Ablation Rate Estimates over the Greenland Ice Sheet from Microwave Radiometric Data

Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data are used to estimate the annual melt duration (number of days with melt) for elevation transects over the Greenland ice sheet during the period from 1979‐1986. The annual melt duration is used to estimate the number of positive degree days (PDDs), which are used in a degree‐day mass balance model to determine ablation rates and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). The annual melt duration along two transects estimated with SMMR data compares favorably, particularly above the ELA, to melt duration calculated from surface temperature data for the same locations. The mass balance estimates and ELA locations along eight transects agree reasonably well with measurements reported in previous studies using surface temperature data. ELAs were within 10m of published values along two transects, and the root mean square error of SMMR‐derived versus surface mass balance measurements was 43mm yr^?1. The estimated error in SMMR‐derived ablation is between ±15% and ±50%, but could be reduced substantially by using daily microwave data available from the Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I). This research shows the feasibility of using passive microwave data to estimate the ablation rate in order to determine ELA, which can be used to monitor the mass balance of the ice sheet.     

Inferring Glacier Mass Balance Using Radarsat: Results From Peyto Glacier, Canada

The capability of RADARSAT synthetic aperture radar (SAR) for the purpose of snow-line/accumulation area mapping for a temperate alpine glacier is examined. In agreement with other orbital C-band SAR studies, RADARSAT can discriminate between firn and bare ice facies. Limited observations are reported with respect to the electromagnetic variability of the ice facies in the ablation area, but they are inconclusive. Operational considerations are discussed with respect to reconciling the uncertainties of late-summer weather and their possible impact on the dielectric and scattering properties of the glacier surface. Vagaries associated with other glacier settings, mass balance states and their associated facies configurations are discussed including the difficulty of using the transient snow-line to define the equilibrium line and the lower extent of the accumulation area for glaciers where superimposed ice may form.
The radar remote-sensing reconnaissance of equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and accumulation area ratio (AAR) for estimating glacier mass balance requires serious consideration in those instances where traditional ground measurements used in the direct glaciological method are absent. However, with respect to the ELA, such estimates can vary depending on the accuracy of the reference digital elevation information. Moreover, for many glacier configurations, where mass balance variations due to altitude are influenced or in some cases completely masked by local balance variations, defining the ELA may be an irreconcilable problem. Using the AAR may be more robust in this regard. It is further determined that the total error inherent in the reconnaissance method would have serious implications for the confident estimation of mass balance normals and climate-related trends if the method were to be utilized over the longer term.     

北极Svalbard地区Austre Lovénbreen和Pedersenbreen冰川表面物质平衡和运动特征分析

对位于北极Svalbard群岛新奥尔松(Ny-lesund)的Austre Lovénbreen和Pedersenbreen冰川首个物质平衡年(2005/06年度)的冰川表面物质平衡及其运动特征进行研究,并阐述了Austre Lovénbreen冰川末端位置的变化状况。结果表明:(1)Austre Lovénbreen和Pedersenbreen冰川净物质平衡分别为-0.44和-0.20m w.e.,年消融量分别为0.99和0.94m w.e.,对应冰川零平衡线高度分别为478.10和494.87m。(2)两条冰川符合Svalbard地区跃动冰川运动的特征模式。运动速度矢量的水平分量表现为:向主流线辐合或平行于主流线。下游运动速度较慢,而在中上游运动相对较快。Austre Lovénbreen冰川表面各观测点的运动速度平均值为2.28m·a-1,运动速度最大值和最小值分别为3.91和0.81m·a-1;Pedersenbreen冰川表面观测点运动速度平均值为6.74m·a-1,运动速度最大值和最小值分别为8.13和5.49m·a-1。运动速度矢量的垂直分量表现为:消融区冰川消融量随海拔升高而减弱,Austr...     

