Thermal drilling and temperature measurements in Khumbu Glacier, Nepal Himalayas.

Mae, Shinji; Wushiki, Hisao; Ageta, Yutaka; Higuchi, Keiji

doi:10.5331/seppyo.37.4_161

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…To redistribute mass from accumulation to ablation areas, we use a simplified flow model which assumes that basal sliding is the principal process for glacier movement and neglects deformational flow. While cold-based glaciers have been observed on the Tibetan Plateau (Liu et al, 2009), warm-based glaciers and polythermal regimes have been identified on the monsoon-influenced southern slopes of the Himalayas (Mae et al, 1975;Ageta and Higuchi, 1984;Kääb, 2005;Hewitt, 2007). Our assumption in this case is a necessary simplification of the sliding and deformational components of ice flow, which have not yet been modelled at the basin scale in the Himalayas.…”

Section: Glacier Mass Balance and Redistributionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Modelling glacier change in the Everest region, Nepal Himalaya

et al. 2015

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Abstract. 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. Highresolution 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 geodetically 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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Section: Glacier Mass Balance and Redistributionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Modelling glacier change in the Everest region, Nepal Himalaya

et al. 2015

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“…The terminus elevation is slightly lower than the local permafrost limit of ~5,000 m asl (Schmid et al, ). The glacier is likely to be polythermal, with an estimated 17 m deep cold surface ice layer (Mae et al, ). The glacier thinned at approximately −0.6 m a −1 between 2000 and 2015, with losses of −1.4 m a −1 at elevations of 5,200–5,300 m asl (King et al, ).…”

Section: Field Site and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Supraglacial Ponds Regulate Runoff From Himalayan Debris‐Covered Glaciers

Irvine‐Fynn

Porter

Rowan

et al. 2017

Geophysical Research Letters

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Meltwater and runoff from glaciers in High Mountain Asia is a vital freshwater resource for one‐fifth of the Earth's population. Between 13% and 36% of the region's glacierized areas exhibit surface debris cover and associated supraglacial ponds whose hydrological buffering roles remain unconstrained. We present a high‐resolution meltwater hydrograph from the extensively debris‐covered Khumbu Glacier, Nepal, spanning a 7 month period in 2014. Supraglacial ponds and accompanying debris cover modulate proglacial discharge by acting as transient and evolving reservoirs. Diurnally, the supraglacial pond system may store >23% of observed mean daily discharge, with mean recession constants ranging from 31 to 108 h. Given projections of increased debris cover and supraglacial pond extent across High Mountain Asia, we conclude that runoff regimes may become progressively buffered by the presence of supraglacial reservoirs. Incorporation of these processes is critical to improve predictions of the region's freshwater resource availability and cascading environmental effects downstream.

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“…The details of the results and analysis of the drilling will be published in an other paper (Mae, Wushiki, Ageta and Higuchi, 1975), and they are simply reviewed in this section.…”

Section: Thermal Drilling and Temperature Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%