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

Huss, Matthias

doi:10.5194/tc-6-713-2012

Cited by 124 publications

(134 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The reason is currently unclear. The temporal dynamics of Karabatkak Glacier may not be representative for the temporal dynamics of a larger number of glaciers, even though typically temporal mass balance variations are assumed to correlate well at the scale of mountain ranges [Huss, 2012]. Other possible causes are errors in the measured mass balance time series (which could be related to the difficulty to access the accumulation area of Karabatkak Glacier), errors in other model calibration or input data, or model structural errors.…”

Section: Multiobjective Model Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attribution of streamflow trends in snow and glacier melt‐dominated catchments of the Tarim River, Central Asia

Duethmann

Bolch

Farinotti

et al. 2015

Water Resources Research

167

142

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Observed streamflow of headwater catchments of the Tarim River (Central Asia) increased by about 30% over the period . This study aims at assessing to which extent these streamflow trends can be attributed to changes in air temperature or precipitation. The analysis includes a data-based approach using multiple linear regression and a simulation-based approach using a hydrological model. The hydrological model considers changes in both glacier area and surface elevation. It was calibrated using a multiobjective optimization algorithm with calibration criteria based on glacier mass balance and daily and interannual variations of discharge. The individual contributions to the overall streamflow trends from changes in glacier geometry, temperature, and precipitation were assessed using simulation experiments with a constant glacier geometry and with detrended temperature and precipitation time series. The results showed that the observed changes in streamflow were consistent with the changes in temperature and precipitation. In the Sari-Djaz catchment, increasing temperatures and related increase of glacier melt were identified as the dominant driver, while in the Kakshaal catchment, both increasing temperatures and increasing precipitation played a major role. Comparing the two approaches, an advantage of the simulation-based approach is the fact that it is based on process-based relationships implemented in the hydrological model instead of statistical links in the regression model. However, data-based approaches are less affected by model parameter and structural uncertainties and typically fast to apply. A complementary application of both approaches is recommended.

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Section: Multiobjective Model Calibrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Attribution of streamflow trends in snow and glacier melt‐dominated catchments of the Tarim River, Central Asia

Duethmann

Bolch

Farinotti

et al. 2015

Water Resources Research

167

142

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In the lower reaches of the three size classes, the average slopes vary between 5% and 20%, which indicates the glaciers' ability to adapt their geometry to climate changes (e.g. Huss, 2012;Harrison, 2013). Lowslope glaciers tend to adapt slowly, thus often having the most negative mass balances under warming conditions.…”

Section: Slope and Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Anderson and Mackintosh, 2012;Huss, 2012;Geck and others, 2013). Spatial sampling strategies vary among studies, ranging from using glacier-averaged to localized values only.…”

Section: Slope and Aspectmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Derivation and analysis of a complete modern-date glacier inventory for Alaska and northwest Canada

et al. 2015

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ABSTRACT. We present a detailed, complete glacier inventory for Alaska and neighboring Canada using multi-sensor satellite data from 2000 to 2011. For each glacier, we derive outlines and 51 variables, including center-line lengths, outline types and debris cover. We find 86 723 km 2 of glacier area (27 109 glaciers >0.025 km 2 ), �12% of the global glacierized area outside ice sheets. Of this area 12.0% is drained by 39 marine-terminating glaciers (74 km of tidewater margin), and 19.3% by 148 lake-and river-terminating glaciers (420 km of lake-/river margin). The overall debris cover is 11%, with considerable differences among regions, ranging from 1.4% in the Kenai Mountains to 28% in the Central Alaska Range. Comparison of outlines from different sources on >2500 km 2 of glacierized area yields a total area difference of �10%, emphasizing the difficulties in accurately delineating debris-covered glaciers. Assuming fully correlated (systematic) errors, uncertainties in area reach 6% for all Alaska glaciers, but further analysis is needed to explore adequate error correlation scales. Preliminary analysis of the glacier database yields a new set of well-constrained area/length scaling parameters and shows good agreement between our area-altitude distributions and previously established synthetic hypsometries. The new glacier database will be valuable to further explore relations between glacier variables and glacier behavior.

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“…1a). The volcano is covered by 17 glaciers as listed by Hastenrath (1981). The present paper focuses on Glaciar Antisana 15α (5700-4850 m a.s.l., 0.28 km 2 , 1.6 km long) located on the northwestern side of the volcano (Fig.…”

Section: Study Site and Climate Settingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Slight mass loss revealed by reanalyzing glacier mass-balance observations on Glaciar Antisana 15α (inner tropics) during the 1995–2012 period

et al. 2016

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

Cited by 124 publications

References 51 publications

Attribution of streamflow trends in snow and glacier melt‐dominated catchments of the Tarim River, Central Asia

Attribution of streamflow trends in snow and glacier melt‐dominated catchments of the Tarim River, Central Asia

Derivation and analysis of a complete modern-date glacier inventory for Alaska and northwest Canada

Slight mass loss revealed by reanalyzing glacier mass-balance observations on Glaciar Antisana 15α (inner tropics) during the 1995–2012 period

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