A surge of Perseibreen, Svalbard, examined using aerial photography and ASTER high resolution satellite imagery

The identification of surge activity is important in assessing the duration of the active and quiescent phases of the surge cycle of Svalbard glaciers. Satellite and aerial photographic images are used to identify and describe the form and flow of Perseibreen, a valley glacier of 59 km² on the east coast of Spitsbergen. Heavy surface crevassing and a steep ice front, indicative of surge activity, were first observed on Perseibreen in April 2002. Examination of high resolution (15 m) Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) satellite imagery confirmed this surge activity. Perseibreen retreated by almost 750 m between 1961 and 1990. Between 1990 and the summer of 2000, Perseibreen switched from retreat and its front began to advance. Rapid advance was underway during the period June 2000 to May 2001, with terminus advance at over 400 m yr⁻¹. Between May and August 2001 the rate increased to over 750 m yr⁻¹. The observed crevasse orientation indicates that ice was in longitudinal tension, suggesting the down-glacier transfer of mass. Ice surface velocities, derived from image correlation between ASTER images, were 2-2.5 m d⁻¹ between May and August 2001. The glacier was flowing at a relatively uniform speed with sharp velocity gradients located close to its lateral margins, a velocity structure typical of ice masses in the active phase of the surge cycle. The stress regime is extensional throughout and the surge appears to be initiated low on the glacier. This is similar to the active-phase dynamics of other Svalbard tidewater glaciers. Perseibreen has probably been inactive since at least 1870, a period of about 130 years to the present surge which defines a minimum length for the quiescent phase.     

Glaciers in Svalbard: mass balance, runoff and freshwater flux

Gain or loss of the freshwater stored in Svalbard glaciers has both global implications for sea level and, on a more local scale, impacts upon the hydrology of rivers and the freshwater flux to fjords. This paper gives an overview of the potential runoff from the Svalbard glaciers. The freshwater flux from basins of different scales is quantified. In small basins (A < 10 km²), the extra runoff due to the negative mass balance of the glaciers is related to the proportion of glacier cover and can at present yield more than 20% higher runoff than if the glaciers were in equilibrium with the present climate. This does not apply generally to the ice masses of Svalbard, which are mostly much closer to being in balance. The total surface runoff from Svalbard glaciers due to melting of snow and ice is roughly 25 ± 5 km³ a⁻¹, which corresponds to a specific runoff of 680 ± 140 mm a⁻¹, only slightly more than the annual snow accumulation. Calving of icebergs from Svalbard glaciers currently contributes significantly to the freshwater flux and is estimated to be 4 ± 1 km³ a⁻¹ or about 110 mm a⁻¹.     

Glacier changes in the Qaidam Basin from 1977 to 2018

Based on Landsat MSS/TM/OLI remote sensing images, glaciers vector data in the Qaidam Basin were extracted for 1977, 2002, and 2018, and their spatial-temporal variations were analyzed. Results show that there were 2,050 glaciers covering an area of 1,693.54±40.96 km² and having an ice volume of 108.65±2.43 km³ in the Qaidam Basin in 2018. Glaciers with areas <1.0 km² accounted for the largest number, while glaciers with areas of 1.0-5.0 km² accounted for the most glacierized area. In the past 50 years, the number of glaciers decreased by 177, and the glacier area and volume reduced by 338.08 km² (-8.12 km²/a) and 19.92 km³ (-0.48 km³/a), respectively. Retreat altitudes of glaciers were concentrated at 4,900-5,600 m, 4,700-5,200 m, and 5,000-5,600 m and reduced areas accounted for 95.53%, 77.80%, and 69.19% in the Kunlun, Qilian, and Altun mountains, respectively. The area of north-oriented glaciers decreased the most (-125.43 km²), but the west- and east-oriented glaciers retreated at the fastest rate (i.e., -27.11% and -27.10%). All glaciers showed a decreasing trend in sub-regions of the Qaidam Basin from 1977 to 2018. The decreasing trend was accelerated gradually from northwest to southeast in the northern part of the basin, while glacier change was the smallest in the middle section and gradually accelerated towards both ends of the basin's southern part. The temperature had continued to rise, and the precipitation had increased slowly in the Qaidam Basin during the past 50 years. The continuous rise in air temperature was the main reason for the retreat of glaciers.     

