Articles | Volume 10, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1317-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1317-2016
© Author(s) 2016. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
24 Jun 2016
Research article |
| 24 Jun 2016
Accelerating retreat and high-elevation thinning of glaciers in central Spitsbergen
Cryosphere Research Department, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań,
Poland
Related authors
Jakub Małecki
The Cryosphere, 16, 2067–2082, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a snapshot of the recent state of small mountain glaciers across the European High Arctic, where severe climate warming has been occurring over the past years. The analysis revealed that this class of ice mass might melt away from many study sites within the coming two to five decades even without further warming. Glacier changes were, however, very variable in space, and some glaciers have been gaining mass, but the exact drivers behind this phenomenon are unclear.
Jakub Małecki
The Cryosphere, 16, 2067–2082, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a snapshot of the recent state of small mountain glaciers across the European High Arctic, where severe climate warming has been occurring over the past years. The analysis revealed that this class of ice mass might melt away from many study sites within the coming two to five decades even without further warming. Glacier changes were, however, very variable in space, and some glaciers have been gaining mass, but the exact drivers behind this phenomenon are unclear.
Related subject area
Mass Balance Obs
Evaluating Greenland surface-mass-balance and firn-densification data using ICESat-2 altimetry
Changes in the annual sea ice freeze–thaw cycle in the Arctic Ocean from 2001 to 2018
Central Asia's spatiotemporal glacier response ambiguity due to data inconsistencies and regional simplifications
Recent contrasting behaviour of mountain glaciers across the European High Arctic revealed by ArcticDEM data
Characteristics of mountain glaciers in the northern Japanese Alps
Assimilating near-real-time mass balance stake readings into a model ensemble using a particle filter
The regional-scale surface mass balance of Pine Island Glacier, West Antarctica, over the period 2005–2014, derived from airborne radar soundings and neutron probe measurements
Geodetic point surface mass balances: a new approach to determine point surface mass balances on glaciers from remote sensing measurements
Review article: Earth's ice imbalance
Applying artificial snowfall to reduce the melting of the Muz Taw Glacier, Sawir Mountains
Satellite-observed monthly glacier and snow mass changes in southeast Tibet: implication for substantial meltwater contribution to the Brahmaputra
Brief communication: Ad hoc estimation of glacier contributions to sea-level rise from the latest glaciological observations
Sensitivity of inverse glacial isostatic adjustment estimates over Antarctica
Recent precipitation decrease across the western Greenland ice sheet percolation zone
Heterogeneous spatial and temporal pattern of surface elevation change and mass balance of the Patagonian ice fields between 2000 and 2016
Long-range terrestrial laser scanning measurements of annual and intra-annual mass balances for Urumqi Glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China
Multi-year evaluation of airborne geodetic surveys to estimate seasonal mass balance, Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada
Interannual snow accumulation variability on glaciers derived from repeat, spatially extensive ground-penetrating radar surveys
Local topography increasingly influences the mass balance of a retreating cirque glacier
How does the ice sheet surface mass balance relate to snowfall? Insights from a ground-based precipitation radar in East Antarctica
Multi-decadal mass balance series of three Kyrgyz glaciers inferred from modelling constrained with repeated snow line observations
Spatial and temporal distributions of surface mass balance between Concordia and Vostok stations, Antarctica, from combined radar and ice core data: first results and detailed error analysis
Changing pattern of ice flow and mass balance for glaciers discharging into the Larsen A and B embayments, Antarctic Peninsula, 2011 to 2016
Recent glacier mass balance and area changes in the Kangri Karpo Mountains from DEMs and glacier inventories
Using satellite laser ranging to measure ice mass change in Greenland and Antarctica
Reanalysis of a 10-year record (2004–2013) of seasonal mass balances at Langenferner/Vedretta Lunga, Ortler Alps, Italy
Application and validation of long-range terrestrial laser scanning to monitor the mass balance of very small glaciers in the Swiss Alps
Reconstructing the annual mass balance of the Echaurren Norte glacier (Central Andes, 33.5° S) using local and regional hydroclimatic data
Analysis of the mass balance time series of glaciers in the Italian Alps
Reanalysis of long-term series of glaciological and geodetic mass balance for 10 Norwegian glaciers
Quantifying the resolution level where the GRACE satellites can separate Greenland's glacial mass balance from surface mass balance
Surface elevation and mass changes of all Swiss glaciers 1980–2010
Mass changes in Arctic ice caps and glaciers: implications of regionalizing elevation changes
Constraining the recent mass balance of Pine Island and Thwaites glaciers, West Antarctica, with airborne observations of snow accumulation
Region-wide glacier mass balances over the Pamir-Karakoram-Himalaya during 1999–2011
Density assumptions for converting geodetic glacier volume change to mass change
Balanced conditions or slight mass gain of glaciers in the Lahaul and Spiti region (northern India, Himalaya) during the nineties preceded recent mass loss
Climatic drivers of seasonal glacier mass balances: an analysis of 6 decades at Glacier de Sarennes (French Alps)
Extrapolating glacier mass balance to the mountain-range scale: the European Alps 1900–2100
Mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet (2003–2008) from ICESat data – the impact of interpolation, sampling and firn density
Assessing high altitude glacier thickness, volume and area changes using field, GIS and remote sensing techniques: the case of Nevado Coropuna (Peru)
Benjamin E. Smith, Brooke Medley, Xavier Fettweis, Tyler Sutterley, Patrick Alexander, David Porter, and Marco Tedesco
The Cryosphere, 17, 789–808, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-789-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-789-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We use repeated satellite measurements of the height of the Greenland ice sheet to learn about how three computational models of snowfall, melt, and snow compaction represent actual changes in the ice sheet. We find that the models do a good job of estimating how the parts of the ice sheet near the coast have changed but that two of the models have trouble representing surface melt for the highest part of the ice sheet. This work provides suggestions for how to better model snowmelt.
