Mass balance of Pizolgletscher

Abstract. Half of the glaciers in the Swiss Alps are smaller than 0.1 km2. Despite this, the mass budget of small glaciers and their response to ongoing climate change is rarely studied. A new mass balance monitoring programme on Pizolgletscher (0.08 km2) in north-eastern Switzerland was started in 2006. This paper presents first results and describes a new approach to determining the mass balance of glaciers. Seasonal field observations are interpreted using a distributed mass balance model in daily resolution that allows spatial inter- and extrapolation of sparse data points and the calculation of mass balance over arbitrary time periods. Evaluation of aerial photographs acquired in subdecadal intervals since 1968 allows inclusion of data on changes in glacier area and ice volume, contributing towards a long-term reconstruction of Pizolgletscher's mass balance. The analysis revealed fast mass loss over the last three years with annual balances of -1.61 m w.e. in 2006/2007, -0.71 m w.e. in 2007/2008, and -1.46 m w.e. in 2008/2009 and high spatial variability of mass balance on Pizolgletscher.

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New long-term mass-balance series for the Swiss Alps

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/2015jog15j015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 (227) ◽

pp. 551-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

Matthias Huss ◽

Laurie Dhulst ◽

Andreas Bauder

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Spatial Interpolation ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Continuous Series ◽

European Alps ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Distributed Modelling ◽

Direct Measurements ◽

Annual Balance

AbstractIn this study we present 19 new or re-analysed series of glacier-wide seasonal mass balance for the Swiss Alps based on direct measurements. The records partly start around 1920 and continue until today. Previously unpublished and unevaluated observations of point winter and annual balance are compiled from various sources and archives. These highly valuable datasets have not yet been consistently evaluated and were thus unavailable to the scientific community. Using distributed modelling for spatial interpolation and extrapolation and homogenization of the point measurements, we infer continuous series of area-averaged mass balance. The results are validated against independent decadal ice volume changes from photogrammetric surveys. Six of the new seasonal series cover 60 years and more and add a substantial amount of information on the variations of regional glacier mass change. This will strengthen the worldwide collection of glacier monitoring data, especially for the data-sparse period before the 1980s. We compare our results to existing long-term series and present an updated assessment of mass-balance variability and glacier sensitivity throughout the European Alps.

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The influence of changes in glacier extent and surface elevation on modeled mass balance

The Cryosphere Discussions ◽

10.5194/tcd-4-737-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 737-766 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

F. Paul

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Mass Balance ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Surface Elevation ◽

Balance Model ◽

Glacier Mass Balance ◽

Atmospheric Conditions

Abstract. Glaciers are widely recognized as unique demonstration objects for climate change impacts, mostly due to the strong change of glacier length in response to small climatic changes. However, glacier mass balance as the direct response to the annual atmospheric conditions can be better interpreted in meteorological terms. When the climatic signal is deduced from long-term mass balance data, changes in glacier geometry (i.e. surface extent and elevation) must be considered as such adjustments form an essential part of the glacier reaction to new climatic conditions. In this study, a set of modeling experiments is performed to assess the influence of changes in glacier geometry on mass balance for constant climatic conditions. The calculations are based on a simplified distributed energy/mass balance model in combination with information on glacier extent and surface elevation for the years 1850 and 1973/1985 for a larger sample of glaciers in the Swiss Alps. The results reveal that about 50–70% of the glacier reaction to climate change (here a one degree increase in temperature) is "hidden" in the geometric adjustment, while only 30–50% can be measured as the long-term mean mass balance. Thereby, changes in glacier extent alone have an even stronger effect, but they are partly compensated for by a lowered surface elevation which gives on average a slightly more negative balance despite an increase of topographic shading. In view of several additional reinforcement feedbacks that are observed in periods of strong glacier decline, it seems that the climatic interpretation of mass balance data is also rather complex.

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The influence of changes in glacier extent and surface elevation on modeled mass balance

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-4-569-2010 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 569-581 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

F. Paul

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Mass Balance ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Surface Elevation ◽

Balance Model ◽

Glacier Mass Balance ◽

Atmospheric Conditions

Abstract. Glaciers are widely recognized as unique demonstration objects for climate change impacts, mostly due to the strong change of glacier length in response to small climatic changes. However, glacier mass balance as the direct response to the annual atmospheric conditions can be better interpreted in meteorological terms. When the climatic signal is deduced from long-term mass balance data, changes in glacier geometry (i.e. surface extent and elevation) must be considered as such adjustments form an essential part of the glacier reaction to new climatic conditions. In this study, a set of modelling experiments is performed to assess the influence of changes in glacier geometry on mass balance for constant climatic conditions. The calculations are based on a simplified distributed energy/mass balance model in combination with information on glacier extent and surface elevation for the years 1850 and 1973/1985 for about 60 glaciers in the Swiss Alps. The results reveal that over this period about 50–70% of the glacier reaction to climate change (here a one degree increase in temperature) is "hidden" in the geometric adjustment, while only 30–50% can be measured as the long-term mean mass balance. For larger glaciers, the effect of the areal change is partly reduced by a lowered surface elevation, which results in a slightly more negative balance despite a potential increase of topographic shading. In view of several additional reinforcement feedbacks that are observed in periods of strong glacier decline, it seems that the climatic interpretation of long-term mass balance data is rather complex.

