Estimation by photogrammetry of the glacier recession on the Cotopaxi Volcano (Ecuador) between 1956 and 1997 / Estimation par photogrammétrie de la récession glaciaire sur le Volcan Cotopaxi (Equateur) entre 1956 et 1997

Abstract

Aerial photographs of the Cotopaxi Volcano ice cap dating from 1956 to 1997 were used to quantify the evolution of the surface area. Results were obtained using precise stereoscopic methods that give the most accurate information. In addition four specific glacier tongues were investigated in detail to measure the ice mass lost between 1976 and 1997. Surprisingly, the bedrock morphology is shown to be very irregular and this explains a large extent of the variability found in the ice losses. The results show that glaciers stagnated from 1956 to 1976 and lost about 30% of their surface area between 1976 and 1997. Slope exposure did not seem to have any significant effect since all the glaciers of the volcano retreated in the same proportion. In accordance with specific measurements performed on the nearby Antizana 15 Glacier, it is suggested that the strong recession observed after 1976 was associated with increasing melting conditions which have occurred repeatedly during the intense/long-duration warm ENSO phases.     

Rhizocarpon calibration curve for the Aoraki/Mount Cook area of New Zealand

Development of Rhizocarpon growth curve from the Aoraki/Mount Cook area of New Zealand provides a means to assess Little Ice Age glacier behaviour and suggests approaches that have wider application. Employing a sampling strategy based on large populations affords the opportunity to assess which of various metrics (e.g. single largest, average of five largest, mean of an entire population) best characterise Rhizocarpon growth patterns. The 98% quantile from each population fitted with a quadric curve forms a reliable representation of the growth pattern. Since this metric does not depend on the original sample size, comparisons are valid where sample strategy must be adapted to local situations or where the original sample size differs. For the Aoraki/Mount Cook area a surface 100 years old will have a 98% quantile lichen diameter of 34.3 mm, whereas a 200‐year‐old surface will have a lichen diameter of 73.7 mm. In the Southern Alps, constraints from the age range of calibration points, the flattening of the quadric calibration curve and ecological factors limit the useful age range to approximately 250 years. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrologic impact of regional climate change for the snowfed and glacierfed river basins in the Republic of Tajikistan: hydrological response of flow to climate change

The warming of the Earth's atmosphere system is likely to change temperature and precipitation, which may affect the climate, hydrology and water resources at the river basins over the world. The importance of temperature change becomes even greater in snow or glacier dominated basins where it controls the snowmelt processes during the late‐winter, spring and summer months. In this study hydrologic responses of streamflow in the Pyanj and Vaksh River basins to climate change are analysed with a watershed hydrology model, based on the downscaled atmospheric data as input, in order to assess the regional climate change impact for the snowfed and glacierfed river basins in the Republic of Tajikistan. As a result of this analysis, it was found that the annual mean river discharge is increasing in the future at snow and glacier dominated areas due to the air temperature increase and the consequent increase in snow/ice melt rates until about 2060. Then the annual mean flow discharge starts to decrease from about 2080 onward because the small glaciers start to disappear in the glacier areas. It was also found that there is a gradual change in the hydrologic flow regime throughout a year, with the high flows occuring earlier in the hydrologic year, due to the warmer climate in the future. Furthermore, significant increases in annual maximum daily flows, including the 100‐year return period flows, at the Pyanj and Vaksh River basins toward the end of the 21st century can be inferred from flood frequency analysis results. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inactive and relict rock glaciers of the Deboullie Lakes Ecological Reserve,northern Maine,USA

Lobate talus slopes in the Deboullie Lakes Ecological Reserve (DLER) of northern Maine exhibit parabolic profiles characteristic of inactive and relict talus‐derived rock glaciers. Vegetated rock glacier surfaces suggest that the landforms are no longer active, and lobes comprising two DLER rock glaciers document periods of past growth. Observations of perennial subsurface ice are supported by datalogger temperature measurements, indicating that sporadic permafrost exists throughout the DLER. We compare the DLER rock glaciers, along with similar features elsewhere in New England and adjacent Québec, to the modern alpine permafrost distribution. Results indicate that a mean annual temperature cooling of ～6°C is required to promote active rock glacier growth. Ages of plant remains recovered from the basal sediments of a local pond constrain deglaciation to before 11 320 ¹⁴C a BP, and core stratigraphy and organic content reveal that a periglacial environment persisted during the early postglacial era. Thus, we hypothesise that the DLER rock glaciers were active during Lateglacial time despite the lack of glacier activity in the region. We take this to suggest that north‐eastern US rock glaciers formed in response to mean annual temperatures skewed towards the frigid winters of the Younger Dryas chronozone. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A modified monthly degree‐day model for evaluating glacier runoff changes in China. Part I: model development

The retreat of mountain glaciers and ice caps has dominated the rise in global sea level and is likely to remain an import component of eustatic sea‐level rise in the 21st century. Mountain glaciers are critical in supplying freshwater to populations inhabiting the valleys downstream who heavily rely on glacier runoff, such as arid and semi‐arid regions of western China. Owing to recent climate warming and the consequent rapid retreat of many glaciers, it is essential to evaluate the long‐term change in glacier melt water production, especially when considering the glacier area change. This paper describes the structure, principles and parameters of a modified monthly degree‐day model considering glacier area variation. Water balances in different elevation bands are calculated with full consideration of the monthly precipitation gradient and air temperature lapse rate. The degree‐day factors for ice and snow are tuned by comparing simulated variables to observation data for the same period, such as mass balance, equilibrium line altitude and glacier runoff depth. The glacier area–volume scaling factor is calibrated with the observed glacier area change monitored by remote sensing data of seven sub‐basins of the Tarim interior basin. Based on meteorological data, the glacier area, mass balance and runoff are estimated. The model can be used to evaluate the long‐term changes of melt water in all glacierized basins of western China, especially for those with limited observation data. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sedimentology of a debris‐rich,perhumid valley glacier margin in the Rakaia Valley,South Island,New Zealand

