Snow,runoff, and mass balance modeling for the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (1998–2006), Ammassalik Island,SE Greenland

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(1):121–136, 2008

SnowModel, a physically-based snow evolution modeling system that includes four submodels—MicroMet, EnBal, SnowPack, and SnowTran-3D—was used to simulate eight full-year (1998/99 through 2005/06) evolutions of snow accumulation, blowing snow sublimation, evaporation, snow and ice surface melt, runoff, and mass changes on the entire Mittivakkat Glacier (31 km²) in southeast Greenland. Meteorological observations from two meteorological stations inside the glacier catchment were used as model input, and glaciological mass balance observations were used for model calibration (1998/99 through 2001/02) and validation (2002/03 through 2005/06) of winter snow simulations. As confirmed by observations, the spatially modeled end-of-winter snow water equivalent (SWE) accumulation increased with elevation up to 700–800 m a.s.l. in response to elevation, topography, and dominating wind direction, and maximum snow deposition occurred on the lee side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. Simulated end-of-summer cumulative runoff decreased with elevation and minimum runoff occurred on the shadowed side of the ridge east and south of the glacier. The modeled test period averaged annual mass balance was 65 mm w. eq. y^?1 or ～8% more than the observed. For the simulation period, the glacier net mass balance varies from -199 to -1,834 mm w.eq. y^?1, averaging -900 (±470) mm w.eq.y^?1. The glacier averaged annual modeled precipitation ranged from 1,299 to 1,613 mm w.eq. y^?1, evaporation and sublimation from 206 to 289 mm w.eq., and runoff from 1,531 to 2,869 mm w.eq. y^?1. The model simulated Mittivakkat Glacier net loss of900 mm w.eq. y^?1 contributes approximately 42% to the average simulated runoff of 2,140 mm w.eq. y^?1, indicating a mean specific runoff of 67.8 l s^?1 km^?2.     

Comparative study on observed mass balance between East and West Branch of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, Eastern Tianshan, China

This paper is based on observed mass balance between East and West Branch of Urumqi Glacier No. 1, meteorological data during 1988-2010, comparative studies the mass balance variations, and analyses the mass balance sensitivity to climate change. Results show that average mass balance of East and West Branch was 532 mm/a and 435 mm/a, cumulative mass balance was 12,227 mm (ice thinned by 13.6 m) and 10,001 mm (ice thinned by 11.1 m), respectively, and mass loss of East Branch was 97 mm/a larger than West Branch. The East and West Branch ELA (equilibrium line altitude) ascended about 176 m and 154 m, analysis shows the steady-state ELA0 was 3,942 m a.s.l. and 4,011 m a.s.l., and when East and West Branch mass balance decreased by 100 mm, ELA ascended 20 m and 23 m, respectively. The AAR (accumulation area ratio) of East and West Branch presented an obviously decreasing trend of 34.5% and 23%, equilibrium-state AAR0 was 65% and 66%, when East and West Branch mass balance increased by 100 mm, AAR ascended 4.6% and 4.2%, respectively. Glacier mass balance was sensitive to change of net ablation, net ablation of East and West Branch increased 10×104 m3 , and mass balance decreased 110 mm and 214 mm, respectively. By analyzing mass balance sensitivity to climate change, results suggest that East and West Branch mass balance decreased (increased) 463 mm and 388 mm when ablation period temperature increased (decreased) by 1°C, East and West Branch mass balance increased (decreased) 140 mm and 158 mm when annual precipitation increased (decreased) by 100 mm, and sensitivity of East Branch mass balance to climate change was more intense than that of West Branch.     

The change of Ningchan River Glacier No. 3 at Lenglongling, east Qilian Mountain, China

In July, 2009, we investigated the Ningchan River Glacier No. 3. A control network was established around the glacier and the expedition used a GPS-RTK to measure glacial area, terminal and surface altitude, and used an EKKO GPR to measure glacier thickness. We used a topographic map based on 1972 aerial photo, two TM images in 1995, 2009, and GPS-RTK data in 2009, to analyze the change of the Ningchan River Glacier No. 3 since 1972. Through analysis we found this glacier has been seriously shrinking over the past 37 years. The glacier terminal retreated about 6%, the area was reduced about 13.1%, the volume was reduced about 35.3%, and glacier shrinkage is mainly in the form of thinning. Glacier average thickness reduced from 36.8 m in 1972, to 27.4 m in 2009. Meteorological data around the study area shows that this region in recent decades has undergone differential warming which is the main reason for rapid glacier shrinkage.     