Map Comparison or Traditional Mass-balance Measurements: Which Method is Better?

A number of Norwegian glaciers were selected in the 1960s for long-term mass-balance measurements, to produce necessary hydrological information for hydropower exploitation. Special large-scale glacier maps were produced for field work and data processing, and some glaciers have been mapped more than once. Thus, comparison of glacier maps can be used to calculate changes in glacier volume for some of the glaciers, provided they are of sufficient accuracy.
Conventional mass-balance measurements were carried out on all the selected glaciers. A cumulative calculation of net balances for a series of years is used to indicate the change in a glacier's volume during that period. However, various errors originate in the field, some of which are systematic, particularly on glaciers with large winter accumulation.
The present study indicates that certain errors are difficult to define and determine, For the maritime glacier Ålfotbreen, a cumulative mass-balance calculation gives a positive total balance (+3.4 m water equivalent in the period 1968–88), whereas the map comparison indicates a total negative balance (−5.8 m water equivalent). This indicates a discrepancy between the methods, which must be accounted for.
Determination of errors in mass-balance measurements is difficult. Sinking of stakes in the accumulation area and the use of sounding sticks (steel probes) in heavy snowlayers cause problems.     

Velocity structure of upper-mantle transition zones beneath central eurasia from seismic inversion using genetic algorithms

We present velocity constraints for the upper-mantle transition zones beneath Central Siberia based on observations of the 1982 RIFT Deep Seismic Sounding (DSS) profile. The data consist of seismic recordings of a nuclear explosion in north-western Siberia along a 2600 km long seismic profile extending from the Yamal Peninsula to Lake Baikal. We invert seismic data from the mantle transition zones using a non-linear inversion scheme using a genetic algorithm for optimization and the WKBJ method to compute the synthetic seismograms. A statistical error analysis using a graph-binning technique was performed to provide uncertainty values in the velocity models.
Our best model for the upper-mantle velocity discontinuity near 410 km depth has a two-stage velocity-gradient structure, with velocities increasing from 8.70–9.25 km s⁻¹ over a depth range of 400–415 km, a gradient of 0.0433 s⁻¹, and from 9.25–9.60 km s⁻¹ over a depth range of 415–435 km, a gradient of 0.0175 s⁻¹. This derived model is consistent with other seismological observations and mineral-physics models. The model for the velocity discontinuity near 660 km depth is simple, sharp and includes velocities increasing from 10.15 km s⁻¹ at 655 km depth to 10.70 km s⁻¹ at 660 km depth, a gradient of 0.055 s⁻¹.     

A Small Glacier as an Index of Regional Mass Balance: Baby Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, 1959–1992

Baby Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, N.W.T., Canada is a small (0.6 km²), high-latitude (79°N), high-altitude (700–1200 m) glacier with a mass balance record extending from 1959–60 to the present. The record demonstrates shrinkage of the glacier, but a statistically significant trend is not evident. Correlations are strong between the mass balance of Baby Glacier and that of the nearby and much larger White Glacier, and also those of even larger, more distant glaciers. Thus programmes of measurement on small, simple ice bodies such as Baby Glacier can be representative of a large region. However, inter-annual changes are more accentuated for Baby Glacier. Baby Glacier does not meet all of the usual criteria for a representative glacier, but it straddles the regional equilibrium zone, a fact which helps to offset the disadvantages of its small size and limited altitudinal range. The equilibrium zone deserves to be an important focus for studies of high-arctic mass balance, with the aim of facilitating future measurement programmes which will rely on satellite remote sensing.     

