Hydrological study of the potential effects of the melting of Nevado del Ruiz glacier on urban growth zones in Manizales,Colombia

ABSTRACT

This paper presents the results of a hydrological study aimed at characterizing flood-prone areas in the urban growth zone in the city of Manizales based on the potential effects of melting of the Nevado del Ruiz glacier, in Caldas, Colombia. These results constitute a basis for decision making regarding possible urban growth zones in Andean areas that face risks from volcanic eruptions producing lahars and floods caused by glacier melt. Conservative estimates of extreme flows in the Chinchiná River in the urban growth area of El Rosario can be obtained by considering the effects of rain triggered by airborne particulate material following a volcanic explosion combined with the effects of glacier melt. The effects of global warming on tropical glaciers contribute to their retreat, leading to their disappearance. Therefore, the worst scenario would take place if these events occurred in the short term as glacier volume decreases with time.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz; Associate editor not assigned     

Water temperature dynamics in High Arctic river basins

Despite the high sensitivity of polar regions to climate change and the strong influence of temperature upon ecosystem processes, contemporary understanding of water temperature dynamics in Arctic river systems is limited. This research gap was addressed by exploring high‐resolution water column thermal regimes for glacier‐fed and non‐glacial rivers at eight sites across Svalbard during the 2010 melt season. Mean water column temperatures in glacier‐fed rivers (0.3–3.2 °C) were lowest and least variable near the glacier terminus but increased downstream (0.7–2.3 °C km^–1). Non‐glacial rivers, where discharge was sourced primarily from snowmelt runoff, were warmer (mean: 2.9–5.7 °C) and more variable, indicating increased water residence times in shallow alluvial zones and increased potential for atmospheric influence. Mean summer water temperature and the magnitude of daily thermal variation were similar to those of some Alaskan Arctic rivers but low at all sites when compared with alpine glacierized environments at lower latitudes. Thermal regimes were correlated strongly (p < 0.01) with incoming short‐wave radiation, air temperature, and river discharge. Principal drivers of thermal variability were inferred to be (i) water source (i.e. glacier melt, snowmelt, groundwater); (ii) exposure time to the atmosphere; (iii) prevailing meteorological conditions; (iv) river discharge; (v) runoff interaction with permafrost and buried ice; and (vi) basin‐specific geomorphological features (e.g. channel morphology). These results provide insight into the potential changes in high‐latitude river systems in the context of projected warming in polar regions. We hypothesize that warmer and more variable temperature regimes may prevail in the future as the proportion of bulk discharge sourced from glacial meltwater declines and rivers undergo a progressive shift towards snow water and groundwater sources. Importantly, such changes could have implications for aquatic species diversity and abundance and influence rates of ecosystem functioning in high‐latitude river systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geochemistry of groundwater in front of a warm‐based glacier in Southeast Greenland

Groundwater in front of warm‐based glaciers is likely to become a more integrated part of the future proglacial hydrological system at high latitudes due to global warming. Here, we present the first monitoring results of shallow groundwater chemistry and geochemical fingerprinting of glacier meltwater in front of a warm‐based glacier in Southeast Greenland (Mittivakkat Gletscher, 65° 41′ N, 37° 48′ W). The groundwater temperature, electrical conductivity and pressure head were monitored from August 2009 to August 2011, and water samples were collected in 2009 and analyzed for major ions and water isotopes (δD, δ¹⁸O). The 2 yrs of monitoring revealed that major outbursts of glacier water during the ablation season flushed the proglacial aquifer and determined the groundwater quality for the next 2–8 weeks until stable chemical conditions were reached again. Water isotope composition shows that isotopic fractionation occurs in both groundwater and glacier meltwater, but fractionation due to evaporation from near‐surface soil moisture prior to infiltration has the most significant effect. This study shows that groundwater in Low Arctic Greenland is likely to possess a combined geochemical and isotopic composition, which is distinguishable from other water sources in the proglacial environment. However, the shallow groundwater composition at a given time is highly dependent on major outbursts of glacier water in the previous months.     

A GIS-based glacier inventory for the Antarctic Peninsula and the South Shetland Islands —A first case study on King George Island

The aim of the international project “Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS)” headed by the US Geological Survey is to establish a world wide glacier inventory based on satellite imagery. This data set will form a first digital baseline study for future glacier monitoring. The presented GIS-based glacier inventory for King George Island is a case study for the area of the Antarctic Peninsula. In the database of the glacier inventory topographic information, specific glaciological parameters as well as metadata will be included. The topographic data consists of drainage basin limits, basin areas, altitudinal ranges, perimeters and mean lengths. Glaciological data sets should comprise information on glacier retreat in different periods, glacier velocities, ice thickness and bedrock topography as well as derived parameters. Modelled and measured mass balance parameters could be included as additional data layers. In particular, these metadata records must comprise background information on data accuracy and data sources and should be compatible with a future data model for the King George Island GIS (KGIS). Three examples illustrate that the GLIMS database will not only contain information valuable for glaciological applications, but also other environmental studies on the island will benefit from this standardised remote sensing data sets. Therefore, a very close link between the data models of KGIS and GLIMS has to be established to enable these synergisms. Finally, better access to historic aerial photography would enable a continuous record of glacier retreat from the beginning of the 1950's onward.     