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The mass balance of McCall Glacier, Brooks Range, Alaska, U.S.A.; its regional relevance and implications for climate change in the Arctic

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/s0022143000002665 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 44 (147) ◽

pp. 333-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B.T. Rabus ◽

K. A. Echelmeyer

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

The Arctic ◽

Balance Model ◽

Mass Balances ◽

Arctic Alaska ◽

Low Mass ◽

Length Changes ◽

Arctic Glacier ◽

Long Term Trend

AbstractMcCall Glacier has the only long-term mass-balance record in Arctic-Alaska. Average annual balances over the periods 1958–72 and 1972–93 were –15 and –33cm, respectively; recent annual balances (1993–96) are about –60 cm, and the mass-balance gradient has increased. For an Arctic glacier, with its low mass-exchange rate, this marks a significant negative trend.Recently acquired elevation profiles of McCall Glacier and ten other glaciers within a 30 km radius were compared with topographic maps made in 1956 or 1973. Most of these glaciers had average annual mass balances between –25 and –33 cm, while McCall Glacier averaged –28 cm for 1956–93, indicating that it is representative of the region. In contrast, changes in terminus position for the different glaciers vary markedly. Thus, mass-balance trends in this region cannot be estimated from fractional length changes at time-scales of a few decades.We developed a simple degree-day/accumulation mass-balance model for McCall Glacier. The model was tested using precipitation and radiosonde temperatures from weather stations at Inuvik, Canada, and Barrow, Kaktovik and Fairbanks, Alaska, and was calibrated with the measured balances. The Inuvik data reproduce all measured mass balances of McCall Glacier well and also reproduce the long-term trend towards more negative balances. Data from the other stations do not produce satisfactory model results. We speculate that the Arctic Front, oriented east–west in this region, causes the differences in model results.

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The impact of Saharan dust and black carbon on albedo and long-term glacier mass balance

The Cryosphere Discussions ◽

10.5194/tcd-9-1133-2015 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

pp. 1133-1175 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

J. Gabbi ◽

M. Huss ◽

A. Bauder ◽

F. Cao ◽

M. Schwikowski

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Black Carbon ◽

Mineral Dust ◽

Ice Cores ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Saharan Dust ◽

Glacier Mass Balance ◽

Mass Balances ◽

The Impact

Abstract. Light-absorbing impurities in snow and ice control glacier melt as shortwave radiation represents the main component of the surface energy balance. Here, we investigate the long-term effect of snow impurities, i.e. Saharan dust and black carbon (BC), on albedo and glacier mass balance. The analysis was performed over the period 1914–2014 for two sites on Claridenfirn, Swiss Alps, where an outstanding 100 year record of seasonal mass balance measurements is available. Information on atmospheric deposition of mineral dust and BC over the last century was retrieved from two firn/ice cores of high-alpine sites. A combined mass balance and snow/firn layer model was employed to assess the dust/BC-albedo feedback. Compared to pure snow conditions, the presence of Saharan dust and BC lowered the mean annual albedo by 0.04–0.06 and increased melt by 15–19% on average depending on the location on the glacier. BC clearly dominated absorption which is about three times higher than that of mineral dust. The upper site has experienced mainly positive mass balances and impurity layers were continuously buried whereas at the lower site, surface albedo was more strongly influenced by re-exposure of dust-enriched layers due to frequent years with negative mass balances.