Modelling Changes in Glacier Mass Balance that may Occur as a Result of Climate Changes

Projections of changes in glacier mass balance caused by climate changes involve modelling present mass balance in terms of climate and then perturbing the climate variables to calculate future mass balance. The simplest model involves linear regression of mass balance time series on temperature and precipitation data at stations close to the glacier but we prefer the degree-day model. This model uses temperature and precipitation to calculate snow accumulation, snow and ice melting, and possible refreezing of meltwater at regular altitude intervals on a glacier. Model parameters are still somewhat uncertain and are established for individual glaciers by tuning the model mass balance as a function of altitude to fit observed data. The model has been applied to 37 glaciers in different parts of the world so far and some details are given for Storglaciären to illustrate the approach. The sensitivity of modelled mass balance to a +1°C temperature increase shows a wide range for the 37 glaciers from about 0.1 to 1.3 m water a⁻¹ . Sub-polar glaciers have lower temperature sensitivities, and maritime and tropical glaciers have higher sensitivities.     

近50年黑河流域的冰川变化遥感分析

黑河流域作为中国西北地区第二大内陆流域,其景观类型完整、流域规模适中、社会生态环境问题典型,已成为寒区、旱区水文与水资源研究的热点地区。本研究结合1：5 万地形图、Landsat TM/ETM+遥感影像及数字高程模型数据,运用面向对象的图像信息自动提取方法,建立冰川信息提取知识规则,对近50 年黑河流域的冰川变化进行遥感分析。结果表明：（1）20 世纪60 年代黑河流域内的967 条冰川到2010 年左右,减少为800 条冰川,减少数量明显;冰川面积由361.69 km²退缩为231.17 km²,共减少130.51 km²,退缩率为36.08%,平均每条冰川面积退缩0.14 km²。（2）黑河流域冰川分布及变化存在显著的区域差异性,黑河冰川退缩率比北大河大16%左右;冰川末端主要分布在4300~4400 m、4400~4500 m和4500~4600 m海拔区间内。（3）与西部其他山地冰川相比,黑河流域冰川退缩率较高。（4）根据流域内6 个气象站资料分析表明,降水增加对冰川的补给无法弥补气温上升导致的冰川消融所带来的物质损失,是黑河流域冰川普遍萎缩的关键因素。     

A seismic study of deep geological structure in the Bristol Channel area, SW Britain

Summary. Results from eight seismic refraction lines, 35–90 km long, in the Bristol Channel area are presented. The data, mostly land recordings of marine shots, have been interpreted mainly by ray-tracing and time-term modelling. Upper layer velocities through Palaeozoic rocks usually fall within the range 4.8–5.2 km s⁻¹. Below the Carboniferous Limestone with a normal velocity of 5.1–5.2 kms⁻¹, the Old Red Sandstone with a velocity of 4.7–4.8 kms⁻¹ acts as a low velocity layer, as do parts of the underlying Lower Palaeozoic succession. In the central South Wales/Bristol Channel area and the Mendips, a 5.4–5.5 km s⁻¹ refractor is correlated with a horizon at or near the top of the Lower Palaeozoic succession. Under the whole area, except for north Devon, a 6.0–6.2 km s⁻¹ basal refractor has been located and is correlated with Precambrian crystalline basement rocks. In general, this refractor deepens southwards from a series of basement highs, which existed before the major movements of the Variscan orogeny in South Wales, resulting in a southerly thickening of the pre Upper Carboniferous supra-basement sequence. In north Devon, a 6.2 km s⁻¹ refractor at shallow depth, interpreted as a horizon in the Devonian or Lower Palaeozoic succession, overlies a deep reflector that may represent the Precambrian crystalline basement.     

