Glaciers of the outer and inner tropics: A different behaviour but a common response to climatic forcing

Favier, Vincent; Wagnon, Patrick; Ribstein, Pierre

doi:10.1029/2004gl020654

Cited by 119 publications

(163 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Their data quality and length of record are listed in Table 6. There was also a good correlation between mass balance and the global temperature at 500 and at 600 hPa (Table 4), which takes into account the explanation of the physical processes at Antisana glacier given by Favier et al (2004aFavier et al ( , 2004b, Francou et al (2004) and Vuille et al (2008a). We Empirical mass balance modelling of Antisana tropical glacierused the wind speed calculated from the zonal and southern wind components at 500 hPa and temperature at 700 hPa, even though this last variable has a low correlation coefficient with mass balance (Table 4).…”

Section: Statistical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 72%

“…It included temperatures recorded at the meteorological stations located in the Inter-Andean region because temperature indirectly controls albedo and hence melting of the glacier (Favier et al 2004a, 2004b, Francou et al 2004). The equation is as follows:…”

Section: Model 1: Local and Regional Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Favier et al (2004aFavier et al ( , 2004b, Francou et al (2004) and Vuille et al (2008a) observed that temperature and precipitation are the main factors that explain melting and the annual mass balance of Glacier 15. In addition, the almost non-existent seasonality of precipitation and of temperature implies that local variations are responsible for variations in the mass balance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, the almost non-existent seasonality of precipitation and of temperature implies that local variations are responsible for variations in the mass balance. For this reason, Favier et al (2004b) suggested that solid precipitation is the key variable involved in annual mass balance variability. Favier et al (2004b) and Francou et al (2004) observed that liquid precipitation can occur on the ablation zone of Glacier 15 and that the snowline altitude is very sensitive to air temperature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For this reason, Favier et al (2004b) suggested that solid precipitation is the key variable involved in annual mass balance variability. Favier et al (2004b) and Francou et al (2004) observed that liquid precipitation can occur on the ablation zone of Glacier 15 and that the snowline altitude is very sensitive to air temperature. Favier et al (2004a) suggested that the glacier retreat is due to the effect of global warming on the tropical troposphere and, as a consequence, that the increase in temperature, rather than the albedo, causes increased absorption of solar energy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Empirical mass balance modelling of South American tropical glaciers: case study of Antisana volcano, Ecuador

Manciati¹,

Villacís

Taupin

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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Most Latin American glaciers are located in the tropical Andes. The melting processes of Glacier "15" on Antisana volcano were studied to understand the relationship between glacier retreat and natural climate variability and global climate change. Glaciers on the Antisana volcano are crucial sources of water as they feed the headwater rivers that supply Quito with potable water. The aim of this study was to build empirical models based on multiple correlations to reconstruct the mass loss of glaciers over a period of 10 years at three scales: local (data recorded by meteorological stations located around the volcano), regional (data from stations located around the country) and global (re-analysis data). Data quality was checked using graphical and statistical methods. Several empirical models based on multiple correlations were created to generate longer time series (42 and 115 years) of the mass balance for the glacier ablation zone. The long mass balance series were compared with the temperature variation series of the Earth's surface in the Southern Hemisphere to estimate the relation between the mass balance and global warming. Our results suggest that the meteorological factors that best correlate with mass balance are temperature and wind.Key words Ecuador; Andes; Antisana volcano; glacier; ablation zone mass balance; empirical models Modélisation empirique du bilan de masse des glaciers tropicaux d'Amérique du Sud: cas du volcan Antisana, Equateur Résumé La plupart des glaciers d'Amérique latine sont situées dans les Andes tropicales. Les processus de fusion du glacier « 15 » sur le volcan Antisana ont été étudiés pour comprendre la relation entre le recul des glaciers et la variabilité naturelle du climat et / ou le changement climatique mondial. Les glaciers situés sur le volcan Antisana sont des ressources en eau essentielles car ils alimentent les rivières qui fournissent l'eau potable de Quito. L'objectif de cette étude était de construire des modèles empiriques sur la base de corrélations multiples afin de reconstituer la perte de masse des glaciers sur une période de dix ans à trois échelles : locale (données enregistrées par les stations météorologiques situées autour du volcan), régionales (données provenant de stations situées dans le pays) et mondiale (données de réanalyse). La qualité des données a été vérifiée à l'aide de méthodes graphiques et statistiques. Plusieurs modèles empiriques basés sur les corrélations multiples ont été créés pour générer des séries plus longues (42 et 115 ans) du bilan de masse de la zone d'ablation du glacier. La longue série de bilans de masse a été comparée à la courbe de variation de la température de surface de la Terre dans l'hémisphère Sud pour estimer la relation entre le bilan de masse et le réchauffement climatique. Nos résultats suggèrent que les facteurs météorologiques présentant la meilleure corrélation avec le bilan de masse sont la température et le vent.