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Terminus advance, kinematics and mass redistribution during eight surges of Donjek Glacier, St. Elias Range, Canada, 1935 to 2016

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/jog.2019.34 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (252) ◽

pp. 565-579 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

WILLIAM KOCHTITZKY ◽

HESTER JISKOOT ◽

LUKE COPLAND ◽

ELLYN ENDERLIN ◽

ROBERT MCNABB ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Dynamic Balance ◽

Active Phase ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

Ablation Zone ◽

Elevation Change ◽

Glacier Terminus ◽

Mass Redistribution ◽

Geodetic Mass Balance

ABSTRACTDonjek Glacier has an unusually short and regular surge cycle, with eight surges identified since 1935 from aerial photographs and satellite imagery with a ~12 year repeat interval and ~2 year active phase. Recent surges occurred during a period of long-term negative mass balance and cumulative terminus retreat of 2.5 km since 1874. In contrast to previous work, we find that the constriction where the valley narrows and bedrock lithology changes, 21 km from the terminus, represents the upper limit of surging, with negligible surface speed or elevation change up-glacier from this location. This positions the entire surge-type portion of the glacier in the ablation zone. The constriction geometry does not act as the dynamic balance line, which we consistently find at 8 km from the glacier terminus. During the 2012–2014 surge event, the average lowering rate in the lowest 21 km of the glacier was 9.6 m a−1, while during quiescence it was 1.0 m a−1. Due to reservoir zone refilling, the ablation zone has a positive geodetic balance in years immediately following a surge event. An active surge phase can result in a strongly negative geodetic mass balance over the surge-type portion of the glacier.

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Mass balance of Trambau Glacier, Rolwaling region, Nepal Himalaya: in-situ observations, long-term reconstruction and mass-balance sensitivity

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/jog.2019.37 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 65 (252) ◽

pp. 605-616 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

SOJIRO SUNAKO ◽

KOJI FUJITA ◽

AKIKO SAKAI ◽

RIJAN B. KAYASTHA

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

High Elevation ◽

Climatic Conditions ◽

Balance Model ◽

Glacier Mass Balance ◽

Balance Study ◽

Nepal Himalaya ◽

In Situ Data

ABSTRACTWe conducted a mass-balance study of debris-free Trambau Glacier in the Rolwaling region, Nepal Himalaya, which is accessible to 6000 m a.s.l., to better understand mass-balance processes and the effect of precipitation on these processes on high-elevation Himalayan glaciers. Continuous in situ meteorological and mass-balance observations that spanned the three melt seasons from May 2016 are reported. An energy- and mass-balance model is also applied to evaluate its performance and sensitivity to various climatic conditions. Glacier-wide mass balances ranging from −0.34 ± 0.38 m w.e. in 2016 to −0.82 ± 0.53 m w.e. in 2017/18 are obtained by combining the observations with model results for the areas above the highest stake. The estimated long-term glacier mass balance, which is reconstructed using the ERA-Interim data calibrated with in situ data, is −0.65 ± 0.39 m w.e. a−1for the 1980–2018 period. A significant correlation with annual precipitation (r= 0.77,p< 0.001) is observed, whereas there is no discernible correlation with summer mean air temperature. The results indicate the continuous mass loss of Trambau Glacier over the last four decades, which contrasts with the neighbouring Mera Glacier in balance.

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Extrapolating glacier mass balance to the mountain-range scale: the European Alps 1900–2100

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-6-713-2012 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 713-727 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

M. Huss

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Multiple Regression ◽

Volume Change ◽

Data Series ◽

Glacier Mass Balance ◽

Mountain Range ◽

European Alps ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Area Reduction

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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Ice-volume changes of selected glaciers in the Swiss Alps since the end of the 19th century

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/172756407782871701 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 46 ◽

pp. 145-149 ◽

Cited By ~ 105

Author(s):

Andreas Bauder ◽

Martin Funk ◽

Matthias Huss

Keyword(s):

19Th Century ◽

Temporal Variations ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Ice Age ◽

Aerial Photographs ◽

Volume Changes ◽

Thickness Change ◽

Ice Volume ◽

The 1960S ◽

The 19Th Century

AbstractThe evolution of surface topography of glaciers in the Swiss Alps is well documented with high-resolution aerial photographs repeatedly recorded since the 1960s and further back in time with topographic maps including elevation contour lines first surveyed in the mid-19th century. In order to quantify and interpret glacier changes in the Swiss Alps, time series of volume changes over the last 100–150 years have been collected. The available datasets provide a detailed spatial resolution for the retreat period since the end of the Little Ice Age. The spatial distribution as well as temporal variations of the thickness change were analyzed. A significant ice loss since the end of the 19th century was observed in the ablation area, while the changes in the accumulation area were small. We found moderate negative secular rates until the 1960s, followed by steady to positive rates for about two decades and strong ice loss starting in the 1980s which has lasted until the present. An evaluation of 19 glaciers revealed a total ice volume loss of about 13km3 since the 1870s, of which 8.7 km3 occurred since the 1920s and 3.5 km3 since 1980. Decadal mean net balance rates for the periods 1920–60, 1960–80 and 1980–present are –0.29, –0.03 and –0.53ma–1w.e., respectively.

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