Measurement and Estimative Models of Glacier Mass Balance in China

Attributed to high altitude and inland location, the glaciers in China are characterized by very low temperature. The non-negligible contribution of up to 25% of superimposed ice to the net balance has been taken into account in the mass budget calculation. So too has the internal the accumulation in the infiltration zone of the accumulation area.
The prevailing monsoon climate delivers most of the annual precipitation over glaciated areas of China in the summer, making the major accumulation on those glaciers coincide with the ablation period. Therefore, the annual mass balance should be calculated neither by giving the place of annual accumulation to winter balance, nor annual ablation to summer balance. Rather, it is better done by net accumulation and net ablation during the year. In order to get the annual accumulation and the annual ablation on a glacier, the summer precipitation should be measured at the same time.
Frequent snowfall in the summer season results in intensive fluctuation of surface albedo. This means that, for lack of data on the extremes of ablation, reconstruction of mass balance is unsatisfactory when based on the relationships of accumulation and ablation to precipitation and temperature. The establishment of models, either on the relationship of multi-year mass balance to the equilibrium line and the mass balance gradient of a glacier in steady-state, or on the maximum entropy principle and the hydrometeorological data, helps to estimate the multi-year mass balance of the glacierized area in a mountain range or drainage basin.     

南极乔治王岛柯林斯冰帽冰川发育条件

柯林斯冰帽具有显著的海洋性气候特征。据笔者实测资料 ,该冰帽冬季和夏季温度垂直递减率相当 ,为 0 .6 5℃ 1 0 0m ,冰区与无冰区间的温跃值约为 0 .3℃。年、日较差小 ,夏季气温较低 ,平衡线上夏季 (1 2月— 2月 )的平均温度为 0℃。同时 ,云雾多 ,湿度大 ,冰面接受到的太阳辐射小 ,形成了有利于冰川发育的热量条件。同时频繁的极地气旋活动给冰帽区带来了以固态降水为主的较丰沛的降水 ,成为有利于冰川发育的物质条件。夏季温度较低和年降水较丰沛是该冰帽发育有利的水热条件。     

南极海冰问题评述:观测

海冰通过其对地面反照率的作用以及对大气和海洋之间热交换的局地障碍和对世界海洋环流的作用在全球热平衡和气候变化中起着重要的作用。南极海冰又因其极为显著的时空变化引起越来越多的关注。海冰的观测是海冰研究的重要内容 ,本文综述了南极海冰观测的发展过程 ,着重介绍了卫星在探测南极海冰方面的重要进展 .     

ANNUAL ACCUMULATION OVER THE GREENLAND ICE SHEET INTERPOLATED FROM HISTORICAL AND NEWLY COMPILED OBSERVATION DATA

The estimation of ice/snow accumulation is of great significance in quantifying the mass balance of ice sheets and variation in water resources. Improving the accuracy and reducing uncertainty has been a challenge for the estimation of annual accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet. In this study, we kriged and analyzed the spatial pattern of accumulation based on an observation data series including 315 points used in a recent research, plus 101 ice cores and snow pits and newly compiled 23 coastal weather station data. The estimated annual accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet is 31.2 g cm^?2 yr^?1, with a standard error of 0.9 g cm^?2 yr^?1. The main differences between the improved map developed in this study and the recently published accumulation maps are in the coastal areas, especially southeast and southwest regions. The analysis of accumulations versus elevation reveals the distribution patterns of accumulation over the Greenland ice sheet.     

Crystals and fabrics analysis of an Arctic thermal growth multi-year ice sample

One of sea ice core samples was taken from Arctic by the First Chinese National Arctic Research Expedition Team in 1999. 20 vertical and 2 horizontal ice sections were cut out of the ice core sample 2.22 m in length, which covered the ice sheet from surface to bottom except losses for during sampling and section cutting. From the observation and analysis of the fabrics and crystals along the depth of the ice core sample, followings were found. Whole ice sheet consists of columnar, refrozen clastic pieces, granular, columnar, refrozen clastic pieces, granular, columnar and refrozen clastic pieces. This indicates that the ice core sample was 3-year old, and the ice sheet surface thawed and the melt water flowed into ice sheet during summer. Hence, the annual energy balance in Arctic can be determined by the ice sheet surface thawing in summer, and bottom growth in winter. The thickness of the ice sheet is kept constantly at a certain position based on the corresponding climate and ocean conditions; A new     

