Articles | Volume 8, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-639-2014
© Author(s) 2014. 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-8-639-2014
© Author(s) 2014. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| Highlight paper
| 
14 Apr 2014
Research article | Highlight paper |
| 14 Apr 2014
Little Ice Age climate reconstruction from ensemble reanalysis of Alpine glacier fluctuations
M. P. Lüthi
VAW Glaciology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland
now at: University of Zürich, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
Related authors
Anja Løkkegaard, Kenneth D. Mankoff, Christian Zdanowicz, Gary D. Clow, Martin P. Lüthi, Samuel H. Doyle, Henrik H. Thomsen, David Fisher, Joel Harper, Andy Aschwanden, Bo M. Vinther, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Harry Zekollari, Toby Meierbachtol, Ian McDowell, Neil Humphrey, Anne Solgaard, Nanna B. Karlsson, Shfaqat A. Khan, Benjamin Hills, Robert Law, Bryn Hubbard, Poul Christoffersen, Mylène Jacquemart, Julien Seguinot, Robert S. Fausto, and William T. Colgan
The Cryosphere, 17, 3829–3845, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3829-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3829-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a database compiling 95 ice temperature profiles from the Greenland ice sheet and peripheral ice caps. Ice viscosity and hence ice flow are highly sensitive to ice temperature. To highlight the value of the database in evaluating ice flow simulations, profiles from the Greenland ice sheet are compared to a modeled temperature field. Reoccurring discrepancies between modeled and observed temperatures provide insight on the difficulties faced when simulating ice temperatures.
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 17, 309–326, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We characterized short-lived episodes of ice mélange weakening (IMW) at the front of three major Greenland outlet glaciers. Through a continuous detection at the front of Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier during the June-to-September period from 2018 to 2021, we found that 87 % of the IMW episodes occurred prior to a large-scale calving event. Using a simple model for ice mélange motion, we further characterized the IMW process as self-sustained through the existence of an IMW–calving feedback.
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, Andrea Walter, Guillaume Jouvet, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 15, 5659–5674, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5659-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5659-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a novel automated method for the detection and the quantification of ocean waves generated by glacier calving. This method was applied to data recorded with a terrestrial radar interferometer at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. Results show a high calving activity at the glacier front sector ending in deep water linked with more frequent meltwater plumes. This suggests that rising subglacial meltwater plumes strongly affect glacier calving in deep water, but weakly in shallow water.
Andrea Walter, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 14, 1051–1066, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1051-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1051-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier calving plays a key role in the dynamic mass loss of ocean-terminating glaciers in Greenland. Source areas and volumes of 900 individual calving events were analysed for size and timing related to environmental forcings. We found that calving volume distribution and style vary along the calving front and are controlled by the water depth and front geometry. We suggest that in deep water both oceanic melt and subaquatic calving contribute substantially to the frontal mass loss.
Guillaume Jouvet, Eef van Dongen, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 9, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-1-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-1-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We report the first-ever in situ measurements of ice flow motion using a remotely controlled drone. We used a quadcopter to land on a highly crevassed area of Eqip Sermia Glacier, Greenland. The drone measured 70 cm of ice displacement over more than 4 h thanks to an accurate onboard GPS. Our study demonstrates that drones have great potential for geoscientists, especially to deploy sensors in hostile environments such as glaciers.
Christoph Rohner, David Small, Jan Beutel, Daniel Henke, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 13, 2953–2975, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The recent increase in ice flow and calving rates of ocean–terminating glaciers contributes substantially to the mass loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Using in situ reference observations, we validate the satellite–based method of iterative offset tracking of Sentinel–1A data for deriving flow speeds. Our investigations highlight the importance of spatial resolution near the fast–flowing calving front, resulting in significantly higher ice velocities compared to large–scale operational products.
