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Matthias Huss - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Glaciermip a model intercomparison of global scale Glacier Mass Balance models and projections
Journal of Glaciology, 2019Co-Authors: Regine Hock, Matthias Huss, Yukiko Hirabayashi, Andrew Bliss, Ben Marzeion, Rianne H Giesen, Valentina Radic, Aimee B A SlangenAbstract:Global-scale 21st-century Glacier Mass change projections from six published global Glacier models are systematically compared as part of the Glacier Model Intercomparison Project. In total 214 pro ...
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imaging spectroscopy to assess the composition of ice surface materials and their impact on Glacier Mass Balance
Remote Sensing of Environment, 2015Co-Authors: Kathrin Naegeli, Matthias Huss, Alexander Damm, Michael E Schaepman, Martin HoelzleAbstract:Abstract Glacier surfaces are not only composed of ice or snow but are heterogeneous mixtures of different materials. The occurrence and dynamics of light-absorbing impurities affect ice surface characteristics and strongly influence Glacier melt processes. However, our understanding of the spatial distribution of impurities and their impact on ice surface characteristics and the Glacier's energy budget is still limited. We use imaging spectroscopy in combination with in-situ experiments to assess the composition of ice surface materials and their respective impact on surface albedo and Glacier melt rates. Spectroscopy data were acquired in August 2013 using the Airborne Prism EXperiment (APEX) imaging spectrometer and were used to map the abundances of six predominant surface materials on Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Swiss Alps. A pixel-based classification revealed that about 10% of the ice surface is covered with snow, water or debris. The remaining 90% of the surface can be divided into three types of Glacier ice, namely ~ 7% dirty ice, ~ 43% pure ice and ~ 39% bright ice. Spatially distributed spectral albedo derived from APEX reflectance data in combination with in-situ multi-angular spectroscopic measurements was used to analyse albedo patterns present on the Glacier surface. About 85% of all pixels exhibit a low albedo between 0.1 and 0.4 (mean albedo 0.29 ± 0.12), indicating that Glacier de la Plaine Morte is covered with a significant amount of light-absorbing impurities, resulting in a strong ice-albedo feedback during the ablation season. Using a pixel-based albedo map instead of a constant albedo for ice (0.34) as input for a Mass Balance model revealed that the Glacier-wide total ablation remained similar (10% difference). However, the large local variations in Mass Balance can only be reproduced using the pixel-based albedo derived from APEX, emphasizing the need to quantify spatial albedo differences as an important input for Glacier Mass Balance models.
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the impact of saharan dust and black carbon on albedo and long term Mass Balance of an alpine Glacier
The Cryosphere, 2015Co-Authors: Jeannette Gabbi, Matthias Huss, Andreas Bauder, Fang Cao, Margit SchwikowskiAbstract: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., mineral 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 effects of melt and accumulation processes on the impurity concentration at the surface and thus on albedo and Glacier Mass Balance. Compared to pure snow conditions, the presence of Saharan dust and BC lowered the mean annual albedo by 0.04–0.06 depending on the location on the Glacier. Consequently, annual melt was increased by 15–19 %, and the mean annual Mass Balance was reduced by about 280–490 mm w.e. BC clearly dominated absorption which is about 3 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 and BC-enriched layers due to frequent years with negative Mass Balances.
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Reanalysing Glacier Mass Balance measurement series
The Cryosphere, 2013Co-Authors: Michael Zemp, Emmanuel Thibert, Matthias Huss, D. Stumm, C. Rolstad Denby, Christopher Nuth, Samuel U. Nussbaumer, Geir Moholdt, Andrew Mercer, Christoph MayerAbstract:Abstract. Glacier-wide Mass Balance has been measured for more than sixty years and is widely used as an indicator of climate change and to assess the Glacier contribution to runoff and sea level rise. Until recently, comprehensive uncertainty assessments have rarely been carried out and Mass Balance data have often been applied using rough error estimation or without consideration of errors. In this study, we propose a framework for reanalysing Glacier Mass Balance series that includes conceptual and statistical toolsets for assessment of random and systematic errors, as well as for validation and calibration (if necessary) of the glaciological with the geodetic Balance results. We demonstrate the usefulness and limitations of the proposed scheme, drawing on an analysis that comprises over 50 recording periods for a dozen Glaciers, and we make recommendations to investigators and users of Glacier Mass Balance data. Reanalysing Glacier Mass Balance series needs to become a standard procedure for every monitoring programme to improve data quality, including reliable uncertainty estimates.