Long Lin, Ruibo Lei, Mario Hoppmann, Donald K. Perovich, and Hailun He
The Cryosphere, 16, 4779–4796, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4779-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4779-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Ice mass balance observations indicated that average basal melt onset was comparable in the central Arctic Ocean and approximately 17 d earlier than surface melt in the Beaufort Gyre. The average onset of basal growth lagged behind the surface of the pan-Arctic Ocean for almost 3 months. In the Beaufort Gyre, both drifting-buoy observations and fixed-point observations exhibit a trend towards earlier basal melt onset, which can be ascribed to the earlier warming of the surface ocean.
Martina Barandun and Eric Pohl
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2022-117, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2022-117, 2022
Revised manuscript accepted for TC
Short summary
Short summary
Meteorological and glacier mass balance data scarcity introduces large uncertainties about drivers of heterogeneous glacier mass balance response in Central Asia. We investigate the consistency of interpretations derived from various datasets through a systematic correlation analysis between climatic and static drivers with mass balance estimates. Our results show in particular that even supposedly similar datasets lead to different and partly contradicting assumptions on dominant drivers.
Jakub Małecki
The Cryosphere, 16, 2067–2082, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2067-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a snapshot of the recent state of small mountain glaciers across the European High Arctic, where severe climate warming has been occurring over the past years. The analysis revealed that this class of ice mass might melt away from many study sites within the coming two to five decades even without further warming. Glacier changes were, however, very variable in space, and some glaciers have been gaining mass, but the exact drivers behind this phenomenon are unclear.
Kenshiro Arie, Chiyuki Narama, Ryohei Yamamoto, Kotaro Fukui, and Hajime Iida
The Cryosphere, 16, 1091–1106, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1091-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1091-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
In recent years, seven glaciers are confirmed in the northern Japanese Alps. However, their mass balance has not been clarified. In this study, we calculated the seasonal and continuous annual mass balance of these glaciers during 2015–2019 by the geodetic method using aerial images and SfM–MVS technology. Our results showed that the mass balance of these glaciers was different from other glaciers in the world. The characteristics of Japanese glaciers provide new insights for earth science.
Johannes Marian Landmann, Hans Rudolf Künsch, Matthias Huss, Christophe Ogier, Markus Kalisch, and Daniel Farinotti
The Cryosphere, 15, 5017–5040, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5017-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5017-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we (1) acquire real-time information on point glacier mass balance with autonomous real-time cameras and (2) assimilate these observations into a mass balance model ensemble driven by meteorological input. For doing so, we use a customized particle filter that we designed for the specific purposes of our study. We find melt rates of up to 0.12 m water equivalent per day and show that our assimilation method has a higher performance than reference mass balance models.
Stefan Kowalewski, Veit Helm, Elizabeth Mary Morris, and Olaf Eisen
The Cryosphere, 15, 1285–1305, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1285-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1285-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents estimates of total mass input for the Pine Island Glacier (PIG) over the period 2005–2014 from airborne radar measurements. Our analysis reveals a total mass input similar to an earlier estimate for the period 1985–2009 and same area. This suggests a stationary total mass input contrary to the accelerated mass loss of PIG over the past decades. However, we also find that its uncertainty is highly sensitive to the geostatistical assumptions required for its calculation.
Christian Vincent, Diego Cusicanqui, Bruno Jourdain, Olivier Laarman, Delphine Six, Adrien Gilbert, Andrea Walpersdorf, Antoine Rabatel, Luc Piard, Florent Gimbert, Olivier Gagliardini, Vincent Peyaud, Laurent Arnaud, Emmanuel Thibert, Fanny Brun, and Ugo Nanni
The Cryosphere, 15, 1259–1276, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1259-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1259-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In situ glacier point mass balance data are crucial to assess climate change in different regions of the world. Unfortunately, these data are rare because huge efforts are required to conduct in situ measurements on glaciers. Here, we propose a new approach from remote sensing observations. The method has been tested on the Argentière and Mer de Glace glaciers (France). It should be possible to apply this method to high-spatial-resolution satellite images and on numerous glaciers in the world.
