scholarly journals Glacier runoff variations since 1955 in the Maipo River basin, in the semiarid Andes of central Chile

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 2005-2027 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Ayala ◽  
David Farías-Barahona ◽  
Matthias Huss ◽  
Francesca Pellicciotti ◽  
James McPhee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Time Step ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Kinematic Approximation ◽  
Glacier Runoff ◽  
Drought Mitigation ◽  
Year 2000

Abstract. As glaciers adjust their size in response to climate variations, long-term changes in meltwater production can be expected, affecting the local availability of water resources. We investigate glacier runoff in the period 1955–2016 in the Maipo River basin (4843 km2, 33.0–34.3∘ S, 69.8–70.5∘ W), in the semiarid Andes of Chile. The basin contains more than 800 glaciers, which cover 378 km2 in total (inventoried in 2000). We model the mass balance and runoff contribution of 26 glaciers with the physically oriented and fully distributed TOPKAPI (Topographic Kinematic Approximation and Integration)-ETH glacio-hydrological model and extrapolate the results to the entire basin. TOPKAPI-ETH is run at a daily time step using several glaciological and meteorological datasets, and its results are evaluated against streamflow records, remotely sensed snow cover, and geodetic mass balances for the periods 1955–2000 and 2000–2013. Results show that in 1955–2016 glacier mass balance had a general decreasing trend as a basin average but also had differences between the main sub-catchments. Glacier volume decreased by one-fifth (from 18.6±4.5 to 14.9±2.9 km3). Runoff from the initially glacierized areas was 177±25 mm yr−1 (16±7 % of the total contributions to the basin), but it shows a decreasing sequence of maxima, which can be linked to the interplay between a decrease in precipitation since the 1980s and the reduction of ice melt. Glaciers in the Maipo River basin will continue retreating because they are not in equilibrium with the current climate. In a hypothetical constant climate scenario, glacier volume would reduce to 81±38 % of the year 2000 volume, and glacier runoff would be 78±30 % of the 1955–2016 average. This would considerably decrease the drought mitigation capacity of the basin.

scholarly journals Glacier runoff variations since 1955 in the Maipo River Basin, semiarid Andes of central Chile

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Álvaro Ayala ◽  
David Farías-Barahona ◽  
Matthias Huss ◽  
Francesca Pellicciotti ◽  
James McPhee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Variations ◽  
Central Chile ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Glacier Runoff ◽  
Drought Mitigation ◽  
Year 2000

Abstract. As glaciers adjust their size in response to climate variations, long-term changes in meltwater production can be expected, affecting the local availability of water resources. We investigate glacier runoff in the period 1955–2016 in the Maipo River Basin (4 843 km2), semiarid Andes of Chile. The basin contains more than 800 glaciers covering 378 km2 (inventoried in 2000). We model the mass balance and runoff contribution of 26 glaciers with the physically-oriented and fully-distributed TOPKAPI-ETH glacio-hydrological model, and extrapolate the results to the entire basin. TOPKAPI-ETH is run using several glaciological and meteorological datasets, and its results are evaluated against streamflow records, remotely-sensed snow cover and geodetic mass balances for the periods 1955–2000 and 2000–2013. Results show that glacier mass balance had a general decreasing trend as a basin average, but with differences between the main sub-catchments. Glacier volume decreased by one fifth (from 18.6 ± 4.5 to 14.9 ± 2.9 km3). Runoff from the initially glacierized areas was 186 ± 27 mm yr−1 (17 ± 7 % of the total contributions to the basin), but it shows a decreasing sequence of maxima, which can be linked to the interplay between a decrease in precipitation since the 1980s and the reduction of ice melt. If glaciers in the basin were in equilibrium with the climate of the last two decades, their volume would be reduced to 81 ± 38 % of the year 2000 volume, and glacier runoff during dry periods would be 61 ± 24 % of its maximum contribution in the period 1955–2016, considerably decreasing the drought mitigation capacity of the basin.