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Section: Statistical Modelsmentioning

confidence: 72%

Section: Model 1: Local and Regional Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Empirical mass balance modelling of South American tropical glaciers: case study of Antisana volcano, Ecuador

Manciati¹,

Villacís

Taupin

et al. 2014

Hydrological Sciences Journal

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The freezing level in the tropical Andes, Peru: An indicator for present and future glacier extents

et al. 2017

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Along with air temperatures, the freezing level height (FLH) has risen over the last decades. The mass balance of tropical glaciers in Peru is highly sensitive to a rise in the FLH, mainly due to a decrease in accumulation and increase of energy for ablation caused by reduced albedo. Knowledge of future changes in the FLH is thus crucial to estimating changes in glacier extents. Since in situ data are scarce at altitudes where glaciers exist (above ~4800 m above sea level (asl)), reliable FLH estimates must be derived from multiple data types. Here we assessed the FLHs and their spatiotemporal variability, as well as the related snow/rain transition in the two largest glacier‐covered regions in Peru by combining data from two climate reanalysis products, Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Precipitation Radar Bright Band data, Micro Rain Radar data, and meteorological ground station measurements. The mean annual FLH lies at 4900 and 5010 m asl, for the Cordillera Blanca and Vilcanota, respectively. During the wet season, the FLH in the Cordillera Vilcanota lies ~150 m higher compared to the Cordillera Blanca, which is in line with the higher glacier terminus elevations. Coupled Model Intercomparison Project version 5 (CMIP5) climate model projections reveal that by the end of the 21st century, the FLH will rise by 230 m (±190 m) for Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 850 m (±390 m) for RCP8.5. Even under the most optimistic scenario, glaciers may continue shrinking considerably, assuming a close relation between FLH and glacier extents. Under the most pessimistic scenario, glaciers may only remain at the highest summits above approximately 5800 m asl.

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A study of the energy balance and melt regime on Juncal Norte Glacier, semi‐arid Andes of central Chile, using melt models of different complexity

Pellicciotti

Helbing

Rivera

et al. 2008

Hydrological Processes

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126

219

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Abstract:We use meteorological data from two automatic weather stations (AWS) on Juncal Norte Glacier, central Chile, to investigate the glacier-climate interaction and to test ablation models of different complexity. The semi-arid Central Andes are characterized by dry summers, with precipitation close to zero, low relative humidity and intense solar radiation. We show that katabatic forcing is dominant both on the glacier tongue and in the fore field, and that low humidity and absence of clouds cause strong radiative cooling of the glacier surface. Surface albedo is basically constant for snow and ice, because of the scarcity of solid precipitation. The energy balance of the glacier is simulated for a 2-month period in austral summer using two models of different complexity, which differ in the inclusion of the heat conduction flux into the snowpack and in the parameterization of the incoming longwave radiation. Net shortwave radiation is the dominant component of the energy balance. The sensible heat flux is always positive, while both the net longwave radiation and latent heat flux are negative. Neglecting the subsurface heat flux and corresponding variations in surface temperature leads to an overestimation of ablation of 2% over a total of 3695 mm water equivalent (w.e.) at the end of the season. Correct modelling of incoming longwave radiation is crucial, and we suggest that parameterizations based on vapour pressure and air temperature should be used rather than on computed cloud amount. We also used an enhanced temperature-index model incorporating the shortwave radiation flux, which has two empirical parameters. We apply it both with values of parameters obtained for Alpine glaciers and recalibrated on Juncal Norte. The model recalibrated against the correct energy balance simulations performs very well. The model parameters respond to the meteorological conditions typical of this climatic setting.

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Glaciers of the outer and inner tropics: A different behaviour but a common response to climatic forcing

Cited by 119 publications

References 14 publications

Empirical mass balance modelling of South American tropical glaciers: case study of Antisana volcano, Ecuador

Empirical mass balance modelling of South American tropical glaciers: case study of Antisana volcano, Ecuador

The freezing level in the tropical Andes, Peru: An indicator for present and future glacier extents

A study of the energy balance and melt regime on Juncal Norte Glacier, semi‐arid Andes of central Chile, using melt models of different complexity

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