Thomas Slater, Isobel R. Lawrence, Inès N. Otosaka, Andrew Shepherd, Noel Gourmelen, Livia Jakob, Paul Tepes, Lin Gilbert, and Peter Nienow
The Cryosphere, 15, 233–246, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-233-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-233-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite observations are the best method for tracking ice loss, because the cryosphere is vast and remote. Using these, and some numerical models, we show that Earth has lost 28 trillion tonnes (Tt) of ice since 1994 from Arctic sea ice (7.6 Tt), ice shelves (6.5 Tt), mountain glaciers (6.1 Tt), the Greenland (3.8 Tt) and Antarctic ice sheets (2.5 Tt), and Antarctic sea ice (0.9 Tt). It has taken just 3.2 % of the excess energy Earth has absorbed due to climate warming to cause this ice loss.
Feiteng Wang, Xiaoying Yue, Lin Wang, Huilin Li, Zhencai Du, Jing Ming, and Zhongqin Li
The Cryosphere, 14, 2597–2606, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2597-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2597-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
How to mitigate the melting of most mountainous glaciers is a disturbing issue for scientists and the public. We chose the Muz Taw Glacier of the Sawir Mountains as our study object. We carried out two artificial precipitation experiments on the glacier to study the role of precipitation in mitigating its melting. The average mass loss from the glacier decreased by over 14 %. We also propose a possible mechanism describing the role of precipitation in mitigating the melting of the glaciers.
Shuang Yi, Chunqiao Song, Kosuke Heki, Shichang Kang, Qiuyu Wang, and Le Chang
The Cryosphere, 14, 2267–2281, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2267-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2267-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
High-Asia glaciers have been observed to be retreating the fastest in the southeastern Tibeten Plateau, where vast amounts of glacier and snow feed the streamflow of the Brahmaputra. Here, we provide the first monthly glacier and snow mass balance during 2002–2017 based on satellite gravimetry. The results confirm previous long-term decreases but reveal strong seasonal variations. This work helps resolve previous divergent model estimates and underlines the importance of meltwater.
Michael Zemp, Matthias Huss, Nicolas Eckert, Emmanuel Thibert, Frank Paul, Samuel U. Nussbaumer, and Isabelle Gärtner-Roer
The Cryosphere, 14, 1043–1050, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1043-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1043-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Comprehensive assessments of global glacier mass changes have been published at multi-annual intervals, typically in IPCC reports. For the years in between, we present an approach to infer timely but preliminary estimates of global-scale glacier mass changes from glaciological observations. These ad hoc estimates for 2017/18 indicate that annual glacier contributions to sea-level rise exceeded 1 mm sea-level equivalent, which corresponds to more than a quarter of the currently observed rise.
Matthias O. Willen, Martin Horwath, Ludwig Schröder, Andreas Groh, Stefan R. M. Ligtenberg, Peter Kuipers Munneke, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 14, 349–366, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-349-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-349-2020, 2020
Gabriel Lewis, Erich Osterberg, Robert Hawley, Hans Peter Marshall, Tate Meehan, Karina Graeter, Forrest McCarthy, Thomas Overly, Zayta Thundercloud, and David Ferris
The Cryosphere, 13, 2797–2815, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2797-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2797-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present accumulation records from sixteen 22–32 m long firn cores and 4436 km of ground-penetrating radar, covering the past 20–60 years of accumulation, collected across the western Greenland Ice Sheet percolation zone. Trends from both radar and firn cores, as well as commonly used regional climate models, show decreasing accumulation over the 1996–2016 period.
Wael Abdel Jaber, Helmut Rott, Dana Floricioiu, Jan Wuite, and Nuno Miranda
The Cryosphere, 13, 2511–2535, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2511-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2511-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We use topographic maps from two radar remote-sensing missions to map surface elevation changes of the northern and southern Patagonian ice fields (NPI and SPI) for two epochs (2000–2012 and 2012–2016). We find a heterogeneous pattern of thinning within the ice fields and a varying temporal trend, which may be explained by complex interdependence between surface mass balance and effects of flow dynamics. The contribution to sea level rise amounts to 0.05 mm a−1 for both ice fields for 2000–2016.
Chunhai Xu, Zhongqin Li, Huilin Li, Feiteng Wang, and Ping Zhou
The Cryosphere, 13, 2361–2383, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2361-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2361-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We take Urumqi Glacier No. 1 as an example and validate a long-range terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) as an efficient tool for monitoring annual and intra-annual mass balances, especially for inaccessible glacier areas where no glaciological measurements are available. The TLS has application potential for glacier mass-balance monitoring in China. For wide applications of the TLS, we can select some benchmark glaciers and use stable scan positions and in-situ-measured densities of snow–firn.
Ben M. Pelto, Brian Menounos, and Shawn J. Marshall
The Cryosphere, 13, 1709–1727, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1709-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1709-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Changes in glacier mass are the direct response to meteorological conditions during the accumulation and melt seasons. We derived multi-year, seasonal mass balance from airborne laser scanning surveys and compared them to field measurements for six glaciers in the Columbia and Rocky Mountains, Canada. Our method can accurately measure seasonal changes in glacier mass and can be easily adapted to derive seasonal mass change for entire mountain ranges.