Remote sensing of ice cap outlet glacier fluctuations on Nordaustlandet, Svalbard

Landsat multispectral scanner images and 1:50, 000 scale aerial photographs are used to measure marginal fluctuations in 22 outlet glaciers of the Nordaustlandet ice caps, Svalbard, for all or parts of the period 1969 to 1981. Little was previously known about the behaviour of these glacier termini. Digital analysis of Landsat computer compatible tapes yielded measurement errors of less than ±150m, whereas data extracted from aerial photographs had an accuracy of ±25 m. Of the 22 glacier termini examined using aerial photographs, 15 were retreating, four were static and three were advancing. Retreat was usually in the order of hundreds of metres during the period of observation. For any outlet glacier, retreat was probably a result of either (1) glacier response to climatic wanning since the early part of the 20th century, or (2) stagnation and thinning during the quiescent period between surges. Short term iceberg calving events may also be responsible for retreat in a few cases. All observed outlet glaciers of Austfonna were static or retreating between 1969 and 1981, but analysis of Landsat imagery and aerial photographs showed that five outlet glaciers from Vestfonna and one from Vegafonna were advancing for all or part of that period. Bodleybreen advanced by a mean of 440 and a maximum of 580m a⁻¹ between 1976 and 1981. Bodleybreen, Søre Rijpbreen, and Palanderbreen are identified as surging, based on increases or changes in the pattern of surface crevassing. The ice streams Aldousbreen, Frazerbreen, and Idunbreen also advanced between 1976 and 1981, but surface crevasse patterns remained largely unaltered and surging is not inferred.     

Detailed S-wave structure in the Dublin Basin and its northern margin

Summary. The seismic structure has been measured to a depth of about 3 km along a 30 km seismic profile in east central Ireland. This profile is unusual in that it is the S -wave velocity—depth structure that has been measured to a degree of precision more normally associated with P -wave results. One reason for this is that the sources used were quarry blasts which generated strong S -waves and short-period surface waves but rather weak P -waves.
The results show a layer of Carboniferous limestone with shear velocity 2.65 km⁻¹ s overlying a layer with a velocity of 3.06 km s⁻¹. This second layer was interpreted as Lower Palaeozoic strata (Silurian/Ordovician) since this velocity was evident in an inlier seen at the surface at the northern end of the line. A third refraction horizon, shear velocity 3.45 km s⁻¹ and displaying a basinal structure, was also recognized. This may be Cambrian or Precambrian basement.     

1970-2016年冈底斯山冰川变化

基于修订后的中国两次冰川编目数据及2015-2016年Landsat OLI遥感影像,对冈底斯山1970-2016年的冰川时空变化特征进行分析,并利用相应时段的气温和降水数据,对冰川变化原因进行探讨,为全面认识冈底斯山在气候变暖背景下冰川的响应规律及区域水资源合理利用提供科学依据。结果表明：① 2015-2016年冈底斯山共有冰川3953条,面积1306.45 km ²,冰储量约58.16 km ³;冰川数量以面积< 0.5 km ²的冰川为主,面积则以介于0.1~5 km ²的冰川为主。② 1970-2016年冈底斯山冰川面积共减少854.05 km ²（-39.53%）,冰川面积变化相对速率高达-1.09%/a,消融期气温升高是导致该山区冰川退缩的最主要原因。与中国西部其他山系冰川变化相比,冈底斯山是冰川退缩最为强烈的地区,且近年来冰川退缩呈加快趋势。③ 冈底斯山冰川面积减少主要集中在海拔5600~6100 m之间,海拔6500 m以上区域基本没有变化。除南朝向和东南朝向外,冈底斯山其他朝向冰川数量和面积均呈减少趋势,其中北朝向冰川面积减少最多,西北朝向冰川面积变化最快。④ 冈底斯山冰川面积变化自西向东呈加快趋势,其中东段冰川面积变化相对速率高达-1.72%/a,中段次之（-1.67%/a）,西段仅为-0.83%/a。     