scholarly journals Estimation of glacial melt contributions to the Bow River, Alberta, Canada, using a radiation-temperature melt model

2014 ◽  
Vol 55 (66) ◽  
pp. 138-152 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleanor A. Bash ◽  
Shawn J. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
Surface Air Temperature ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Radiation Temperature ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
Glacier Runoff ◽  
Glacier Ice

AbstractAlberta’s Bow River has its headwaters in the glaciated eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies and is a major source of water in southern Alberta. Glacial retreat, declining snowpacks and increased water demand are all expected in the coming century, yet there are relatively few studies focusing on quantifying glacial meltwater in the Bow River. We develop a new radiation-temperature melt model for modelling distributed glacier mass balance and runoff in the Bow River basin. The model reflects physical processes through the incorporation of near-surface air temperature and absorbed radiation, while avoiding problems of collinearity through the use of a radiation-decorrelated temperature index. The model is calibrated at Haig Glacier in the southern portion of the basin and validated at Haig and Peyto Glaciers. Application of the model to the entire Bow River basin for 2000-09 shows glacier ice melt is equivalent to 3% of annual discharge in Calgary on average. Modelled ice melt in August is equal to 8-20% of the August Bow River discharge in Calgary. This emphasizes the importance of glacier runoff to late-summer streamflow in the region, particularly in warm, dry years.

scholarly journals Mass Balance Sensitivity and Future Projections of Rabots Glaciär, Sweden

Climate ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 126
Author(s):  
Moon Taveirne ◽  
Laura Ekemar ◽  
Berta González Sánchez ◽  
Josefine Axelsson ◽  
Qiong Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Wind Speed ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Summer Temperature ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Northern Sweden ◽  
Dramatic Decrease ◽  
Future Projections ◽  
Modelling Studies ◽  
The Relationship

Glacier mass balance is heavily influenced by climate, with responses of individual glaciers to various climate parameters varying greatly. In northern Sweden, Rabots Glaciär’s mass balance has decreased since it started being monitored in 1982. To relate Rabots Glaciär’s mass balance to changes in climate, the sensitivity to a range of parameters is computed. Through linear regression of mass balance with temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind speed and incoming radiation the climate sensitivity is established and projections for future summer mass balance are made. Summer mass balance is primarily sensitive to temperature at −0.31 m w.e. per °C change, while winter mass balance is mainly sensitive to precipitation at 0.94 m w.e. per % change. An estimate using summer temperature sensitivity projects a dramatic decrease in summer mass balance to −3.89 m w.e. for the 2091–2100 period under climate scenario RCP8.5. With large increases in temperature anticipated for the next century, more complex modelling studies of the relationship between climate and glacier mass balance is key to understanding the future development of Rabots Glaciär.

Application of the Alpine 3D model for glacier mass balance and glacier runoff studies at Goldbergkees, Austria

2008 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 3941-3949 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gernot Michlmayr ◽  
Michael Lehning ◽  
Gernot Koboltschnig ◽  
Hubert Holzmann ◽  
Massimiliano Zappa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
3D Model ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Runoff

scholarly journals Correction: Xu, M., et al. Modeling Glacier Mass Balance and Runoff in the Koxkar River Basin on the South Slope of the Tianshan Mountains, China, from 1959 to 2009. Water 2017, 9, 100

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 582
Author(s):  
Min Xu ◽  
Haidong Han ◽  
Shichang Kang
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Tianshan Mountains ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
The South ◽  
South Slope

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]

scholarly journals Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-358 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Bolch ◽  
T. Pieczonka ◽  
D. I. Benn
Keyword(s):  
Time Series ◽  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Aerial Images ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Debris Cover ◽  
Stereo Imagery ◽  
Glacier Velocity ◽  
The Himalaya