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towards remote monitoring of sub seasonal Glacier Mass Balance
Annals of Glaciology, 2013Co-Authors: Matthias Huss, Leo Sold, Martin Hoelzle, Mazzal Stokvis, Nadine Salzmann, Daniel Farinotti, Michael ZempAbstract:This study presents a method that allows continuous monitoring of Mass Balance for remote or inaccessible Glaciers, based on repeated oblique photography. Hourly to daily pictures from two automatic cameras overlooking two large valley Glaciers in the Swiss Alps are available for eight ablation seasons (2004-11) in total. We determine the fraction of snow-covered Glacier surface from orthorectified and georeferenced images and combine this information with simple accumulation and melt modelling using meteorological data. By applying this approach, the evolution of Glacier- wide Mass Balance throughout the ablation period can be directly calculated, based on terrestrial remote-sensing data. Validation against independent in situ Mass-Balance observations indicates good agreement. Our methodology has considerable potential for the remote determination of mountain Glacier Mass Balance at high temporal resolution and could be applied using both repeated terrestrial and air-/spaceborne observations.
Danilo Alvarez - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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slight Mass loss revealed by reanalyzing Glacier Mass Balance observations on glaciar antisana 15 alpha inner tropics during the 1995 2012 period
Journal of Glaciology, 2016Co-Authors: Ruben Basantesserrano, L. Maisincho, B. Cáceres, Remigio Galarraga, Bruno Francou, Danilo AlvarezAbstract:In this paper, we reanalyze the Glacier Mass Balance on Glaciar Antisana 15α over the 1995– 2012 period. Annual Glacier Mass Balances were quantified on the basis of monthly glaciological measurements using an adaptation of Lliboutry's statistical approach. The geodetic Mass Balance was computed between 1997 and 2009 giving a cumulative Balance of −1.39 ± 1.97 m w.e. and a slightly negative adjusted annual glaciological Mass Balance (−0.12 ± 0.16 m w.e. a −1). Despite a careful analysis of uncertainties, we found a large discrepancy between the cumulative glaciological and the geo-detic Mass Balances over the common period, of 4.66 m w.e. This discrepancy can mainly be explained by underestimated net accumulation in the Glacier upper reaches, which could be due to the peculiar climate conditions of the equatorial zone with year round accumulation, thereby preventing clear identification of annual layers. An increase of ∼70% in measured rates of net accumulation would be needed to Balance the glaciological and geodetic Mass Balances; a hypothesis confirmed by estimated ice flux in the vicinity of the ELA. Consequently, the vertical gradient of precipitation may be higher than previously estimated and the accumulation processes (including the role of frost deposition) need to be carefully analyzed.
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slight Mass loss revealed by reanalyzing Glacier Mass Balance observations on glaciar antisana 15α inner tropics during the 1995 2012 period
Journal of Glaciology, 2016Co-Authors: Ruben Basantesserrano, L. Maisincho, B. Cáceres, Remigio Galarraga, Bruno Francou, Christian Vincent, Antoine Rabatel, Danilo AlvarezAbstract:In this paper, we reanalyze the Glacier Mass Balance on Glaciar Antisana 15α over the 1995– 2012 period. Annual Glacier Mass Balances were quantified on the basis of monthly glaciological measurements using an adaptation of Lliboutry's statistical approach. The geodetic Mass Balance was computed between 1997 and 2009 giving a cumulative Balance of −1.39 ± 1.97 m w.e. and a slightly negative adjusted annual glaciological Mass Balance (−0.12 ± 0.16 m w.e. a −1). Despite a careful analysis of uncertainties, we found a large discrepancy between the cumulative glaciological and the geo-detic Mass Balances over the common period, of 4.66 m w.e. This discrepancy can mainly be explained by underestimated net accumulation in the Glacier upper reaches, which could be due to the peculiar climate conditions of the equatorial zone with year round accumulation, thereby preventing clear identification of annual layers. An increase of ∼70% in measured rates of net accumulation would be needed to Balance the glaciological and geodetic Mass Balances; a hypothesis confirmed by estimated ice flux in the vicinity of the ELA. Consequently, the vertical gradient of precipitation may be higher than previously estimated and the accumulation processes (including the role of frost deposition) need to be carefully analyzed.
