Brúarjökull, an outlet glacier of the largest ice cap in Iceland, Vatnajökull, a study of dust deposition events in the year 2012 was carried out. The dust-mobilization module FLEXDUST was used to calculate spatiotemporally resolved dust emissions from Iceland and the dispersion model FLEXPART was used to simulate atmospheric dust dispersion and deposition. We used albedo measurements at two automatic weather stations on Brúarjökull to evaluate the dust impacts. Both stations are situated in the accumulation area of the glacier, but the lower station is close to the equilibrium line. For this site (~1210 m a.s.l.), the dispersion model produced 10 major dust deposition events and a total annual deposition of 16 g m-2. At the station located higher on the glacier (~1525 m a.s.l.), the model produced nine dust events, with one single event causing ~5 g m-2 dust deposition and a total deposition of ~9 g m-2 yr-1. The main dust source was found to be the Dyngjusandur floodplain north of Vatnajökull; northerly winds prevailed 80 % of the time at the lower station when dust events occurred. In all of the simulated dust events, a corresponding albedo drop was observed at the weather stations. The influence of the dust on the albedo was estimated by using the regional climate model HIRHAM5 to simulate the albedo of a clean glacier surface without dust. By comparing the measured albedo to the modelled albedo, we determine the influence of dust events on the snow albedo and the surface energy balance. We estimate that the dust deposition caused an additional 1.1 m w.e. (water equivalent) of snow melt (or 42 % of the 2.8 m w.e. total melt) compared to a hypothetical clean glacier surface at the lower station, and 0.6 m w.e. more melt (or 38 % of the 1.6 m w e. melt in total) at the station located further upglacier. Our findings show that dust has a strong influence on the mass balance of glaciers in Iceland.

scholarly journals Geodetic Mass Balance of Haxilegen Glacier No. 51, Eastern Tien Shan, from 1964 to 2018

2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Chunhai Xu ◽  
Zhongqin Li ◽  
Feiteng Wang ◽  
Jianxin Mu ◽  
Xin Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Tien Shan ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Topographic Map ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance

The eastern Tien Shan hosts substantial mid-latitude glaciers, but in situ glacier mass balance records are extremely sparse. Haxilegen Glacier No. 51 (eastern Tien Shan, China) is one of the very few well-measured glaciers, and comprehensive glaciological measurements were implemented from 1999 to 2011 and re-established in 2017. Mass balance of Haxilegen Glacier No. 51 (1999–2015) has recently been reported, but the mass balance record has not extended to the period before 1999. Here, we used a 1:50,000-scale topographic map and long-range terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) data to calculate the area, volume, and mass changes for Haxilegen Glacier No. 51 from 1964 to 2018. Haxilegen Glacier No. 51 lost 0.34 km2 (at a rate of 0.006 km2 a−1 or 0.42% a−1) of its area during the period 1964–2018. The glacier experienced clearly negative surface elevation changes and geodetic mass balance. Thinning occurred almost across the entire glacier surface, with a mean value of −0.43 ± 0.12 m a−1. The calculated average geodetic mass balance was −0.36 ± 0.12 m w.e. a−1. Without considering the error bounds of mass balance estimates, glacier mass loss over the past 50 years was in line with the observed and modeled mass balance (−0.37 ± 0.22 m w.e. a−1) that was published for short time intervals since 1999 but was slightly less negative than glacier mass loss in the entire eastern Tien Shan. Our results indicate that Riegl VZ®-6000 TLS can be widely used for mass balance measurements of unmonitored individual glaciers.

scholarly journals Mass Balance and Thermal Regime of Laika Ice Cap, Coburg Island, N.W.T., Canada

1988 ◽  
Vol 34 (116) ◽  
pp. 102-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heinz Blatter ◽  
Giovanni Kappenberger
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Temperature Measurements ◽  
Water Project ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
The North ◽  
Basal Ice ◽  
Westerly Winds ◽  
North Water ◽  
History Of ◽  
Finite Layer

AbstractDuring the North Water Project of the late F. Müller, glaciological studies were carried out on Laika ice cap. In addition to the main climatological investigations, surveying, mapping, mass-balance studies, and englacial temperature measurements were carried out. The mass-balance distribution is strongly determined by the orography. Strong westerly winds erode and transport snow from exposed surfaces, whereas prevailing easterly winds, during precipitation, deposit snow on lee slopes. The balance is negative under the present climate. The history of the glacier-tongue geometry is reconstructed using geomorphological observations and photogrammetric mapping for 1959 and 1971. Englacial temperature measurements revealed a finite layer of temperate basal ice in the ablation zone. The temperature distribution in the accumulation area around the summit of the ice cap is not stationary.

scholarly journals Geometric changes and mass balance of the Austfonna ice cap, Svalbard

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Moholdt ◽  
J. O. Hagen ◽  
T. Eiken ◽  
T. V. Schuler
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Sea Level ◽  
Dynamic Equilibrium ◽  
Accumulation Rate ◽  
Laser Altimetry ◽  
Future Evolution ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Radio Echo Sounding ◽  
Elevation Changes