近50 年气候变化背景下中国冰川面积状况分析

根据近年来中国典型区域冰川面积变化遥感监测数据,结合139 个地面站的气温、降水量与28 个探空站的0 ℃层高度气象资料,分析了近50 年气候变化背景下中国冰川面积状况。结果表明,研究区冰川面积从20 世纪60-70 年代的23982 km²减小到21 世纪初的21893 km²,根据冰川分布进行加权计算后冰川面积退缩了10.1%,对时间插补后得到1960 年以来的冰川面积年均变化率为0.3 % a^-1。就冰川面积变化的空间分布特征而言,天山的伊犁河流域、准噶尔内流水系、阿尔泰山的鄂毕河流域、祁连山的河西内流水系等都是冰川退缩程度较高的区域。近50 年中国冰川区夏季地面气温与大气0 ℃层高度均呈上升趋势,而降水量的增幅却相对轻微,增长的降水量不足以抵消升温对冰川的影响,气候变暖是影响冰川面积变化的主要因素。     

1990-2011年西昆仑峰区冰川变化的遥感监测

本文应用Landsat 5、7 TM、ETM+影像分析1990-2011年昆仑山西段昆仑峰区冰川变化特征,结果表明:1990-2011年冰川面积减少16.83 km²,退缩率仅为0.65%,冰川退缩趋势不明显。单条冰川变化有进有退,中峰冰川末端在2002-2004年以661 m/a的速率前进,初步判定为跃动冰川。1991-1998年,崇测冰川面积增加9.47 km²,冰川末端以200 m/a的速率前进,不排除有跃动冰川的可能性。尽管近年来全球气温普遍上升,大量冰川处于退缩状态,但统计已有研究结果发现近50年来青藏高原存在冰川长度、面积增加,冰川物质平衡为正的现象,表现出冰川对气候变化复杂的反馈机制。通过分析气象站点和冰芯资料,研究区周边地区气温上升、降水量缓慢增加可能是冰川微弱退缩的原因之一;增强的西风环流带来更多的降水、研究区以极大陆型大规模冰川为主,也可能是冰川退缩幅度较小的原因。     

Measurements and Models of the Mass Balance of Hintereisferner

This paper summarizes the methods applied to determine the mass balance of Hintereisferner and several other glaciers in the Tyrolean Alps since 1952. On an annual basis the direct glaciological method was applied with fixed date measurements on 10–15 accumulation pits and 30–90 ablation stakes on 9 km².
Indirect mass balance determination from equilibrium line altitude, accumulation area ratios or representative stakes, yield fair results and some exceptions could be related to anomalous meteorological conditions.
Monthly or more frequent stake readings supplied time series of ablation at various altitudes and slope aspects that served as basis for the calibration of energy and mass balance models. Of various models developed, two are presented in this paper. Both are based on degree days, one using daily values from a valley station to predict the mean annual balance of the entire glacier, while the other calculates day-to-day changes at 50-m grid points on the glacier.
The geodetic method has been applied for longer periods and yields results consistent with those of the glaciological method. The balance velocity calculated from recent ice thickness soundings and accumulation measurements is significantly less than observed velocity.     

近50年来中国天山冰川面积变化对气候的响应

基于1960 年以来中国天山各流域冰川面积变化的统计分析,系统地研究了中国天山冰川面积变化对气候的响应情况。结果表明,近50 年来中国天山冰川的面积缩小了11.5%,对研究时段统一化后发现面积年均退缩率为0.31% a^-1。各流域冰川面积退缩速度存在一定差异,但冰川加速消融趋势明显。天山地区14 个气象站的气温与降水量倾向率平均值分别为0.34 ^oC·(10 a)^-1与11 mm·(10 a)^-1,气温在干季增幅大而在湿季增幅略小,降水量在干季增长缓慢而在湿季增长显著,这样的气候变化趋势有助于天山冰川的退缩。     

Crustal structure of the Mid-Atlantic ridge crest at 37° N

Summary. A structural model of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge at 37° N is proposed on the basis of travel-time data and synthetic seismograms. At the ridge axis the crust is only 3 km thick and overlies material with an anomalously low'upper mantle'velocity of 7.2 km s⁻¹. Crustal thickening and the formation of layer 3 and a layer with velocity 7.2–7.3 km s⁻¹ takes place within a few kilometres of the axis, producing a 6–7 km thick crust by less than 10 km from the axis. A normal upper mantle velocity of 8.1 km s⁻¹ exists within 10 km of the axis. Shear waves propagate across the axis, thus precluding the existence of any sizeable magma chamber at shallow depth.     