Ruben Basantesserrano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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slight Mass loss revealed by reanalyzing Glacier Mass Balance observations on glaciar antisana 15 alpha inner tropics during the 1995 2012 period
Journal of Glaciology, 2016Co-Authors: Ruben Basantesserrano, L. Maisincho, B. Cáceres, Remigio Galarraga, Bruno Francou, Danilo AlvarezAbstract:In this paper, we reanalyze the Glacier Mass Balance on Glaciar Antisana 15α over the 1995– 2012 period. Annual Glacier Mass Balances were quantified on the basis of monthly glaciological measurements using an adaptation of Lliboutry's statistical approach. The geodetic Mass Balance was computed between 1997 and 2009 giving a cumulative Balance of −1.39 ± 1.97 m w.e. and a slightly negative adjusted annual glaciological Mass Balance (−0.12 ± 0.16 m w.e. a −1). Despite a careful analysis of uncertainties, we found a large discrepancy between the cumulative glaciological and the geo-detic Mass Balances over the common period, of 4.66 m w.e. This discrepancy can mainly be explained by underestimated net accumulation in the Glacier upper reaches, which could be due to the peculiar climate conditions of the equatorial zone with year round accumulation, thereby preventing clear identification of annual layers. An increase of ∼70% in measured rates of net accumulation would be needed to Balance the glaciological and geodetic Mass Balances; a hypothesis confirmed by estimated ice flux in the vicinity of the ELA. Consequently, the vertical gradient of precipitation may be higher than previously estimated and the accumulation processes (including the role of frost deposition) need to be carefully analyzed.
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slight Mass loss revealed by reanalyzing Glacier Mass Balance observations on glaciar antisana 15α inner tropics during the 1995 2012 period
Journal of Glaciology, 2016Co-Authors: Ruben Basantesserrano, L. Maisincho, B. Cáceres, Remigio Galarraga, Bruno Francou, Christian Vincent, Antoine Rabatel, Danilo AlvarezAbstract:In this paper, we reanalyze the Glacier Mass Balance on Glaciar Antisana 15α over the 1995– 2012 period. Annual Glacier Mass Balances were quantified on the basis of monthly glaciological measurements using an adaptation of Lliboutry's statistical approach. The geodetic Mass Balance was computed between 1997 and 2009 giving a cumulative Balance of −1.39 ± 1.97 m w.e. and a slightly negative adjusted annual glaciological Mass Balance (−0.12 ± 0.16 m w.e. a −1). Despite a careful analysis of uncertainties, we found a large discrepancy between the cumulative glaciological and the geo-detic Mass Balances over the common period, of 4.66 m w.e. This discrepancy can mainly be explained by underestimated net accumulation in the Glacier upper reaches, which could be due to the peculiar climate conditions of the equatorial zone with year round accumulation, thereby preventing clear identification of annual layers. An increase of ∼70% in measured rates of net accumulation would be needed to Balance the glaciological and geodetic Mass Balances; a hypothesis confirmed by estimated ice flux in the vicinity of the ELA. Consequently, the vertical gradient of precipitation may be higher than previously estimated and the accumulation processes (including the role of frost deposition) need to be carefully analyzed.
