scholarly journals Glacier equilibrium line altitude variations during the “Little Ice Age” in the Mediterranean Andes (30◦–37◦ S)

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro González-Reyes ◽  
Claudio Bravo ◽  
Mathias Vuille ◽  
Martin Jacques-Coper ◽  
Maisa Rojas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Pearson Correlation ◽  
Temporal Changes ◽  
Global Climate Models ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Equilibrium Line ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Mediterranean

Abstract. The "Little Ice Age" (LIA; 1500–1850 Common Era (CE)), has long been recognized as the last period when mountain glaciers in many regions of the Northern Hemisphere (NH) recorded extensive growth intervals in terms of their ice mass and frontal position. The knowledge about this relevant paleoclimatic interval is vast in mountainous regions such as the Alps and Rocky Mountains in North America. However, in extra-tropical Andean sub-regions such as the Mediterranean Andes of Chile and Argentina (MA; 30º–37º S), the LIA has been poorly documented. Paradoxically, the few climate reconstructions performed in the MA based on lake sediments and tree rings do not show clear evidence of a LIA climate anomaly as observed in the NH. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated temporal differences between mean air temperature variations across the last millennium between both hemispheres. This motivates our hypothesis that the LIA period was not associated with a significant climate perturbation in the MA region. Considering this background, we performed an experiment using daily climatic variables from three Global Climate Models (GCMs) to force a novel glaciological model. In this way, we simulated temporal variations of the glacier equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) to evaluate the glacier response during the period 1500–1848 CE. Overall, each GCM shows temporal changes in annual ELA, with anomalously low elevations during 1640–1670 and 1800–1848 CE. An interval with high ELA values was identified during 1550–1575 CE. The spectral properties of the mean annual ELA in each GCM present significant periodicities between 2–7 years, and also significant decadal to multi-decadal signals. In addition, significant and coherent cycles at interannual to multi-decadal scales were detected between modeled mean annual ELAs and the first EOF1 extracted from Sea Surface Temperature (SST) within the El Niño 3.4 of each GCM. Finally, significant Pearson correlation coefficients were obtained between the mean annual ELA and Pacific SST on interannual to multi-decadal timescales. According to our findings, we propose that Pacific SST variability was the main modulator of temporal changes of the ELA in the MA region of South America during 1500–1848 CE.

scholarly journals Extension of Glacier de Saint-Sorlin, French Alps, and equilibrium-line altitude during the Little Ice Age

2002 ◽  
Vol 48 (160) ◽  
pp. 118-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louis Lliboutry
Keyword(s):  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Meteorological Data ◽  
Vertical Gradient ◽  
Winter Precipitation ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Equilibrium Line ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
French Alps ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Accumulation Area Ratio

AbstractGlacier de Saint-Sorlin, French Alps, left terminal moraines at 1.3, 2.9 and 3.7 km ahead of the present terminus. According to proxy data and to historical maps, these were formed in the 19th, 18th and 17th centuries, respectively. A plateau at 2700–2625 m was then surrounded by ice but never became an accumulation area. This fact shows that the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) on the glacier never dropped below 2300 m. The following simple models apply sufficiently to yield reliable estimations of past ELA: (1) a uniform and constant vertical gradient of the mass balance, down to the terminus; and (2) a plane bed, with a slope of 8.5° and a uniform width. Then in a steady situation the accumulation–area ratio is 1/2. Compared to the mean for 1956–72, at the onset of the Little Ice Age the balances were higher by 3.75 m ice a−1, and the ELA was 400 m lower. Correlations between 1956–72 balances and meteorological data suggest that during the melting season the 0°C isotherm was about 800 m lower, while the winter precipitation at low altitudes did not change. These correlations may have been different in the past, but an equal lowering of the ELA and of the 0°C isotherm, as assumed by several authors, seems excluded.

scholarly journals Changes of the equilibrium-line altitude since the Little Ice Age in the Nepalese Himalaya

2008 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 93-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rijan Bhakta Kayastha ◽  
Sandy P. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Climate Model ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Equilibrium Line ◽  
Inventory Data ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Glacier Inventory ◽  
Climate Gradients ◽  
Climate Records