Daniel McGrath, Louis Sass, Shad O'Neel, Chris McNeil, Salvatore G. Candela, Emily H. Baker, and Hans-Peter Marshall
The Cryosphere, 12, 3617–3633, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3617-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3617-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Measuring the amount and spatial pattern of snow on glaciers is essential for monitoring glacier mass balance and quantifying the water budget of glacierized basins. Using repeat radar surveys for 5 consecutive years, we found that the spatial pattern in snow distribution is stable over the majority of the glacier and scales with the glacier-wide average. Our findings support the use of sparse stake networks for effectively measuring interannual variability in winter balance on glaciers.
Caitlyn Florentine, Joel Harper, Daniel Fagre, Johnnie Moore, and Erich Peitzsch
The Cryosphere, 12, 2109–2122, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2109-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2109-2018, 2018
Niels Souverijns, Alexandra Gossart, Irina V. Gorodetskaya, Stef Lhermitte, Alexander Mangold, Quentin Laffineur, Andy Delcloo, and Nicole P. M. van Lipzig
The Cryosphere, 12, 1987–2003, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1987-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1987-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This work is the first to gain insight into the local surface mass balance over Antarctica using accurate long-term snowfall observations. A non-linear relationship between accumulation and snowfall is discovered, indicating that total surface mass balance measurements are not a good proxy for snowfall over Antarctica. Furthermore, the meteorological drivers causing changes in the local SMB are identified.
Martina Barandun, Matthias Huss, Ryskul Usubaliev, Erlan Azisov, Etienne Berthier, Andreas Kääb, Tobias Bolch, and Martin Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 12, 1899–1919, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1899-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1899-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we used three independent methods (in situ measurements, comparison of digital elevation models and modelling) to reconstruct the mass change from 2000 to 2016 for three glaciers in the Tien Shan and Pamir. Snow lines observed on remote sensing images were used to improve conventional modelling by constraining a mass balance model. As a result, glacier mass changes for unmeasured years and glaciers can be better assessed. Substantial mass loss was confirmed for the three glaciers.
Emmanuel Le Meur, Olivier Magand, Laurent Arnaud, Michel Fily, Massimo Frezzotti, Marie Cavitte, Robert Mulvaney, and Stefano Urbini
The Cryosphere, 12, 1831–1850, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1831-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1831-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents surface mass balance measurements from both GPR and ice core data collected during a traverse in a so-far-unexplored area between the DC and Vostok stations. Results presented here will contribute to a better knowledge of the global mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet and thus help in constraining its contribution to sea level rise. Another novelty of the paper resides in the comprehensive error budget proposed for the method used for inferring accumulation rates.
Helmut Rott, Wael Abdel Jaber, Jan Wuite, Stefan Scheiblauer, Dana Floricioiu, Jan Melchior van Wessem, Thomas Nagler, Nuno Miranda, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 12, 1273–1291, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1273-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1273-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We analysed volume change, mass balance and ice flow of glaciers draining into the Larsen A and Larsen B embayments on the Antarctic Peninsula for 2011 to 2013 and 2013 to 2016. The mass balance is based on elevation change measured by the radar satellite mission TanDEM-X and on the mass budget method. The glaciers show continuing losses in ice mass, which is a response to ice shelf break-up. After 2013 the downwasting of glaciers slowed down, coinciding with years of persistent sea ice cover.
Kunpeng Wu, Shiyin Liu, Zongli Jiang, Junli Xu, Junfeng Wei, and Wanqin Guo
The Cryosphere, 12, 103–121, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-103-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-103-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents diminishing ice cover in the Kangri Karpo Mountains by 24.9 % ± 2.2 % or 0.71 % ± 0.06 % a−1 from 1980 to 2015 but with nine glaciers advancing. By utilizing geodetic methods, glaciers have experienced a mean mass deficit of 0.46 ± 0.08 m w.e. a−1 from 1980 to 2014. These glaciers showed slight accelerated shrinkage and significant accelerated mass loss during 2000–2015 compared to that during 1980–2000, which is consistent with the tendency of climate warming.
Jennifer A. Bonin, Don P. Chambers, and Minkang Cheng
The Cryosphere, 12, 71–79, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-71-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-71-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Before GRACE in 2002, few large-scale measurements of mass change over Greenland and Antarctica existed. We use a least squares inversion of satellite laser ranging (SLR) data to expand the polar mass change time series back to 1994. We explain the technique and analyze its errors, then apply it to SLR and GRACE data. We can estimate the summed mass change over Greenland and Antarctica with low uncertainty. SLR's noise causes interannual errors, but the 20-year estimate is reliable.
Stephan Peter Galos, Christoph Klug, Fabien Maussion, Federico Covi, Lindsey Nicholson, Lorenzo Rieg, Wolfgang Gurgiser, Thomas Mölg, and Georg Kaser
The Cryosphere, 11, 1417–1439, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1417-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1417-2017, 2017
Mauro Fischer, Matthias Huss, Mario Kummert, and Martin Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 10, 1279–1295, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1279-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1279-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This study provides the first thorough validation of geodetic glacier mass changes derived from close-range high-resolution remote sensing techniques, and highlights the potential of terrestrial laser scanning for repeated mass balance monitoring of very small alpine glaciers. The presented methodology is promising, as laborious and potentially dangerous in situ measurements as well as the spatial inter- and extrapolation of point measurements over the entire glacier can be circumvented.