Abstract. Mass loss of Himalayan glaciers has wide-ranging consequences such as changing runoff distribution, sea level rise and an increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The assessment of the regional and global impact of glacier changes in the Himalaya is, however, hampered by a lack of mass balance data for most of the range. Multi-temporal digital terrain models (DTMs) allow glacier mass balance to be calculated. Here, we present a time series of mass changes for ten glaciers covering an area of about 50 km2 south and west of Mt. Everest, Nepal, using stereo Corona spy imagery (years 1962 and 1970), aerial images and recent high resolution satellite data (Cartosat-1). This is the longest time series of mass changes in the Himalaya. We reveal that the glaciers have been significantly losing mass since at least 1970, despite thick debris cover. The specific mass loss for 1970–2007 is 0.32 ± 0.08 m w.e. a−1, however, not higher than the global average. Comparisons of the recent DTMs with earlier time periods indicate an accelerated mass loss. This is, however, hardly statistically significant due to high uncertainty, especially of the lower resolution ASTER DTM. The characteristics of surface lowering can be explained by spatial variations of glacier velocity, the thickness of the debris-cover, and ice melt due to exposed ice cliffs and ponds.

scholarly journals Derivation of melt factors from glacier mass-balance records in western Canada

2009 ◽  
Vol 55 (189) ◽  
pp. 123-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph M. Shea ◽  
R. Dan Moore ◽  
Kerstin Stahl
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Air Temperature ◽  
Regional Scale ◽  
Predictive Ability ◽  
Lapse Rate ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
Ice Melt ◽  
Standard Deviations

AbstractMelt factors for snow (ks) and ice (ki) were derived from specific mass-balance data and regionally interpolated daily air-temperature series at nine glaciers in the western Cordillera of Canada. Fitted ks and ki were relatively consistent across the region, with mean values (standard deviations) of 3.04 (0.38) and 4.59 (0.59) mm d−1 °C−1, respectively. The interannual variability of melt factors was investigated for two long-term datasets. Calculated annually, snow- and ice-melt factors were relatively stable from year to year; standard deviations for snowmelt factors were 0.48 (17%) and 0.42 (18%) at Peyto and Place Glaciers, respectively, while standard deviations of ice-melt factors were 1.17 (25%) and 0.81 (14%). While fitted values of ks are comparable to those presented in previous observational and modeling studies, fitted ki are substantially and consistently lower across the region. Fitted melt factors were sensitive to the choice of lapse rate used in the air-temperature interpolation. Melt factors fitted to mass-balance data from a single site (Place Glacier) provided reasonable summer balance predictions at most other sites representing both maritime and continental climates, although there was a tendency for under-prediction at several sites. The combination of regionally interpolated air temperatures and a degree-day model appears capable of generating first-order estimates of regional summer balance, which can provide a benchmark against which to judge the predictive ability of more complex (e.g. energy balance) models applied at a regional scale. Mass-balance sensitivity analyses indicate that a temperature increase of 1 K will increase summer ablation in the region by 0.51 m w.e. a−1 on average.

scholarly journals The response of two Icelandic glaciers to climatic warming computed with a degree-day glacier mass-balance model coupled to a dynamic glacier model

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (144) ◽  
pp. 321-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tómas Jóhannesson
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Climate Scenario ◽  
Balance Model ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Hydroelectric Power ◽  
Mass Balance Model ◽  
Degree Day ◽  
Ice Cap ◽  
Warming Rate

AbstractA degree-day glacier mass-balance model is coupled to a dynamic glacier model for temperate glaciers. The model is calibrated for two outlet glaciers from the Hofsjökull ice cap in central Iceland. It is forced with a climate scenario that has recently been defined for the Nordic countries for the purpose of outlining the hydrological consequences of future greenhouse warming. The scenario for Iceland specifies a warming rate of 0.25°C per decade in mid-summer and 0.35°C per decade in mid-winter with a sinusoidal variation through the year. The volume of the glaciers is predicted to decrease by approximately 40% over the next century, and the glaciers essentially disappear during the next 200 years. Runoff from the area that is presently covered by the glaciers is predicted to increase by approximately 0.5 m a−1 30 years from now due to the reduction in the volume of the glaciers. The runoff increase reaches a flat maximum of 1.5–2.0 m a−1 100–150 years from now and levels off after that. The predicted runoff increase leads to a significant increase in the discharge of rivers fed by meltwater from the outlet glaciers of the ice cap and may have important consequences for the operation and planning of hydroelectric power plants in Iceland.