Glacier mass balance investigations in the balance years 1984-85 and 1985-86

As in previous years Norsk Polarinstitutt has carried out mass balance investigations on Storbreen and Hardangerjøkulen in mainland Norway and on Broggerbreen and Lovenbreen in Svalbard. More than 20 years of measurements show that the glaciers both in mainland Norway and in Svalbard are retreating.
Both in 1985 and in 1986 the glaciers in Norway had a negative net balance. At Storbreen the mean annual net balance value 1949-86 is -0.30 m in water equivalents, while on Hardangerjflkulen the mean value 1963-86 is -0.02 m.
The two glaciers measured in Svalbard also had negative net balance in 1985 and in 1986. Both measured glaciers have had negative balance nearly all years since the measurements started in 1966. The mean value is close to -40g/cm² or -0.4 m on both.     

A Mass Balance Model that Uses Low-altitude Meteorological Observations and the Area–Altitude Distribution of a Glacier

A glacier mass balance model that requires only low-altitude precipitation and temperature observations and the glacier's areaaltitude distribution is presented as an alternative to direct field measurements. Input to the model for South Cascade Glacier are daily weather observations at stations 30–60 km from the glacier and at altitudes 1300 to 1500 m lower than the glacier. The model relies on the internal consistency of mass balance variables that are generated by simulation using the low-altitude weather data. The daily values of such balance variables as snowline altitude, zero balance altitude, glacier balance, balance flux and the accumulation area ratio are correlated throughout the ablation season using two-degree polynomial regressions to obtain the lowest fitting error. When the minimum average error (or maximum R ²) is attained, the generated balances and other variables are considered to be real. A simplex optimization technique is used to determine the optimal coefficient values that are used in algorithms to convert meteorological observations to snow accumulation and snow and ice ablation. The independently produced simulation results for the 1959–1996 period are compared with balances measured at the glacier. The agreement between annual balances for individual years is fair and between long-term volume changes measured by the geodetic method is excellent.     

基于第二次冰川编目的中国冰川现状

以2004年之后的Landsat TM/ETM+和ASTER遥感影像为基础,参考第一次中国冰川目录及其他文献资料,经过影像校正、自动解译、野外考察、人工修订、交互检查和成果审定等技术环节,完成占全国冰川总面积85.5%的现状冰川编目,确定中国目前共有冰川48571条,总面积约5.18×10⁴βkm²,约占全国国土面积的0.54%,冰川储量约4.3~4.7×10³βkm³。中国冰川数量和面积分别以面积<0.5βkm²的冰川和面积介于1.0~50.0βkm²的冰川为主,面积最大的冰川是音苏盖提冰川（359.05βkm²）。中国西部14座山系（高原）均有冰川分布,其中昆仑山冰川数量最多,其次是天山、念青唐古拉山、喜马拉雅山和喀喇昆仑山,这5座山系冰川数量占全国冰川总数量的72.3%;冰川面积和冰储量位列前3位的山系分别为昆仑山、念青唐古拉山和天山,尽管喀喇昆仑山冰川数量和面积均小于喜马拉雅山,但前者冰储量高于后者。从冰川海拔分布来看,海拔4500~6500βm之间是冰川集中发育区域,约占全国冰川总面积的4/5以上。冰川资源在各流域分布差异显著,东亚内流区（5Y）是中国冰川分布数量最多、面积最大的一级流域,约占全国冰川总量的2/5以上;黄河流域（5J）是冰川数量最少、规模最小的一级流域,仅有冰川164条,面积126.72βkm²。新疆和西藏的冰川面积和冰储量约占全国冰川总面积的9/10。