Rémy Mercenier, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 12, 721–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-721-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-721-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the effect of geometrical properties on the stress state and flow regime in the vicinity of the calving front of grounded tidewater glaciers. Our analysis shows that the stress state for simple geometries can be determined solely by the water depth relative to ice thickness. This scaled relationship allows for a simple parametrization to predict calving rates of grounded tidewater glaciers that is simple, physics-based and in good agreement with observations.
Martin P. Lüthi and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 10, 995–1002, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-995-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-995-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Glaciers flowing into the ocean sometimes release huge pieces of ice and
cause violent tsunami waves which, upon landfall, can cause severe
destruction. During an exceptionally well-documented event at Eqip Sermia,
west Greenland, the collapse of a 200 m high ice cliff caused a tsunami wave
of 50 m height, traveling at a speed exceeding 100 km h−1. This tsunami wave
was filmed from a tour boat, and was simultaneously observed with several
instruments, as was the run-up of 15 m on the shore.
Sarah S. Thompson, Bernd Kulessa, Richard L. H. Essery, and Martin P. Lüthi
The Cryosphere, 10, 433–444, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-433-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-433-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We show that strong electrical self-potential fields are generated in melting in in situ snowpacks at Rhone Glacier and Jungfraujoch Glacier, Switzerland. We conclude that the electrical self-potential method is a promising snow and firn hydrology sensor, owing to its suitability for sensing lateral and vertical liquid water flows directly and minimally invasively, complementing established observational programs and monitoring autonomously at a low cost.
M. P. Lüthi, C. Ryser, L. C. Andrews, G. A. Catania, M. Funk, R. L. Hawley, M. J. Hoffman, and T. A. Neumann
The Cryosphere, 9, 245–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-245-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-245-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the thermal structure of the Greenland Ice Sheet with a heat flow model. New borehole measurements indicate that more heat is stored within the ice than would be expected from heat diffusion alone. We conclude that temperate paleo-firn and cyro-hydrologic warming are essential processes that explain the measurements.
B. F. Morriss, R. L. Hawley, J. W. Chipman, L. C. Andrews, G. A. Catania, M. J. Hoffman, M. P. Lüthi, and T. A. Neumann
The Cryosphere, 7, 1869–1877, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1869-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1869-2013, 2013
Anja Løkkegaard, Kenneth D. Mankoff, Christian Zdanowicz, Gary D. Clow, Martin P. Lüthi, Samuel H. Doyle, Henrik H. Thomsen, David Fisher, Joel Harper, Andy Aschwanden, Bo M. Vinther, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Harry Zekollari, Toby Meierbachtol, Ian McDowell, Neil Humphrey, Anne Solgaard, Nanna B. Karlsson, Shfaqat A. Khan, Benjamin Hills, Robert Law, Bryn Hubbard, Poul Christoffersen, Mylène Jacquemart, Julien Seguinot, Robert S. Fausto, and William T. Colgan
The Cryosphere, 17, 3829–3845, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3829-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3829-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a database compiling 95 ice temperature profiles from the Greenland ice sheet and peripheral ice caps. Ice viscosity and hence ice flow are highly sensitive to ice temperature. To highlight the value of the database in evaluating ice flow simulations, profiles from the Greenland ice sheet are compared to a modeled temperature field. Reoccurring discrepancies between modeled and observed temperatures provide insight on the difficulties faced when simulating ice temperatures.
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 17, 309–326, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-309-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We characterized short-lived episodes of ice mélange weakening (IMW) at the front of three major Greenland outlet glaciers. Through a continuous detection at the front of Kangerdlugssuaq Glacier during the June-to-September period from 2018 to 2021, we found that 87 % of the IMW episodes occurred prior to a large-scale calving event. Using a simple model for ice mélange motion, we further characterized the IMW process as self-sustained through the existence of an IMW–calving feedback.
