Geodetic Mass Balance of Glaciers in the Central Brooks Range, Alaska, U.S.A., from 1970 to 2001

Geck, Jason; Hock, Regine; Nolan, M.

doi:10.1657/1938-4246-45.1.29

Cited by 8 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 31 publications

(35 reference statements)

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“…More negative mass-balance rates were also found for 107 glaciers (42 km 2 ) in the Brooks Range, in the continental climate of the north of Alaska (–0.54 ± 0.05 m w.e. a –1 ), for the shorter 1970–2001 period (Geck and others, 2013). During the period 1962–2006, the regional mass-balance rate of all Alaskan glaciers was –0.48 ± 0.10 m w.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

21st-century increase in glacier mass loss in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, USA, from airborne laser altimetry and satellite stereo imagery

Das¹,

Hock

Berthier

et al. 2014

J. Glaciol.

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Alaskan glaciers are among the largest regional contributors to sea-level rise in the latter half of the 20th century. Earlier studies have documented extensive and accelerated ice wastage in most regions of Alaska. Here we study five decades of mass loss on high-elevation, land-terminating glaciers of the Wrangell Mountains (~ 4900 km2) in central Alaska based on airborne center-line laser altimetry data from 2000 and 2007, a digital elevation model (DEM) from ASTER and SPOT5, and US Geological Survey topographic maps from 1957. The regional mass-balance estimates derived from center-line laser altimetry profiles using two regional extrapolation techniques agree well with that from DEM differencing. Repeat altimetry measurements reveal accelerated mass loss over the Wrangell Mountains, with the regional mass-balance rate evolving from –0.07 ± 0.19 m w.e. a–1 during 1957–2000 to –0.24 ± 0.16 m w.e. a–1 during 2000–07. Nabesna, the largest glacier in this region (˜1056 km2), lost mass four times faster during 2000–07 than during 1957–2000. Although accelerated, the mass change over this region is slower than in other glacierized regions of Alaska, particularly those with tidewater glaciers. Together, our laser altimetry and satellite DEM analyses demonstrate increased wastage of these glaciers during the last 50 years.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

21st-century increase in glacier mass loss in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, USA, from airborne laser altimetry and satellite stereo imagery

Das¹,

Hock

Berthier

et al. 2014

J. Glaciol.

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“…Glacier aspects and slopes are commonly examined as controls on glacier mass balance and dynamic adjustment (e.g. 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: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Further north, the climate is more continental and supports only smaller glaciers. The Brooks Range, the northernmost inventoried region, has few glaciers despite its location north of 65° N and elevations >3000 m a.s.l., due to extremely low precipitation rates (Geck and others, 2013).…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 99%

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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“…Mountain glacier mass loss is ubiquitous in recent decades [ Gardner et al ., ], with some of the most rapid rates of change in Alaska [ Jacob et al ., ; Larsen et al ., ; Radić and Hock , ] and in the Arctic [ Dyurgerov et al ., ; Geck et al ., ; Nuth et al ., ; Shahgedanova et al ., ]. Glaciers in continental regions are generally losing volume at an accelerating rate [ Dyurgerov and Meier , ; McGrath et al ., ] and small mountain glaciers (~1 km 2 ) are some of the most sensitive to climate and significant contributors to total glacier coverage loss [ Bolch et al ., ; McGrath et al ., ; Paul et al ., ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska

Liljedahl

Gädeke

O’Neel

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Arctic river discharge has increased in recent decades although sources and mechanisms remain debated. Abundant literature documents permafrost thaw and mountain glacier shrinkage over the past decades. Here we link glacier runoff to aquifer recharge via a losing headwater stream in subarctic Interior Alaska. Field measurements in Jarvis Creek (634 km2), a subbasin of the Tanana and Yukon Rivers, show glacier meltwater runoff as a large component (15–28%) of total annual streamflow despite low glacier cover (3%). About half of annual headwater streamflow is lost to the aquifer (38 to 56%). The estimated long‐term change in glacier‐derived aquifer recharge exceeds the observed increase in Tanana River base flow. Our findings suggest a linkage between glacier wastage, aquifer recharge along the headwater stream corridor, and lowland winter discharge. Accordingly, glacierized headwater streambeds may serve as major aquifer recharge zones in semiarid climates and therefore contributing to year‐round base flow of lowland rivers.

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Geodetic Mass Balance of Glaciers in the Central Brooks Range, Alaska, U.S.A., from 1970 to 2001

Cited by 8 publications

References 31 publications

21st-century increase in glacier mass loss in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, USA, from airborne laser altimetry and satellite stereo imagery

21st-century increase in glacier mass loss in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska, USA, from airborne laser altimetry and satellite stereo imagery

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

Glacierized headwater streams as aquifer recharge corridors, subarctic Alaska

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