Summer fast ice evolution off Zhongshan Station,Antarctica

Based on the field data acquired in the program of fast ice observation off Zhongshan Station,Prydz Bay,East Antarctica during the austral summer 2005/ 2006,physical properties evolution of fast ice during the ice ablation season is ana- lyzed in detail.Results show that the annual maximum ice thickness in 2005 occurred in later November,and then ice started to melt,and the ablation duration was 62 days;sea water under the ice became warmer synchronously;corresponding to the warming sea ice temperature,a"relative cold mid-layer"appeared in sea ice;the fast ice marginal line recoiled back to the shore observably,and the recoil distance was 20.9 km from 18 December 2005 through 14 January 2006.In addition,based on the data of sea ice thickness survey along the investigation course of MV Xuelong on December 18 of 2005,the ice thickness distribution paten in the marginal ice zone have been described:sea ice thickness increased,but the diversity of floe ice thick- ness decreased from open water to fast ice zone distinctly.     

Mass balance and area changes of four High Arctic plateau ice caps, 1959–2002

Abstract Small, stagnating ice caps at high latitudes are particularly sensitive to climatic fluctuations, especially with regard to changes in ablation season temperature. We conducted mass balance measurements and GPS area surveys on four small High Arctic plateau ice caps from 1999–2002. We compared these measurements with topographic maps and aerial photography from 1959, and with previously published data. Net mass balance (b_n) of Murray Ice Cap was ?0.49 (1999), ?0.29 (2000), ?0.47 (2001), and ?0.29 (2002), all in meters of water equivalent (m w.eq.). The mass balance of nearby Simmons Ice Cap was also negative in 2000 (b_n=?0.40 m w.eq.) and in 2001 (b_n=?0.52 m w.eq.). All four ice caps experienced substantial marginal recession and area reductions of between 30 and 47% since 1959. Overall, these icecaps lost considerable mass since at least 1959, except for a period between the mid‐1960s and mid‐1970s characterized regionally by reduced summer melt, positive mass balance, and ice cap advance. The regional equilibrium line altitude (ELA) is located, on average, above the summits of the ice caps, indicating that they are remnants of past climatic conditions and out of equilibrium with present climate. The ice caps reached a Holocene maximum and were several times larger during the Little Ice Age (LIA) and their current recession reflects an adjustment to post‐LIA climatic conditions. At current downwasting rates the ice masses on the Hazen Plateau will completely disappear by, or soon after, the mid‐21st century.     

南极中山站附近海域固定冰的夏季变化

利用中国第21、22次南极科学考察(2004/2005、2005/2006)对中山站附近海域固定冰物理特性系统观测的结果,特别是依据其中2005年11月下旬至2006年1月下旬的现场实测数据详细分析了中山站附近海域固定冰消融过程物理性质的变化特征。结果表明:此区域固定冰从11月下旬开始消融,融冰期为62 d;同时,融冰期冰下水体温度迅速升高;在不断增强的太阳短波辐射和海洋热通量作用下,海冰温度也逐渐上升,并出现"相对冷中间层";热力和动力外强迫作用下,2005年12月18日-2006年1月14日期间此区域固定冰边缘线后退了20.9 km;另外,2005年12月18日固定冰边缘区走航冰厚监测结果还表明,边缘区海冰厚度在向岸方向有明显的增加趋势,并且随着接近海岸海冰厚度的离散程度逐渐减小。     

Glacier Retreat, Mass-Balance and Thinning: Sermilik Glacier, South Greenland

This study documents thinning and retreat of the South Greenland ice margin and discusses possible reasons in the light of mass‐balance and change of dynamic conditions. Analyses of satellite images have shown that the glacier tongue of Sermilik glacier disintegrated within the past 15 years. Furthermore, the observed thinning close to the Sermilik glacier front was as much as 120 m water equivalent during this period. This figure was derived by comparing surface elevation data from a digital elevation model (1985) and laser altimeter measurements from the year 2000, showing surface elevation changes along a flow line of Sermilik glacier. Mass‐balance data from in situ measurements performed at a centre flow line of the glacier are presented. These data are compared to results from remote sensing analyses of the study area. Net ablation reconstruction over the last 41 years from positive‐degree‐day modelling, at various locations along the Sermilik glacier massbalance transect, shows an increase during the past decades. These analyses indicate that only 55% of the total thinning in this area can be explained by mass‐balance changes. The remaining 45% of the thinning is attributed to changes in the dynamic behaviour of the glacier, such as an increase of creep towards the end of the twentieth century. The significant thinning along the Qagssimiut lobe can also be explained as a combination of mass‐balance changes and changes in ice dynamic behaviour.     