Christian Vincent - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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slight Mass loss revealed by reanalyzing Glacier Mass Balance observations on glaciar antisana 15α inner tropics during the 1995 2012 period
Journal of Glaciology, 2016Co-Authors: Ruben Basantesserrano, L. Maisincho, B. Cáceres, Remigio Galarraga, Bruno Francou, Christian Vincent, Antoine Rabatel, Danilo AlvarezAbstract:In this paper, we reanalyze the Glacier Mass Balance on Glaciar Antisana 15α over the 1995– 2012 period. Annual Glacier Mass Balances were quantified on the basis of monthly glaciological measurements using an adaptation of Lliboutry's statistical approach. The geodetic Mass Balance was computed between 1997 and 2009 giving a cumulative Balance of −1.39 ± 1.97 m w.e. and a slightly negative adjusted annual glaciological Mass Balance (−0.12 ± 0.16 m w.e. a −1). Despite a careful analysis of uncertainties, we found a large discrepancy between the cumulative glaciological and the geo-detic Mass Balances over the common period, of 4.66 m w.e. This discrepancy can mainly be explained by underestimated net accumulation in the Glacier upper reaches, which could be due to the peculiar climate conditions of the equatorial zone with year round accumulation, thereby preventing clear identification of annual layers. An increase of ∼70% in measured rates of net accumulation would be needed to Balance the glaciological and geodetic Mass Balances; a hypothesis confirmed by estimated ice flux in the vicinity of the ELA. Consequently, the vertical gradient of precipitation may be higher than previously estimated and the accumulation processes (including the role of frost deposition) need to be carefully analyzed.
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modelling Glacier change in the everest region nepal himalaya
The Cryosphere, 2014Co-Authors: Jm Shea, Patrick Wagnon, Christian Vincent, W W Immerzeel, Samjwal Ratna BajracharyaAbstract:In this study, we apply a Glacier Mass Balance and ice redistribution model to examine the sensitivity of Glaciers in the Everest region of Nepal to climate change. High-resolution temperature and precipitation fields derived from gridded station data, and bias-corrected with independent station observations, are used to drive the historical model from 1961 to 2007. The model is calibrated against geode-tically derived estimates of net Glacier Mass change from 1992 to 2008, termini position of four large Glaciers at the end of the calibration period, average velocities observed on selected debris-covered Glaciers, and total Glacierized area. We integrate field-based observations of Glacier Mass Balance and ice thickness with remotely sensed observations of decadal Glacier change to validate the model. Between 1961 and 2007, the mean modelled volume change over the Dudh Koshi basin is −6.4 ± 1.5 km 3 , a decrease of 15.6 % from the original estimated ice volume in 1961. Modelled Glacier area change between 1961 and 2007 is −101.0 ± 11.4 km 2 , a decrease of approximately 20 % from the initial extent. The modelled Glacier sensitivity to future climate change is high. Application of temperature and precipitation anomalies from warm/dry and wet/cold end-members of the CMIP5 RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 ensemble results in sustained Mass loss from Glaciers in the Everest region through the 21st century.
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processes governing the Mass Balance of chhota shigri Glacier western himalaya india assessed by point scale surface energy Balance measurements
The Cryosphere, 2014Co-Authors: Vincent Favier, Patrick Wagnon, Christian Vincent, Mohd Farooq Azam, Al Ramanathan, Arindan Mandal, Jose George PottakkalAbstract:Some recent studies revealed that Himalayan Glaciers were shrinking at an accelerated rate since the beginning of the 21st century. However, the climatic causes for this shrinkage remain unclear given that surface energy Balance studies are almost nonexistent in this region. In this study, a point-scale surface energy Balance analysis was performed using in situ meteorological data from the ablation zone of Chhota Shigri Glacier over two separate periods (August 2012 to February 2013 and July to October 2013) in order to understand the response of Mass Balance to climatic variables. Energy Balance numerical modelling provides quantification of the surface energy fluxes and identification of the factors affecting Glacier Mass Balance. The model was validated by comparing the computed and observed ablation and surface temperature data. During the summer-monsoon period, net radiation was the primary component of the surface energy Balance accounting for 80 % of the total heat flux followed by turbulent sensible (13%), latent (5%) and conductive (2%) heat fluxes. A striking feature of the energy Balance is the positive turbulent latent heat flux, suggesting re-sublimation of moist air at the Glacier surface, during the summer-monsoon characterized by relatively high air temperature, high relative humidity and a continual melting surface. The impact of the Indian Summer Monsoon on Chhota Shigri Glacier Mass Balance has also been assessed. This analysis demonstrates that the intensity of snowfall events during the summer-monsoon plays a key role on surface albedo (melting is reduced in the case of strong snowfalls covering the Glacier area), and thus is among the most important drivers controlling the annual Mass Balance of the Glacier. The summer-monsoon air temperature, controlling the precipitation phase (rain versus snow and thus albedo), counts, indirectly, also among the most important drivers.