AbstractChanges of the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) since the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in eastern Nepal have been studied using glacier inventory data. The toe-to-headwall altitude ratios (THARs) for individual glaciers were calculated for 1992, and used to estimate the ELA in 1959 and at the end of the LIA. THAR for debris-free glaciers is found to be smaller than for debris-covered glaciers. The ELAs for debris-covered glaciers are higher than those for debris-free glaciers in eastern Nepal. There is considerable variation in the reconstructed change in ELA (ΔELA) between glaciers within specific regions and between regions. This is not related to climate gradients, but results from differences in glacier aspect: southeast- and south-facing glaciers show larger ΔELAs in eastern Nepal than north- or west-facing glaciers. The data suggest that the rate of ELA rise may have accelerated in the last few decades. The limited number of climate records from Nepal, and analyses using a simple ELA–climate model, suggest that the higher rate of the ΔELA between 1959 and 1992 is a result of increased warming that occurred after the 1970s at higher altitudes in Nepal.

scholarly journals Equilibrium-line altitudes and rock glaciers during the Younger Dryas cooling event, Ferwall group, western Tyrol, Austria

1999 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 141-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rudolf Sailer ◽  
Hanns Kerschner
Keyword(s):  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Younger Dryas ◽  
Late Glacial ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Equilibrium Line ◽  
Rock Glacier ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Discontinuous Permafrost ◽  
Rock Glaciers ◽  
Temperature Depression

AbstractThree cirques in the Ferwall group, western Tyrol, Austria, which are characterized by distinct Late-glacial moraines and rock glaciers, are discussed. The morphology of the moraines and the depression of the equilibrium-line altitude suggest they were deposited during the Egesen Stadial (Younger Dryas), which can be subdivided into three substages. Rock-glacier formation was initialized during or after the Egesen II substage. They became inactive at the Pleistocene—Holocene transition. ELA values are 290–320 m lower than the Little Ice Age ELA during the Egesen I substage, 190–230 m lower during the Egesen II substage and 120 —160 m lower during the Egesen III substage. The lowering of the rock-glacier belt (discontinuous permafrost) during and after the Egesen II substage is about 400 m, indicating a mean annual air-temperature depression in the order of 3 K. During the Egesen I (earlyYounger Dryas), the climate seems to have been rather cold and wet with precipitation similar to present-day values. During later phases (Egesen II and III), the climate remained cold and became increasingly drier. The rise of the ELA during the Egesen I—III substages seems to have been mainly caused by a decrease in precipitation.

High sensitivity of North Iceland (Tröllaskagi) debris-free glaciers to climatic change from the ‘Little Ice Age’ to the present

The Holocene ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1187-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
José María Fernández-Fernández ◽  
Nuria Andrés ◽  
Þorsteinn Sæmundsson ◽  
Skafti Brynjólfsson ◽  
David Palacios
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Satellite Image ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
The Mean

The Tröllaskagi peninsula is located in northern Iceland, between meridian 19°30′W and 18°10′W, jutting out into the North Atlantic to latitude 66°12′N. The aim of this research is to study recent glacier changes in relation to climatic evolution of the Gljúfurárjökull and Tungnahryggsjökull debris-free valley glaciers in Tröllaskagi. Glacier extent mapping and spatial analysis operations were performed with ArcGIS (ESRI), using analysis of aerial photographs from 1946, 1985, 1994 and 2000, and a 2005 SPOT satellite image. The results show that these glaciers lost a quarter of their surface area between the ‘Little Ice Age’ and 2005. In this paper, the term ‘Little Ice Age’ follows Grove (2001) as the most recent period when glaciers extended globally between the medieval period and the early 20th century. The abrupt climatic transition of the early 20th century and the 25-year warm period 1925–1950 triggered the main retreat and volume loss of these glaciers since the end of the ‘Little Ice Age’. Meanwhile, cooling during the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s altered the trend, with advances of the glacier snouts. Between the ‘Little Ice Age’ and the present day, the mean annual air temperature and mean ablation season air temperature increased by 1.9°C and 1.5°C, respectively, leading to a 40–50 m rise in the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of the glaciers during this period. The response of these glaciers depends not only on the mean ablation season air temperature evolution but also on other factors such as winter precipitation. The models applied show a precipitation increase of up to more than 700 mm since the ‘Little Ice Age’.