Mariano H. Masiokas, Duncan A. Christie, Carlos Le Quesne, Pierre Pitte, Lucas Ruiz, Ricardo Villalba, Brian H. Luckman, Etienne Berthier, Samuel U. Nussbaumer, Álvaro González-Reyes, James McPhee, and Gonzalo Barcaza
The Cryosphere, 10, 927–940, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-927-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-927-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier Echaurren Norte (ECH, 34° S) has the longest (> 35 yrs) mass-balance record in South America. A minimal model that explains 78 % of the variance in the ECH annual record identifies precipitation as the most important forcing. A regional streamflow series allows for extending the ECH annual record back to 1909 and shows a clear cumulative ice-mass loss. Similarities with documented glacier advances and other shorter mass-balance series suggest the ECH reconstruction is regionally representative.
Luca Carturan, Carlo Baroni, Michele Brunetti, Alberto Carton, Giancarlo Dalla Fontana, Maria Cristina Salvatore, Thomas Zanoner, and Giulia Zuecco
The Cryosphere, 10, 695–712, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-695-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-695-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This work analyses the longer mass balance series of Italian glaciers. All glaciers experienced mass loss in the observation period, with increasing mass loss rates mainly due to increased ablation during longer and warmer ablation seasons. Low-altitude glaciers with low range of elevation are more out of balance than the higher, larger and steeper glaciers, which maintain accumulation areas. Because most of the monitored glaciers are at risk of extinction, they require a soon replacement.
Liss M. Andreassen, Hallgeir Elvehøy, Bjarne Kjøllmoen, and Rune V. Engeset
The Cryosphere, 10, 535–552, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-535-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-535-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This study provides homogenised and partly calibrated data series of glaciological and geodetic mass balance for the 10 Norwegian glaciers with long-term observations. In total, 21 periods of data were compared. Uncertainties were quantified for relevant sources of errors, both in the glaciological and geodetic series. The reanalysis processes altered seasonal, annual, and cumulative as well as ELA and AAR values for many of the years for the 10 glaciers presented.
J. A. Bonin and D. P. Chambers
The Cryosphere, 9, 1761–1772, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1761-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1761-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Separating surface mass balance from glacial mass balance over Greenland would provide important climatological information and constraints for models, but due to poor spatial resolution, the GRACE gravity satellites cannot ordinarily accomplish this. We demonstrate a least-squares technique which allows us to do so, in theory. However we also find that the GRACE errors are too large to make it practical for real-world use at this time. About a 9-fold reduction in noise would be needed.
M. Fischer, M. Huss, and M. Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 9, 525–540, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-525-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-525-2015, 2015
J. Nilsson, L. Sandberg Sørensen, V. R. Barletta, and R. Forsberg
The Cryosphere, 9, 139–150, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-139-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-139-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The aim of this study is to determine and quantify the impact of different regionalization schemes on surface elevation changes, and how they affect the estimated spread in mass balance of Arctic ice caps and glaciers. The study found that the choice of regionalization has an important effect in regions with maritime climate and high variability in elevation change. In these areas the spread in mass balance was in many cases larger than the estimated errors of the individual methods.
B. Medley, I. Joughin, B. E. Smith, S. B. Das, E. J. Steig, H. Conway, S. Gogineni, C. Lewis, A. S. Criscitiello, J. R. McConnell, M. R. van den Broeke, J. T. M. Lenaerts, D. H. Bromwich, J. P. Nicolas, and C. Leuschen
The Cryosphere, 8, 1375–1392, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1375-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1375-2014, 2014
J. Gardelle, E. Berthier, Y. Arnaud, and A. Kääb
The Cryosphere, 7, 1263–1286, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1263-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1263-2013, 2013
M. Huss
The Cryosphere, 7, 877–887, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-877-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-877-2013, 2013
C. Vincent, Al. Ramanathan, P. Wagnon, D. P. Dobhal, A. Linda, E. Berthier, P. Sharma, Y. Arnaud, M. F. Azam, P. G. Jose, and J. Gardelle
The Cryosphere, 7, 569–582, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-569-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-569-2013, 2013
E. Thibert, N. Eckert, and C. Vincent
The Cryosphere, 7, 47–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-47-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-47-2013, 2013
M. Huss
The Cryosphere, 6, 713–727, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-713-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-713-2012, 2012
L. S. Sørensen, S. B. Simonsen, K. Nielsen, P. Lucas-Picher, G. Spada, G. Adalgeirsdottir, R. Forsberg, and C. S. Hvidberg
The Cryosphere, 5, 173–186, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-173-2011, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-173-2011, 2011
P. Peduzzi, C. Herold, and W. Silverio
The Cryosphere, 4, 313–323, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-313-2010, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-4-313-2010, 2010
Cited articles
Bælum, K. and Benn, D. I.: Thermal structure and drainage system of a small valley glacier (Tellbreen, Svalbard), investigated by ground penetrating radar, The Cryosphere, 5, 139–149, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-139-2011, 2011.
Błaszczyk, M., Jania, J., and Kolondra, L.: Fluctuations of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund Fjord (Southern Svalbard) since the beginning of the 20th century, Pol. Polar Res., 34, 327–352, 2013.