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.     

南极冰盖表面微地貌研究进展与展望

南极冰盖表面微地貌是大气与冰盖相互作用的直接产物,微地貌的形态特征、结构性质及其发展变化对南极冰盖表面的物质平衡、能量平衡以及冰盖记录大气信息的过程具有重要的影响,冰盖表面微地貌的结构性质以及空间分布的确定是计算南极冰盖物质平衡与能量平衡的重要依据,同时在南极冰芯钻探选址以及冰芯解译古气候信息时具有重要的参考价值。根据微地貌的形成方式将南极冰盖表面微地貌分为沉积型、侵蚀型、沉积间断型三类,介绍了南极冰盖表面常见的微地貌形态雪丘、雪纹、雪垄、雪窝以及光洁区的形态特征与结构性质,并对冰盖表面微地貌的分布规律特征进行了总结,文中重点对不同微地貌区域内的物质平衡与能量平衡特征进行了介绍,最后探讨了冰盖表面光洁区对南极冰芯选址的影响,并对未来南极微地貌研究进行了展望。     

Analysis of Difference Between Direct and Geodetic Mass Balance Measurements at South Cascade Glacier, Washington

Net mass balance has been measured since 1958 at South Cascade Glacier using the 'direct method,' e.g. area averages of snow gain and firn and ice loss at stakes. Analysis of cartographic vertical photography has allowed measurement of mass balance using the 'geodetic method' in 1970, 1975, 1977, 1979–80, and 1985–97. Water equivalent change as measured by these nearly independent methods should give similar results. During 1970–97, the direct method shows a cumulative balance of about −15 m, and the geodetic method shows a cumulative balance of about −22 m. The deviation between the two methods is fairly consistent, suggesting no gross errors in either, but rather a cumulative systematic error. It is suspected that the cumulative error is in the direct method because the geodetic method is based on a non-changing reference, the bedrock control, whereas the direct method is measured with reference to only the previous year's summer surface. Possible sources of mass loss that are missing from the direct method are basal melt, internal melt, and ablation on crevasse walls. Possible systematic measurement errors include under-estimation of the density of lost material, sinking stakes, or poorly represented areas.     

Study of annual mass balance(2011–2013) of Rikha Samba Glacier,Hidden Valley,Mustang, Nepal

Although Himalayan glaciers are of particular interest in terms of future water supplies, regional climate changes, and sea-level rises, little is known about them due to lack of reliable and consistent data. There is a need for monitoring these glaciers to bridge this knowledge gap and to provide field measurements necessary to calibrate and validate the results from different remote sensing operations. Therefore, glaciological observations have been carried out by the Cryosphere Monitoring Project(CMP) since September 2011 on Rikha Samba Glacier in Hidden valley, Mustang district in western Nepal in order to study its annual mass balance. This paper presents the first results of that study. There are 10 glaciers in Hidden Valley, named G1, G2, G3, up to G10. Of these, G5 is the Rikha Samba Glacier, which has the largest area(5.37 km2) in this valley and the highest and lowest altitudes(6,476 and 5,392 m a.s.l., respectively). The glacier mass balance discussed in this paper was calculated using the glaciological method and the equilibrium line altitude(ELA). The glacier showed a negative annual point mass balance along the longitudinal profile of its lower part from September 10, 2011 to October 3, 2012. Stake measurements from October 4, 2012 to September 30, 2013 indicated a negative areal average of annual mass balance-0.088±0.019 m w.e. for the whole glacier. Based on these observations, the ELA of the Rikha Samba Glacier is estimated at 5,800 m a.s.l. in 2013. This negative balance may be due to rising air temperatures in the region, which have been incrementally rising since 1980 accompanied by little or no significant increase in precipitation in that period. The negative mass balance confirms the general shrinking trend of the glacier.     

Mass Balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet: Can Modern Observation Methods Reduce the Uncertainty?