中国东北第四纪冰川研究新进展：遗迹厘定、新发现与冰期模式

东北是否发育第四纪冰川及其范围、性质与冰期问题,始终没有定论。在对长白山及大兴安岭冰川遗迹厘定基础上,进行了专项调查,并采用地理信息系统（GIS）、遥感（RS）及全球定位系统（GPS）的3S技术,采取钻探测图、孢粉、泥砾粒度与渗透性分析及14C定年等方法,在长白山及大兴安岭发现了冰蚀谷及泥砾堆积等新的冰川遗迹,进一步肯定了两座山地第四纪冰川的存在及其多期性。在小兴安岭首次发现冰蚀岩墙等冰川遗迹,填补了研究空白,证明小兴安岭也曾发育第四纪冰川。综合多种信息,确定长白山与大兴安岭分别有4次冰期和3次间冰期,小兴安岭至少有1次冰期。最后构建了可以与国际对比的冰期序列,重建了区域第四纪冰川环境演化模式：早更新世早期冷干,中晚期偏暖湿;中更新世早期冷湿,中晚期暖湿;晚更新世早期冷稍湿,中期暖湿,晚期冷干。     

冰川/积雪-大气相互作用研究进展

冰川和积雪是冰冻圈的重要组成部分,在全球或区域气候系统中起着极其重要的作用.开展冰川/积雪-大气相互作用研究,是研究冰冻圈物理过程及其对气候系统反馈作用的必然需求,也是研究冰川/积雪对气候变化响应的有效手段,同时还可为全球(区域)气候和水文模式提供冰川/积雪面的地表特征参数.近一个世纪以来,在冰川/积雪面辐射特征、能量通量计算方法和平衡特征等方面开展了许多观测试验和理论研究,并取得了卓有成效的研究结果.但是在准确获取辐射通量、研发普适性较强的反照率参数化方案、复杂地形条件下能量通量的计算,以及发展分布式能量平衡模式等方面尚存在许多不确定性,仍面临许多技术难点,也是未来的研究重点.     

中国庐山晚第四纪沉积岩系的石英形貌显微结构及环境过程

基于庐山山地晚第四纪地层典型断面的系统调查,从地层剖面层序中筛选的微粒(θ=1～3mm)石英颗粒进行环境电子显微镜观测研究,辨认出显微结构-颗粒形态-变形构造-动力化学作用等特征,运用系统过程发展中的节点事件进行层型剖面的环境响应分析,采取综合指标表征地球表层过程及环境响应情景,明确划分出四个古气候环境发展阶段,由下往上分别表现为冰期环境-间冰期环境-冰缘环境-冰后期环境,为深入研究及科学认识庐山第四纪环境演化过程及全球变化提供了新的基础依据。     

喜马拉雅山中东段蒙达扛日冰川水文与物质平衡观测研究

2007年7—9月,在喜马拉雅山中东段蒙达扛日冰川进行了水文和物质平衡的同步观测.结果表明：观测期间,蒙达扛日冰川表现为物质负平衡,冰川消融集中在7月和8月中上旬.观测的70 d内,花杆区冰川物质平衡量为-435～-711 mm,日平均值为-6.2～-10.2 mm.d-1,冰川的总物质平衡量为-355 mm.蒙达扛日...     

天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川径流对气候变化的响应分析

利用天山乌鲁木齐河源1号冰川1959-2006年的气象、冰川物质平衡和1980-2006年的水文资料,分析了其冰川径流的变化.结果表明:由于1996年以来的显著升温,导致了1号冰川水文点径流主要受夏季气温变化的控制,冰川物质损失对径流的补给作用已超过了降水的作用.1996-2006年与1980-1995年相比,夏季气温...     

应用SAR特征匹配方法估计音苏盖提冰川表面流速

喀喇昆仑山区冰川因位于高海拔地区且远离人类正常活动的区域,使得连续的表面流速的地面观测很难实施,因此,对该区域冰川运动机理研究相对比较少.采用日本高级陆地观测卫星携带的相控阵型 L 波段合成孔径雷达(Advanced Land Observing Satellite,Phase Array L-band Synthet...