Cox, L. H. and March, R. S.: Comparison of geodetic and glaciological mass-balance techniques, Gulkana Glacier, Alaska, U.S.A., J. Glaciol., 50, 363–370, 2004.
Evans, D. J. A., Strzelecki, M., Milledge, D. G., and Orton, C.: Hørbyebreen polythermal glacial system, Svalbard, J. Maps, 8, 146–156, 2012.
Ewertowski, M.: Recent transformations in the high-Arctic glacier landsystem, Ragnarbreen, Svalbard, Geogr. Ann. A, 93, 265–285, https://doi.org/10.1111/geoa.12049, 2014.
Ewertowski, M. and Tomczyk, A.: Quantifcation of the ice-cored moraines' short-term dynamics in the high-Arctic glaciers Ebbabreen and Ragnarbreen, Petuniabukta, Svalbard, Geomorphology, 234, 211–227, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.01.023, 2015.
Ewertowski, M., Kasprzak, L., Szuman, I., and Tomczyk, A. M.: Depositional processes within the frontal ice-cored moraine system, Ragnar glacier, Svalbard, Quaest. Geograph., 29, 27–36, 2010.
Ewertowski, M., Kasprzak, L., Szuman, I., and Tomczyk, A. M.:. Controlled, ice-cored moraines: sediments and geomorphology. An example from Ragnarbreen, Svalbard, Z. Geomorphol., 51, 53–74, https://doi.org/10.1127/0372-8854/2011/0049, 2012.
Fischer, M., Huss, M., and Hoelzle, M.: Surface elevation and mass changes of all Swiss glaciers 1980–2010, The Cryosphere, 9, 525–540, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-525-2015, 2015.
Førland, E. J., Benestad, R., Hanssen-Bauer, I., Haugen, J. E., and Skaugen, T. E.: Temperature and Precipitation Development at Svalbard 1900–2100, Adv. Meteorol., 2011, 893790, https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/893790, 2011.
Gardner, A. S., Moholdt, G., Wouters, B., Wolken, G. J., Burgess, D. O., Sharp, M. J., Cogley, J. G., Braun, C., and Labine, C.: Sharply increased mass loss from glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Nature, 473, 357–360, 2011.
Gardner, A. S., Moholdt, G., Cogley, J. G., Wouters, B., Arendt, A. A., Wahr, J., Berthier, E., Hock, R., Pfeffer, W. T., Kaser, G., Ligtenberg, S. R. M., Bolch, T., Sharp, M. J., Hagen, J. O., van den Broecke, M. R., and Paul, F.: A reconciled estimate of glacier contributions to sea level rise: 2003 to 2009, Science, 340, 852–857, 2013.
Gibas, J., Rachlewicz, G., and Szczuciński, W.: Application of DC resistivity soundings and geomorphological surveys in studies of modern Arctic glacier marginal zones, Petuniabukta, Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 26, 239–258, 2005.
Hagen, J. O., Liestøl, O., Roland, E., and Jørgensen, T.: Glacier atlas of Svalbard and Jan Mayen, Oslo, Norwegian Polar Institute, 141 pp., 1993.
Hagen, J. O., Kohler, J., Melvold, K., and Winther, J.-G.: Glaciers in Svalbard: mass balance, runoff and freshwater flux, Polar Res., 22, 145–159, 2003.
Hodgkins, R., Hagen, J. O., and Hamran, S.-E.: 20th century mass balance and thermal regime change at Scott Turnerbreen, Svalbard, Ann. Glaciol., 28, 216–220, 1999.
IPCC: Climate Change 2013, The Physical Science Basis, Working Group I Contribution to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, WMO/UNEP, Cambridge University Press, Geneva, 2013.
James, T. D., Murray, T., Barrand, N. E., Sykes, H. J., Fox, A. J., and King, M. A.: Observations of enhanced thinning in the upper reaches of Svalbard glaciers, The Cryosphere, 6, 1369–1381, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1369-2012, 2012.
Jania, J.: Dynamiczne procesy glacjalne na południowym Spitsbergenie w świetle badań fotointerpretacyjnych i fotogrametrycznych (Dynamic glacial processes in south Spitsbergen in the light of photointerpretation and photogrammetry), Prace Naukowe Uniwersytetu Śląskiego, Katowice, ISBN 83-226-0200-6, 1988.
Karczewski, A.: The development of the marginal zone of the Hørbyebreen, Petuniabukta, central Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 10, 371–377, 1989.
Kohler, J., James, T. D., Murray, T., Nuth, C., Brandt, O., Barrand, N. E., Aas, H. F., and Luckman, A.: Acceleration in thinning rate on western Svalbard glaciers. Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L18502, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007GL030681, 2007.
Kostrzewski, A., Kaniecki, A., Kapuściński, J., Klimczak, R., Stach, A., and Zwoliński, Z.: The dynamics and rate of denudation of glaciated and non-glaciated catchments, central Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 10, 317–367, 1989.
König, M., Kohler, J. and Nuth, C.: Glacier Area Outlines – Svalbard, Norwegian Polar Institute (Tromsø, Norway), https://data.npolar.no/dataset/89f430f8-862f-11e2-8036-005056ad0004, 2013.