Adrien Wehrlé, Martin P. Lüthi, Andrea Walter, Guillaume Jouvet, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 15, 5659–5674, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5659-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5659-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a novel automated method for the detection and the quantification of ocean waves generated by glacier calving. This method was applied to data recorded with a terrestrial radar interferometer at Eqip Sermia, Greenland. Results show a high calving activity at the glacier front sector ending in deep water linked with more frequent meltwater plumes. This suggests that rising subglacial meltwater plumes strongly affect glacier calving in deep water, but weakly in shallow water.
Andrea Walter, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 14, 1051–1066, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1051-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1051-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier calving plays a key role in the dynamic mass loss of ocean-terminating glaciers in Greenland. Source areas and volumes of 900 individual calving events were analysed for size and timing related to environmental forcings. We found that calving volume distribution and style vary along the calving front and are controlled by the water depth and front geometry. We suggest that in deep water both oceanic melt and subaquatic calving contribute substantially to the frontal mass loss.
Guillaume Jouvet, Eef van Dongen, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 9, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-1-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-9-1-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We report the first-ever in situ measurements of ice flow motion using a remotely controlled drone. We used a quadcopter to land on a highly crevassed area of Eqip Sermia Glacier, Greenland. The drone measured 70 cm of ice displacement over more than 4 h thanks to an accurate onboard GPS. Our study demonstrates that drones have great potential for geoscientists, especially to deploy sensors in hostile environments such as glaciers.
Christoph Rohner, David Small, Jan Beutel, Daniel Henke, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 13, 2953–2975, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The recent increase in ice flow and calving rates of ocean–terminating glaciers contributes substantially to the mass loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Using in situ reference observations, we validate the satellite–based method of iterative offset tracking of Sentinel–1A data for deriving flow speeds. Our investigations highlight the importance of spatial resolution near the fast–flowing calving front, resulting in significantly higher ice velocities compared to large–scale operational products.
Rémy Mercenier, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 12, 721–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-721-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-721-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigates the effect of geometrical properties on the stress state and flow regime in the vicinity of the calving front of grounded tidewater glaciers. Our analysis shows that the stress state for simple geometries can be determined solely by the water depth relative to ice thickness. This scaled relationship allows for a simple parametrization to predict calving rates of grounded tidewater glaciers that is simple, physics-based and in good agreement with observations.
Martin P. Lüthi and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 10, 995–1002, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-995-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-995-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Glaciers flowing into the ocean sometimes release huge pieces of ice and
cause violent tsunami waves which, upon landfall, can cause severe
destruction. During an exceptionally well-documented event at Eqip Sermia,
west Greenland, the collapse of a 200 m high ice cliff caused a tsunami wave
of 50 m height, traveling at a speed exceeding 100 km h−1. This tsunami wave
was filmed from a tour boat, and was simultaneously observed with several
instruments, as was the run-up of 15 m on the shore.
Sarah S. Thompson, Bernd Kulessa, Richard L. H. Essery, and Martin P. Lüthi
The Cryosphere, 10, 433–444, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-433-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-433-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We show that strong electrical self-potential fields are generated in melting in in situ snowpacks at Rhone Glacier and Jungfraujoch Glacier, Switzerland. We conclude that the electrical self-potential method is a promising snow and firn hydrology sensor, owing to its suitability for sensing lateral and vertical liquid water flows directly and minimally invasively, complementing established observational programs and monitoring autonomously at a low cost.
M. P. Lüthi, C. Ryser, L. C. Andrews, G. A. Catania, M. Funk, R. L. Hawley, M. J. Hoffman, and T. A. Neumann
The Cryosphere, 9, 245–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-245-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-245-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze the thermal structure of the Greenland Ice Sheet with a heat flow model. New borehole measurements indicate that more heat is stored within the ice than would be expected from heat diffusion alone. We conclude that temperate paleo-firn and cyro-hydrologic warming are essential processes that explain the measurements.