scholarly journals Glaciological and geodetic mass balance of ten long-term glaciers in Norway

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 6581-6626 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Andreassen ◽  
H. Elvehøy ◽  
B. Kjøllmoen ◽  
R. V. Engeset
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Uncertainty Assessment ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Independent Observations ◽  
Observation Series ◽  
Field Notes ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance ◽  
Year 2000

Abstract. The glaciological and geodetic methods provide independent observations of glacier mass balance. The glaciological method measures the surface mass balance, on a seasonal or annual basis, whereas the geodetic method measures surface, internal and basal mass balances, over a period of years or decades. In this paper, we reanalyse the 10 glaciers with long-term mass balance series in Norway. The reanalysis includes (i) homogenisation of both glaciological and geodetic observation series, (ii) uncertainty assessment, (iii) estimates of generic differences including estimates of internal and basal melt, (iv) validation, and (v) partly calibration of mass balance series. This study comprises an extensive set of data (454 mass balance years, 34 geodetic surveys and large volumes of supporting data, such as metadata and field notes). In total, 21 periods of data were compared and the results show discrepancies between the glaciological and geodetic methods for some glaciers, which in part are attributed to internal and basal ablation and in part to inhomogeneity in the data processing. Deviations were smaller than 0.2 m w.e. a−1 for 12 out of 21 periods. Calibration was applied to seven out of 21 periods, as the deviations were larger than the uncertainty. The reanalysed glaciological series shows a more consistent signal of glacier change over the period of observations than previously reported: six glaciers had a significant mass loss (14–22 m w.e.) and four glaciers were nearly in balance. All glaciers have lost mass after year 2000. More research is needed on the sources of uncertainty, to reduce uncertainties and adjust the observation programmes accordingly. The study confirms the value of carrying out independent high-quality geodetic surveys to check and correct field observations.

Simulation and analysis of glacier runoff and mass balance in the Nam Co basin, southern Tibetan Plateau

2015 ◽  
Vol 61 (227) ◽  
pp. 447-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gao Tanguang ◽  
Kang Shichang ◽  
Lan Cuo ◽  
Zhang Tingjun ◽  
Zhang Guoshuai ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Water Balance ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
The Tibetan Plateau ◽  
Distributed Hydrological Model ◽  
Index Method ◽  
Glacier Melt ◽  
Glacier Runoff ◽  
Southern Tibetan Plateau

AbstractRunoff estimation in high-altitude glacierized basins is an important issue on the Tibetan Plateau. To investigate glacier mass balance, runoff and water balance in the Qugaqie basin and Zhadang sub-basin in the southern Tibetan Plateau, two glacier models and three snow models were integrated into the spatially distributed hydrological model JAMS/J2K. The results showed that the temperature index method simulated glacier runoff better than the degree-day factor method. The simulated glacier melt volume in the Qugaqie basin in 2006, 2007 and 2008 contributed 58%, 50% and 41%, respectively, to its total runoff. In the Zhadang basin, the glacier melt volume contributed 78% and 66% to its runoff during 2007 and 2008, respectively. Compared with the observation results, the simulated glacier mass balance showed similar variations with slightly higher values, indicating an underestimation of glacier melt volume. The water balance simulation in the upstream areas (705–874 mm) was comparable to that in the downstream areas (1051–1502 mm) and generally lower than the observed results. In both basins, the glacier mass-balance simulation was relatively accurate in the melt season compared to the other seasons.

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