Lang, C., Fettweis, X., and Erpicum, M.: Future climate and surface mass balance of Svalbard glaciers in an RCP8.5 climate scenario: a case study with the regional climate model MAR forced by MIROC5, The Cryosphere, 9, 945-956, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-545-2015, 2015.
Lankauf, K. R.: Recesja lodowców rejonu Kaffiøyry (Ziemia Oskara II – Spitsbergen) w XX wieku (Retreat of Kaffiøyra glaciers [Oscar II Land – Spitsbergen] in the 20th century), Prace Geograficzne nr. 183, Polska Akademia Nauk, Warszawa, 2002.
Láska, K., Witoszová, D., and Prošek, P.: Weather patterns of the coastal zone of Petuniabukta, central Spitsbergen in the period 2008–2010, Pol. Polar Res., 33, 297–318, 2012.
Li, Ya. and Li, Yi.: Topographic and geometric controls on glacier changes in the central Tien Shan, China, since the Little Ice Age, Ann. Glaciol., 55, 177–186, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014AoG66A031, 2014.
Lovell, H., Fleming, E. J., Benn, D. I., Hubbard, B., Lukas, S., and Naegeli, K.: Former dynamic behaviour of a cold-based valley glacier on Svalbard revealed by basal ice and structural glaciology investigations, J. Glaciol., 61, 309–328, 2015.
Małecki, J.: The present-day state of Svenbreen (Svalbard) and changes of its physical properties after the termination of the Little Ice Age. PhD thesis, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, 145 pp., 2013a.
Małecki, J.: Elevation and volume changes of seven Dickson Land glaciers, Svalbard, Polar Res., 32, 18400, https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v32i0.18400, 2013b.
Małecki, J.: Some comments on the flow velocity and thinning of Svenbreen, Dickson Land, Svalbard, Czech Polar Rep., 4, 1–8, 2014.
Małecki, J.: Snow accumulation on a small high-Arctic glacier Svenbreen – variability and topographic controls, Geogr. Ann. A., 97, 809–817, 2015.
Małecki, J., Faucherre, S., and Strzelecki, M.: Post-surge geometry and thermal structure of Hørbyebreen, central Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 34, 305—321, 2013.
Martín-Español, A., Navarro, F. J., Otero, J., Lapazaran, J. J., and Błaszczyk, M.: Estimate of the total volume of Svalbard glaciers, and their potential contribution to sea-level rise, using new regionally based scaling relationships, J. Glaciol., 61, 29–41, https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J159, 2015.
Moholdt, G., Nuth, C., Hagen, J. O., and Kohler, J.: Recent elevation changes of Svalbard glaciers derived from ICESat laser altimetry, Remote Sens. Environ., 114, 2756–2767, 2010.
Nordli, Ø., Przybylak, R., Ogilvie, A. E. J., and Isaksen, K.: Long-term temperature trends and variability on Spitsbergen: the extended Svalbard Airport temperature series, 1898–2012, Polar Res., 33, 21348, https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v33.21349, 2014.
Norwegian Polar Institute: Kartdata Svalbard 1:100 000 (S100 Kartdata). Tromsø, Norway: Norwegian Polar Institute, https://data.npolar.no/dataset/645336c7-adfe-4d5a-978d-9426fe788ee3 (last access: 2 January 2015), 2014a.
Norwegian Polar Institute: Terrengmodell Svalbard (S0 Terrengmodell). Tromsø, Norway: Norwegian Polar Institute, https://data.npolar.no/dataset/dce53a47-c726-4845-85c3-a65b46fe2fea (last access: 3 March 2015), 2014b.
Nuth, C. and Kääb, A.: Co-registration and bias corrections of satellite elevation data sets for quantifying glacier thickness change, The Cryosphere, 5, 271–290, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-271-2011, 2011.
Nuth, C., Kohler, J., Aas, H. F., Brandt, O., and Hagen, J. O.: Glacier geometry and elevation changes on Svalbard (1936–90): a baseline dataset. Ann. Glaciol., 46, 106–116, 2007.
Nuth, C., Moholdt, G., Kohler, J., Hagen, J. O., and Kääb, A.: Svalbard glacier elevation changes and contribution to sea level rise, J. Geophys. Res., 115, F01008, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JF001223, 2010.
Nuth, C., Kohler, J., König, M., von Deschwanden, A., Hagen, J. O., Kääb, A., Moholdt, G., and Pettersson, R.: Decadal changes from a multi-temporal glacier inventory of Svalbard, The Cryosphere, 7, 1603–1621, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1603-2013, 2013.
Oerlemans, J.: Extracting a Climate Signal from 169 Glacier Records, Science, 308, 675–677, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1107046, 2005.
Paul, F. and Mölg, N.: Hasty retreat of glaciers in northern Patagonia from 1985 to 2011, J. Glaciol., 60, 2014, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG14J104, 2014.
Pleskot, K.: Sedimentological characteristics of debris flow deposits within ice-cored moraine of Ebbabreen, central Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 36, 125–144, 2015.
Pohjola, V. A., Martma, T., Meijer, H. A. J., Moore, J. C., Isaksson, E., Vaikmae, R., and van de Wal, R. S. W.: Reconstruction of three centuries of annual accumulation rates based on the record of stable isotopes of water from Lomonosovfonna, Svalbard, Ann. Glaciol., 35, 57–62, 2002.