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external geophysics climate and environment Glacier fluctuations in the alps and in the tropical andes
2004Co-Authors: Christian Vincent, Emmanuel Le Meur, Vincent Favier, Patrick Wagnon, Pierre Ribstein, Delphine SixAbstract:This paper reports on Glacier variations in two mountainous regions of the world, the Alps and the tropical Andes. Available records of snout position and Glacier Mass Balance are compared and interpreted on a climatological basis. In both regions, there is a long-term decreasing trend over the 20th century. The yield of this trend is different from one Glacier to the other, depending on geographic and geometric characteristics. Analysing the surface energy Balance, net all wave radiation is the main energy flux at the Glacier surface. The turbulent fluxes represent an important term with strong positive sensible heat flux in the Alps and strong negative latent heat flux (sublimation) in the Andes. Tropical Glaciers are sensitive to inter-annual variations in solid precipitation that affects the albedo, whereas Alpine Glaciers are strongly influenced by air temperature changes in the Alps. To
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Glacier Mass Balance determination by remote sensing in the french alps progress and limitation for time series monitoring
International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 2003Co-Authors: Jeanpierre Dedieu, Christian Vincent, Emmanuel Thibert, Antoine Rabatel, F Valla, Yves ArnaudAbstract:This paper presents an approach founded on an indirect methodology to determine the distribution of Mass Balance at high spatial resolution using remote sensing and ground stakes measurements. A recent time series of images from optical and SAR data are selected on 3 outlet Glaciers well suited in the French Alps to evaluate the accuracy of the computed Mass Balance. The method is based on the snowline determination as a proxy of the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The key of the transfer is the activity coefficient (db/dz) for the annual Mass Balance calculation. Comparison between measured and computed Mass Balance provide a good correspondence (R/sup 2/=0.90) and allows extending the method on large-scale areas. The limitations are cloudiness for optical data and high slope distortion on SAR images.
Shiyin Liu - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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remote sensing estimate of Glacier Mass Balance over the central nyainqentanglha range during 1968 2013
The Cryosphere Discussions, 2018Co-Authors: Shiyin Liu, Zongli Jiang, Junfeng WeiAbstract:Abstract. With high air temperatures and annual precipitation, maritime Glaciers in southeastern Tibet are sensitive to climate change. Current glaciological knowledge of those in the central Nyainqentanglha Range is still limited because of their inaccessibility and low-quality data. To obtain information on changes in Glacier area, length and Mass Balance, a comprehensive study was carried out based on topographic maps and Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images (1968 and 2016), and on digital-elevation models (DEM) derived from the 1968 maps, from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM (2000), and from TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (∼ 2013). This showed the area contained 715 Glaciers, with an area of 1713.42 ± 51.82 km2, in 2016. Ice cover has been shrinking by 0.68 % ± 0.05% a−1 since 1968, although in the most recent decade this rate has slowed. The Glacier area covered by debris accounted for 11.9 % of the total and decreased in SE-NW directions. Using DEM differencing and Differential Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry (DInSAR), a significant Mass deficit of 0.46 ± 0.04 m w.e. a−1 has been recorded since 1968; Mass losses accelerating from 0.42 ± 0.05 m w.e. a−1 to 0.60 ± 0.20 m w.e. a−1 during 1968–2000 and 2000–∼ 2013, with thinning noticeably greater on the debris-covered ice than the clean ice. Surface-elevation changes can be influenced by ice cliffs, as well as debris cover, and land- or lake-terminating Glaciers and supraglacial lakes. Changes showed spatial and temporal heterogeneity and a substantial correlation with climate warming.