The future contribution to sea level change from the large ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica is composed of two terms: (i) a background trend determined by the past climate and dynamic history of the ice sheets on a range of time scales (decadal, millennial or even longer); and (ii) a rise/fall related to future climate change, whether due to anthropogenic effects or natural climate variability. The accelerating development of remote sensing techniques for monitoring ice sheet behaviour, and the use of high-resolution general circulation models to estimate temperature and precipitation changes are likely to result in improved estimates of the sensitivity of ice sheet mass balance to climate change and thereby to narrow down the uncertainty of contribution (ii). Contribution (i) is much more difficult to assess, because the mass balance displays large temporal variability on year-to-year and even on decadal time scales that masks the long-term trend. So, although modern remote sensing techniques enable accurate measurement of ice sheet surface elevation change, the mass changes derived from such measurements, even if performed over a period of several years, might just reflect a statistical fluctuation around the long-term background trend, which we must know in order to assess the future ice sheet contribution to sea level change on century and longer time scales. The measured volume changes must therefore be evaluated on the background of short- and long-term accumulation rates (e.g. determined from ice cores and high-resolution ice radar) and dynamic model studies of ice sheet evolution on century, millennial and longer time scales. The problems are illustrated by using the Greenland ice sheet as an example.     

南极冰盖物质平衡与海平面变化研究新进展

本文在简要介绍冰盖物质平衡及其对海平面影响的基础上,从整体法和分量法两个方面总结了南极冰盖物质平衡研究的最新进展,并分析了影响其物质平衡的不确定因素。研究表明,整个南极冰盖物质平衡呈现负增长的趋势,其中西南极Amundsen海湾附近的冰盖物质流失最为明显。另外,南极冰盖边缘的大部分地区还呈现变薄的趋势。南极冰盖物质流失是引起海平面上升的最大潜在因素之一,其冰架的缓冲作用、冰盖的不稳定性和冰盖底部融水的作用等不确定因素对南极冰盖物质平衡具有重要的影响。未来随着观测技术和数据处理技术的不断提高,南极冰盖物质平衡的估算及其不确定因素有望得到进一步的认识,从而为预测海平面的上升范围提供更多的理论和技术支撑。     

夏季北冰洋浮冰-水道热力学特征现场观测研究

中国第3次北极科学考察期间首次开展了浮冰-水道热力平衡的现场观测。观测结果表明,观测期间气温低于0°C,调查区域正从消融期向生长期过渡,至8月23日水道逐渐封冻。之后表面薄冰的反照率为0.46(±0.03),水道内水温垂向梯度逐渐减小,水道内和冰底的水温逐渐下降。至8月底,浮冰底部的生消达到平衡;侧部仍处于融冰期,对应的平均融解潜热通量为19(±6) W/m2;对观测区的海冰而言,至8月下旬,相对于底部和表面的生消,侧部融化对其物质平衡贡献较大。     

南极陨石研究的启示Ⅹ:南极陨石的居地年龄

到目前为止 ,陨石学者已考察了约 2 5 0 0km2 的南极蓝色冰区 ,并在南极冰盖不同的地区回收到约 30 0 0 0个陨石样品。在过去 2 0年 ,主要根据36Cl或1 4 C的浓度测定了几百个南极陨石的居地年龄。每个搁浅区的陨石显示不同的居地年龄分布 ,并提供陨石局部堆积机制的信息 ,在蓝色冰表面南极陨石的密度取决于许多因素 ,如陨石的降落率、冰的消融率、雪的堆积率等。大多数南极陨石的居地年龄范围从小于 1 0ka到 1 0 0 0ka ,Yamato山地冰区陨石的居地年龄可高达 2 0 0ka,而LewisCliff及AllanHills陨石的居地年龄分别高达 5 0 0ka和 1 0 0 0ka,新近发现两个陨石的居地年龄分别为 2Ma及 2 .35Ma,表明它们深埋于靠近冰川底部 ,且冰流率比表面低得多 ,同时也表明陨石堆积进入目前的搁浅区至少始于 2Ma以前 ,这与东南极冰盖为稳定和持续性假设是一致的。陨石的居地年龄是确定陨石历史的一个重要参数 ,同时也可用以估计陨石的搬运时间及平均风化寿命。