Non-stochastic colonization by pioneer plants after deglaciation in a polar oasis of the Canadian High Arctic

Initial plant colonization is critical in determining subsequent ecosystem development. In a High-Arctic oasis showing atypical “directional primary succession”, we quantified the microhabitat characteristics associated with colonization by pioneer vascular plants of a bare moraine. The study moraine, formed during the Little Ice Age, is located within the proglacial area at the southern front of Arklio Glacier, Ellesmere Island, Canada. We established two line-transects on this moraine to quantify microhabitats for vascular species. Microsites favorable for plants were concave depressions, probably increasing the likelihood of colonization. At microsites distant from stable boulders, which probably protect seeds/seedlings from wind desiccation, plant colonization was less likely. Furthermore, favorable microhabitat properties differed depending on topographical location within the moraine, suggesting that, even within a single moraine, microhabitats favorable for plant colonization are heterogeneously-distributed. This moraine was characterized by two major pioneer species, Epilobium latifolium and Salix arctica. Their species-specific microhabitat requirements highlight the importance of biotic factors in colonization processes. Favorable sites for plants are generally distributed at random in harsh environments. However, we showed that initial plant colonization is a deterministic process rather than random, indicating the possibility of non-stochastic processes even during the early phase of ecosystem development in High-Arctic ecosystems.     

The sedimentology and geomorphology of rock avalanche deposits on glaciers

This article describes and compares the deposits of four large landslides on two glaciers in Alaska using field mapping and remote sensing. Digital image analysis is used to compare the sedimentological characteristics of nearly 200 000 individual surface blocks deposited by three landslides at Black Rapids Glacier in 2002. The debris sheets of one of the three landslides on Black Rapids Glacier and a landslide emplaced on Sherman Glacier in 1964 are also investigated. The three landslides on Black Rapids Glacier have undergone little post‐depositional modification by glacier flow, whereas the Sherman Glacier landslide has been transported supraglacially up to ca 1 km over the past 46 years. The three debris sheets on Black Rapids Glacier have coarse blocky rims at their distal edges, and all four debris sheets have longitudinal flowbands characterized by differences in texture and produced by shearing within the moving debris. Elongated blocks are parallel to flow, except at the perimeter of the debris sheets, where they are aligned more perpendicular to flow. Blocks on the Sherman Glacier debris sheet have been reoriented by glacier flow. The matrix shows no systematic differences with depth or distance from the source. However, it appears to become coarser over a time scale of decades due to weathering.     

Circulation induced by subglacial discharge in glacial fjords: Results from idealized numerical simulations

The flow caused by the discharge of freshwater underneath a glacier into an idealized fjord is simulated with a 2D non-hydrostatic model. As the freshwater leaves horizontally the subglacial opening into a fjord of uniformly denser water it spreads along the bottom as a jet, until buoyancy forces it to rise. During the initial rising phase, the plume meanders into complex flow patterns while mixing with the surrounding fluid until it reaches the surface and then spreads horizontally as a surface seaward flowing plume of brackish water. The process induces an estuarine-like circulation. Once steady-state is reached, the flow consists of an almost undiluted buoyant plume rising straight along the face of the glacier that turns into a horizontal surface layer thickening as it flows seaward. Over the range of parameters examined, the estuarine circulation is dynamically unstable with gradient Richardson number at the sheared interface having values of <1/4. The surface velocity and dilution factors are strongly and non-linearly related to the Froude number. It is the buoyancy flux that primarily controls the resulting circulation with the momentum flux playing a secondary role.     

贡嘎山海螺沟冰川消融区表面消融特征及其近期变化

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祁连山老虎沟12号冰川浅冰芯记录的气候环境信息

2006年6月在祁连山西段大雪山的老虎沟12号冰川钻取了一支20.12m的浅冰芯,对冰芯中化学组成成分的浓度变化特征和来源分析进行了研究.结果表明,冰芯中δ18 O和可溶性离子含量变化均显示了明显的周期性变化,δ18 O与祁连山西段温度有很好的正相关关系.通过相关分析和HYS-PLIT后向轨迹分析表明,老虎沟12号冰川...     

祁连山七一冰川物质平衡及其对气候变化的敏感性研究

依据2010年6月30日-9月5日考察期间获得的七一冰川物质平衡和气温降水等气象资料,运用度日物质平衡模型模拟了七一冰川的物质平衡变化状况.结果表明：七一冰川考察期间物质平衡为-856.2mm w.e..受气温、降水等气候因素的强烈影响,物质平衡过程明显分为＂微弱积累-强烈消融-微弱消融＂3个阶段.度日物质平衡模型模拟...     

祁连山老虎沟12号冰川积累区消融期能量平衡特征

为研究冰川消融期积累区的能量平衡,利用2006年6月21日-7月31日祁连山老虎沟12号冰川海拔5040 m气象观测资料,分析了冰川的能量平衡各分量变化特征,估算了冰川表面的能量平衡组成.结果表明:冰川消融期,净辐射是冰川的主要热量来源(占82.1%),其次是感热通量(占17.9%);冰川消融耗热是主要的能量支出项(占...