scholarly journals The ENSO teleconnections to the Indian summer monsoon climate through the Last Millennium as simulated by the PMIP3

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charan Teja Tejavath ◽  
Karumuri Ashok ◽  
Supriyo Chakraborty ◽  
Rengaswamy Ramesh
Keyword(s):  
Summer Monsoon ◽  
Indian Summer Monsoon ◽  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Walker Circulation ◽  
Summer Monsoon Rainfall ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Boreal Summer ◽  
Last Millennium ◽  
Enso Teleconnections ◽  
The Mean

Abstract. Using seven model simulations from the PMIP3, we study the mean summer (June–September) climate and its variability in India during the Last Millennium (LM; CE 850–1849) with emphasis on the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA), after validation of the simulated current day climate and trends. We find that the above (below) LM-mean summer global temperatures during the MWP (LIA) are associated with relatively higher (lower) number of concurrent El Niños as compared to La Niñas. The models simulate higher (lower) Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) during the MWP (LIA). This is notwithstanding a strong simulated negative correlation between the timeseries of NINO3.4 index and that of the area-averaged ISMR, Interestingly, the percentage of strong El Niños (La Niñas) causing negative (positive) ISMR anomalies is higher in the LIA (MWP), a non-linearity that apparently is important for causing higher ISMR in the MWP. Distribution of simulated boreal summer velocity potential at 850 hPa during MWP in models, in general, shows a zone of anomalous convergence in the central tropical Pacific flanked by two zones of divergence, suggesting a westward shift in the Walker circulation as compared to the simulations for LM as well as and a majority of historical simulations, and current day observed signal. The anomalous divergence centre in the west also extends into the equatorial eastern Indian Ocean, resulting in an anomalous convergence zone over India and therefore excess rainfall during the MWP as compared to the LM; the results are qualitative, given the inter-model spread.

Recent, rapid and profound changes to glacier morphology and dynamics, Juneau Icefield, Alaska

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bethan Davies ◽  
Jacob Bendle ◽  
Robert McNabb ◽  
Jonathan Carrivick ◽  
Christopher McNeil ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Little Ice Age ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Equilibrium Line Altitude ◽  
Regional Warming ◽  
Geomorphological Mapping ◽  
Glacier Recession ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
High Resolution Satellite Imagery ◽  
Global Sea Level

<p>The Alaskan region (comprising glaciers in Alaska, British Columbia and Yukon) contains the third largest ice volume outside of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, and contributes more to global sea level rise than any other glacierised region defined by the Randolph Glacier Inventory. However, ice loss in this area is not linear, but in part controlled by glacier hypsometry as valley and outlet glaciers are at risk of becoming detached from their accumulation areas during thinning. Plateau icefields, such as Juneau Icefield in Alaska, are very sensitive to changes in Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) as this can result in rapidly shrinking accumulation areas. Here, we present detailed geomorphological mapping around Juneau Icefield and use this data to reconstruct the icefield during the “Little Ice Age”. We use topographic maps, archival aerial photographs, high-resolution satellite imagery and digital elevation models to map glacier lake and glacier area and volume change from the Little Ice Age to the present day (1770, 1948, 1979, 1990, 2005, 2015 and 2019 AD). Structural glaciological mapping (1979 and 2019) highlights structural and topographic controls on non-linear glacier recession.  Our data shows pronounced glacier thinning and recession in response to widespread detachment of outlet glaciers from their plateau accumulation areas. Glacier detachments became common after 2005, and occurred with increasing frequency since then. Total summed rates of area change increased eightfold from 1770-1948 (-6.14 km<sup>2</sup> a<sup>-1</sup>) to 2015-2019 (-45.23 km<sup>2</sup> a<sup>-1</sup>). Total rates of recession were consistent from 1770 to 1990 AD, and grew increasingly rapid after 2005, in line with regional warming.</p>

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