The sedimentology and stratigraphy of a multi‐phase glaciation sequence dating to Marine Isotope Stage 6 in the Rakaia Valley, South Island, New Zealand, is presented. This outcrop presents an example of the depositional signature of an end member of temperate valley glaciation, where voluminous sediment supply in a tectonically active setting combines with high annual temperatures and low seasonality to generate significant year‐round glacifluvial activity. Such glacial systems produce geological–climatic units that are dominated by thick sequences of aggradational gravels and proglacial lake sediments trapped behind outwash heads during deglaciation. At Bayfields Cliff, outwash sequences record an oscillating glacier margin marked by a sequence of glacier‐fed, Gilbert‐type deltas. The deltas are cut by numerous small‐scale, syndepositional, normal faults indicating both loss of glacier support and melt‐out of buried ice. A larger‐scale thrust fault system reflects late‐stage ice overrun. Braid plain gravels and chaotic disturbed glacial lake sediments are also recorded. A notable feature of these systems is the virtual absence of till in an environment with much other evidence for proximal ice. Cumulatively we regard these sediment–landform associations as diagnostic of debris‐laden, perhumid, temperate valley glacier systems. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法综述

第四纪冰川和冰川地质遗迹的研究,是研究第四纪全球气候变化的重要课题之一。中国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布很广,类型多。最北的大兴安岭、南部的广西大明山、东部的长白山和台湾玉山、最西的喀喇昆仑山第四纪冰川地质遗迹均有分布,是世界上低纬度地区山岳冰川发育最广泛的国家。本文在前人研究的基础上,系统阐述我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹分布概况,结合开展的全国重要地质遗迹调查,以地质遗迹调查规范为基础,系统开展第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法研究。根据冰川在运动过程中对地面的侵蚀、冰碛物的搬运和堆积等不同的地质作用阶段,总结我国第四纪冰川地质遗迹调查方法体系,为开展同类地质遗迹调查提供方法指导依据。     

基于冰川钻孔温度的古气候重建研究进展北大核心CSCD

冰川内部温度与过去冰面温度变化密切相关,因此可以利用冰川钻孔温度对过去冰面温度变化过程进行重建。耦合的热传导-冰流物理模型与相关反演算法,是基于冰川钻孔温度进行古气候重建研究的理论基础和关键。论文收集了过去三十多年基于冰川钻孔温度进行古气候重建的研究文献,从冰川钻孔温度对气候变化的响应和古气候重建等方面进行了概述,并简要讨论了不同反演算法的优劣性和适用条件。尽管很多因素(如太阳辐射、融水等)都会对冰川钻孔温度造成影响,但两极或高纬地区的冷冰川钻孔温度能较好地反映气候变化历史。目前已通过这些不同地区的冰川钻孔温度,重建了末次冰期冰盛期以来不同时间尺度的气候变化历史,同时可与对应的冰芯记录相互印证。此外,通过冰川钻孔温度可以研究冰川与气温的耦合作用,并进一步预测冰川对未来气候变化的响应。利用中纬度冷冰川钻孔温度开展古气候重建的研究较少,未来加深这一方面的研究将有助于揭示中纬度高海拔地区的气候变化状况。     

雅鲁藏布江色东普沟冰崩—堵江—溃决灾害数值模拟

为了揭示雅鲁藏布江色东普沟2018年10月17日冰崩—堵江—溃决灾害链的动力演化过程,基于Massflow数值模拟仿真平台,使用Fortran编程语言,根据研究区域地质条件特征对程序进行二次开发以优化Voellmy模型,模拟冰崩—泥石流动力过程;将模拟泥石流得到的堰塞坝体嵌入地形中,运用ArcGIS计算堰塞湖范围及体积,通过Manning模型模拟堰塞湖溃决洪水动力过程。采用分段模拟法再现冰崩—泥石流—堵江—堰塞湖—溃坝的完整动力过程,对泥石流运动过程中的流速、流深,坝体高度,溃决洪水的流深、流速等参数进行定量化研究,为色东普流域的防灾减灾工作提供有效支撑。为了揭示雅鲁藏布江色东普沟2018年10月17日冰崩-堵江-溃决灾害链的动力演化过程,采用Massflow数值模拟仿真平台,以Fortran语言为编程手段,根据研究区域地质条件特征对程序进行二次开发优化Voellmy模型,模拟冰崩-泥石流动力过程;将模拟泥石流所得到的堰塞坝体嵌入地形中,采用ArcGIS计算堰塞湖范围及体积,通过曼宁模型模拟堰塞湖溃决洪水动力过程。采用分段模拟法再现冰崩-泥石流-堵江-堰塞湖-溃坝的完整动力过程,对泥石流运动过程中的流速、流深,坝体高度,溃决洪水的流深、流速等参数进行定量化研究,为色东普流域的防灾减工作提供有效支撑。