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recent Glacier Mass Balance and area changes in the kangri karpo mountains from dems and Glacier inventories
The Cryosphere, 2018Co-Authors: Shiyin Liu, Zongli Jiang, Junfeng Wei, Wanqin GuoAbstract:Abstract. Due to the influence of the Indian monsoon, the Kangri Karpo Mountains in the south-east of the Tibetan Plateau is in the most humid and one of the most important and concentrated regions containing maritime (temperate) Glaciers. Glacier Mass loss in the Kangri Karpo is an important contributor to global mean sea level rise, and changes run-off distribution, increasing the risk of glacial-lake outburst floods (GLOFs). Because of its inaccessibility and high labour costs, information about the Kangri Karpo Glaciers is still limited. Using geodetic methods based on digital elevation models (DEMs) derived from 1980 topographic maps from the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) (2000) and from TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X (2014), this study has determined Glacier elevation changes. Glacier area and length changes between 1980 and 2015 were derived from topographical maps and Landsat TM/ETM+/OLI images. Results show that the Kangri Karpo contained 1166 Glaciers with an area of 2048.50 ± 48.65 km2 in 2015. Ice cover diminished by 679.51 ± 59.49 km2 (24.9 ± 2.2 %) or 0.71 ± 0.06 % a−1 from 1980 to 2015, although nine Glaciers advanced. A Glacierized area of 788.28 km2, derived from DEM differencing, experienced a mean Mass loss of 0.46 ± 0.08 m w.e. a−1 from 1980 to 2014. Shrinkage and Mass loss accelerated significantly from 2000 to 2015 compared to 1980–2000, consistent with a warming climate.
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response of Glacier Mass Balance to climate change in the tianshan mountains during the second half of the twentieth century
Climate Dynamics, 2016Co-Authors: Qiao Liu, Shiyin LiuAbstract:Systematic differences in Glacier Mass Balance response to climate warming are apparent in the Tianshan Mountains, which are primarily caused by different climatic regimes and Glacier hypsography. Combined Mass Balance data of nine monitored Glaciers in the Tianshan Mountains shows that most Glaciers accelerated their Mass losing rate since 1970s (averaged from -24.6 mm w.e. a(-1) in 1957-1970 to -444.6 mm w.e. a(-1) in 1971-2009), but also exhibiting discrepancy and consistency during the second half of the twentieth century. To see their climatic-Mass Balance relationships, we employ a simple temperature index Mass Balance model on five well monitored Glaciers in Tianshan. The model is calibrated by the observed annual, summer and winter Mass Balance data over the period of 1957-1980 and validated over 1981-2002. A comparison of modeled and measured annual Mass Balance yields an overall standard deviation of 0.465 m w.e. during the period of model runs. The calibrated Mass Balance model is also used to perform sensitivity experiments, which indicates the significant differences of individual Glaciers in response to climate changes. This study, for the first time, tests a temperature index Mass Balance model on the selected observed Glaciers in the Tianshan Mountains. Although there exists considerable uncertainties, we propose its potential possibility of improvement and applicability for regional Glacier Mass Balance reconstructions and future predictions.
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catchment scale reconstruction of Glacier Mass Balance using observations and global climate data case study of the hailuogou catchment south eastern tibetan plateau
Journal of Hydrology, 2012Co-Authors: Yong Zhang, Yukiko Hirabayashi, Shiyin LiuAbstract:Summary Debris-covered Glaciers are common in the Tibetan Plateau, where ablation zones are mantled in a supraglacial debris cover that influences Glacier Mass Balance, runoff, and response to climate change by affecting the melt rate of the underlying ice. The impact of debris cover has not yet been taken into account in regional- or global-scale assessments of Glacier Mass Balances and freshwater resources by using physically based numerical models. Here, a surface energy–Mass Balance model that accounts for the significance of debris cover and its effect on the ice melt rate is applied to reconstruct the Glacier Mass Balance of Hailuogou catchment, which is located in the south-eastern Tibetan Plateau and contains three debris-covered and four debris-free monsoonal maritime Glaciers. According to our calculations, the Glaciers in Hailuogou catchment show a mean annual Balance of −0.42 m water equivalent (w.e.) per year, for a total Mass loss of 24.3 m w.e. over the period 1952–2009. A comparison of summer temperature- and precipitation-Mass Balance/equilibrium line altitude (ELA) relations indicates that the Glaciers in the catchment are much more sensitive to temperature change than to precipitation change. In the last 20 yrs, increasing summer temperature is the main cause of rapid wasting of the Glacier Mass in the catchment. Meanwhile, the presence of supraglacial debris markedly accelerates Glacier Mass loss, resulting in the unstable termini of debris-covered Glaciers in Hailuogou catchment. This highlights the importance of debris cover for understanding Glacier Mass Balance and hydrology in the Tibetan Plateau.