Abstract. The dynamics and mass balance regime of the Austfonna ice cap, the largest glacier on Svalbard, deviates significantly from most other glaciers in the region and is not fully understood. We have compared ICESat laser altimetry, airborne laser altimetry, GNSS surface profiles and radio echo-sounding data to estimate elevation change rates for the periods 1983–2007 and 2002–2008. The data sets indicate a pronounced interior thickening of up to 0.5 m y−1, at the same time as the margins are thinning at a rate of 1–3 m y−1. The southern basins are thickening at a higher rate than the northern basins due to a higher accumulation rate. The overall volume change in the 2002–2008 period is estimated to be −1.3±0.5 km3 w.e. y−1 (or −0.16±0.06 m w.e. y−1) where the entire net loss is due to a rapid retreat of the calving fronts. Since most of the marine ice loss occurs below sea level, Austfonna's current contribution to sea level change is close to zero. The geodetic results are compared to in-situ mass balance measurements which indicate that the 2004–2008 surface net mass balance has been slightly positive (0.05 m w.e. y−1) though with large annual variations. Similarities between local net mass balances and local elevation changes indicate that most of the ice cap is slow-moving and not in dynamic equilibrium with the current climate. More knowledge is needed about century-scale dynamic processes in order to predict the future evolution of Austfonna based on climate scenarios.

scholarly journals Latest Geodetic Changes of Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen, Svalbard

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 2890 ◽  
Author(s):  
Songtao Ai ◽  
Xi Ding ◽  
Florian Tolle ◽  
Zemin Wang ◽  
Xi Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Snow Depth ◽  
Spline Interpolation ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Short Time Interval ◽  
Mass Balances ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Rtk Gps ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance

Geodetic mass changes in the Svalbard glaciers Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen were studied via high-precision real-time kinematic (RTK)-global positioning system (GPS) measurements from 2013 to 2015. To evaluate the elevation changes of the two Svalbard glaciers, more than 10,000 GPS records for each glacier surface were collected every year from 2013 to 2015. The results of several widely used interpolation methods (i.e., inverse distance weighting (IDW), ordinary kriging (OK), universal kriging (UK), natural neighbor (NN), spline interpolation, and Topo to Raster (TTR) interpolation) were compared. Considering the smoothness and accuracy of the glacier surface, NN interpolation was selected as the most suitable interpolation method to generate a surface digital elevation model (DEM). In addition, we compared two procedures for calculating elevation changes: using DEMs generated from the direct interpolation of the RTK-GPS points and using the elevation bias of crossover points from the RTK-GPS tracks in different years. Then, the geodetic mass balances were calculated by converting the elevation changes to their water equivalents. Comparing the geodetic mass balances calculated with and without considering snow depth revealed that ignoring the effect of snow depth, which differs greatly over a short time interval, might lead to bias in mass balance investigation. In summary, there was a positive correlation between the geodetic mass balance and the corresponding elevation. The mass loss increased with decreasing elevation, and the mean annual gradients of the geodetic mass balance along the elevation of Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen in 2013–2015 were approximately 2.60‰ and 2.35‰, respectively. The gradients at the glacier snouts were three times larger than those over the whole glaciers. Additionally, some mass gain occurred in certain high-elevation regions. Compared with a 2019 DEM generated from unmanned aerial vehicle measurement, the glacier snout areas presented an accelerating thinning situation in 2015–2019.

Subglacial Constructions and Investigations At Bondhusbreen, Norway

1979 ◽  
Vol 23 (89) ◽  
pp. 363-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Wold ◽  
G. Østrem
Keyword(s):  
Drainage System ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Electric Power Station ◽  
Water Drainage ◽  
Diversion Tunnel ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Outlet Glacier ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
System A ◽  
Tunnel System

Abstract For the construction of a hydro-electric power station in western Norway, a diversion tunnel was made to collect subglacial melt water under an outlet glacier from the Folgefonni ice cap. Many investigations were carried out by glaciologists and engineers before the project could begin, and several unexpected problems arose during the completion of the project. This paper deals with some of the problems and how they were solved. To avoid coarse glacier-carried material from being flushed into the water-collecting tunnel system, a large sedimentation chamber was constructed in the bedrock under the glacier. The dimensions of this huge chamber were decided from sediment-transport studies in the glacier stream and from studies of old bottom deposits in a lake close to the glacier front. Ice-velocity measurements were made on the glacier surface and similar studies were attempted in sub-glacial ice caves made by spraying hot water near the glacier bed, where the ice is 170 m thick. The subglacial water-drainage system was studied from a horizontal tunnel constructed in the bedrock under the glacier. Some preliminary conclusions are drawn from these studies. In future, it will still be possible to undertake subglacial studies because inspection tunnels have been left in the bedrock, and the accessibility is relatively good.

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.

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