Przybylak, R., Araźny, A., Nordli, Ø., Finkelnburg, R., Kejna, M., Budzik, T., Migała, K., Sikora, S., Puczko, D., Rymer, K., and Rachlewicz, G.: Spatial distribution of air temperature on Svalbard during 1 year with campaign measurements, Int. J. Climatol., 34, 3702–3719, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.3937, 2014.
Rachlewicz, G.: River floods in glacier-covered catchments of the high Arctic: Billefjorden-Wijdefjorden, Svalbard, Norsk Geogr. Tidskr., 63, 115–122, 2009a.
Rachlewicz, G.: Contemporary sediment fluxes and relief changes in high Arctic glacierized valley systems (Billefjorden, Central Spitsbergen). Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu, seria geografia nr 87. Poznań, Poland, Wydawnictwo Naukowe UAM, 2009b.
Rachlewicz, G. and Styszyńska, A.: Comparison of the course of air temperature in Petuniabukta and Svalbard-Lufthavn (Isfjord, Spitsbergen) in the years 2001–2003, Problemy Klimatologii Polarnej, 17, 121–134, 2007.
Rachlewicz, G., Szczuciński, W., and Ewertowski, M.: Post-“Little Ice Age” retreat rates of glaciers around Billefjorden in central Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Pol. Polar Res., 28, 159–186, 2007.
Radić, V. and Hock, R.: Regionally differentiated contribution of mountain glaciers and ice caps to future sea-level rise, Nat. Geosci., 4, 91–94, 2011.
Strzelecki, M. C., Małecki, J., and Zagórski, P.: The influence of recent deglaciation and associated sediment flux on the functioning of polar coastal zone – northern Petuniabukta, Svalbard, in: Sediment Fluxes in Coastal Areas. Coastal Research Library 10, edited by: Maanan, M. and Robin, M., Springer Science+Business Media, Dordrecht, 23–45, 2015a.
Strzelecki, M. C., Long, A. J., and Lloyd, J. M.: Post-Little Ice Age development of a High Arctic paraglacial beach complex, Permafrost Periglac., https://doi.org/10.1002/ppp.1879, 2015b.
Sobota, I.: Selected methods in mass balance estimation of Waldemar Glacier, Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 28, 249–268, 2007.
Szpikowski, J., Szpikowska, G., Zwoliński, Z., Rachlewicz, G., Kostrzewski, A., Marciniak, M., and Dragon, K.: Character and rate of denudation in a High Arctic glacierized catchment (Ebbaelva, Central Spitsbergen), Geomorphology, 218, 52–62, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2014.01.012, 2014.
Szczuciński, W., Zajączkowski, M., and Scholten, J.: Sediment accumulation rates in subpolar fjords – Impact of post-Little Ice Age glaciers retreat, Billefjorden, Svalbard, Estuar. Coast. Shelf S., 85, 345–356, 2009.
Troicki, L. S.: O balanse massy lednikov raznyh typov na Špicbergenie (On the mass balance of different types of glaciers on Spitsbergen), Materialy Glyaciologičeskih Issledovanij, 63, 117–121, 1988.
van Pelt, W. J. J., Oerlemans, J., Reijmer, C. H., Pohjola, V. A., Pettersson, R., and van Angelen, J. H.: Simulating melt, runoff and refreezing on Nordenskiöldbreen, Svalbard, using a coupled snow and energy balance model, The Cryosphere, 6, 641–659, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-641-2012, 2012.
Willis, M. J., Melkonian, A. K., Pritchard, M. E., and Rivera, A.: Ice loss from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, South America, between 2000 and 2012, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L17501, https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL053136, 2012.
Zagórski, P., Siwek, K., Gluza, A., and Bartoszewski, S. A.: Changes in the extent and geometry of the Scott Glacier, Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 29, 163–185, 2008.
Ziaja, W.: Glacial recession in Sørkappland and central Nordenskiöldland, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, during the 20th century, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 33, 36–41, 2001.
Ziaja, W. and Pipała, R.: Glacial recession 2001-2006 and its landscape effects in the Lindströmfjellet-Håbergnuten mountain ridge, Nordenskiöld Land, Spitsbergen, Pol. Polar Res., 28, 237–247, 2007.
Žuravlev, A. B., Mačeret, Ju. Ja., and Bobrova, L. I.: Radiolokalicjonnije issledovanije na poljarnom lednike s zimnym stokom (Radio-echo sounding investigations on a polar glacier with winter discharge), Materialy Glyaciologičeskih Issledovanij, 46, 143–149, 1983.
Short summary
Svalbard is a major terrestrial ice repository in the Arctic. This paper characterizes response of glaciers in its central part (Dickson Land) to climate change. After the Little Ice Age termination (ca. 1900) all glaciers have been retreating with an accelerating trend. After 1990 they have been thinning also in their highest zones, so most of them may be expected to disappear. These negative changes are linked to increasing air temperature over the region and contribute to sea-level rise.
Svalbard is a major terrestrial ice repository in the Arctic. This paper characterizes response...