B. F. Morriss, R. L. Hawley, J. W. Chipman, L. C. Andrews, G. A. Catania, M. J. Hoffman, M. P. Lüthi, and T. A. Neumann
The Cryosphere, 7, 1869–1877, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1869-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1869-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Climate Interactions
Changes in March mean snow water equivalent since the mid-20th century and the contributing factors in reanalyses and CMIP6 climate models
Climatic control of the surface mass balance of the Patagonian Icefields
Spatio-temporal reconstruction of winter glacier mass balance in the Alps, Scandinavia, Central Asia and western Canada (1981–2019) using climate reanalyses and machine learning
Forced and internal components of observed Arctic sea-ice changes
Impacts of snow assimilation on seasonal snow and meteorological forecasts for the Tibetan Plateau
The Antarctic contribution to 21st-century sea-level rise predicted by the UK Earth System Model with an interactive ice sheet
A probabilistic framework for quantifying the role of anthropogenic climate change in marine-terminating glacier retreats
Synoptic control over winter snowfall variability observed in a remote site of Apennine Mountains (Italy), 1884–2015
Network connectivity between the winter Arctic Oscillation and summer sea ice in CMIP6 models and observations
Land–atmosphere interactions in sub-polar and alpine climates in the CORDEX Flagship Pilot Study Land Use and Climate Across Scales (LUCAS) models – Part 2: The role of changing vegetation
Evidence of elevation-dependent warming from the Chinese Tian Shan
The contribution of melt ponds to enhanced Arctic sea-ice melt during the Last Interglacial
Significant additional Antarctic warming in atmospheric bias-corrected ARPEGE projections with respect to control run
On the attribution of industrial-era glacier mass loss to anthropogenic climate change
Snow conditions in northern Europe: the dynamics of interannual variability versus projected long-term change
Diverging responses of high-latitude CO2 and CH4 emissions in idealized climate change scenarios
Distributed summer air temperatures across mountain glaciers in the south-east Tibetan Plateau: temperature sensitivity and comparison with existing glacier datasets
Analyzing links between simulated Laptev Sea sea ice and atmospheric conditions over adjoining landmasses using causal-effect networks
Anthropogenic climate change versus internal climate variability: impacts on snow cover in the Swiss Alps
Clouds damp the radiative impacts of polar sea ice loss
Historical Northern Hemisphere snow cover trends and projected changes in the CMIP6 multi-model ensemble
Glacier runoff variations since 1955 in the Maipo River basin, in the semiarid Andes of central Chile
CMIP5 model selection for ISMIP6 ice sheet model forcing: Greenland and Antarctica
Optimization of over-summer snow storage at midlatitudes and low elevation
Effect of prescribed sea surface conditions on the modern and future Antarctic surface climate simulated by the ARPEGE atmosphere general circulation model
Impact of warming shelf waters on ice mélange and terminus retreat at a large SE Greenland glacier
A long-term dataset of climatic mass balance, snow conditions, and runoff in Svalbard (1957–2018)
An efficient surface energy–mass balance model for snow and ice
Brief communication: Understanding solar geoengineering's potential to limit sea level rise requires attention from cryosphere experts
Spring snow albedo feedback over northern Eurasia: Comparing in situ measurements with reanalysis products
The influence of atmospheric grid resolution in a climate model-forced ice sheet simulation
Future snowfall in the Alps: projections based on the EURO-CORDEX regional climate models
Complex principal component analysis of mass balance changes on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau
Sonar gas flux estimation by bubble insonification: application to methane bubble flux from seep areas in the outer Laptev Sea
Brief communication: The global signature of post-1900 land ice wastage on vertical land motion
Simulating the evolution of Hardangerjøkulen ice cap in southern Norway since the mid-Holocene and its sensitivity to climate change
Atmospheric forcing of sea ice anomalies in the Ross Sea polynya region
Brief communication: Impacts of a developing polynya off Commonwealth Bay, East Antarctica, triggered by grounding of iceberg B09B
A simple equation for the melt elevation feedback of ice sheets
Glacier melting and precipitation trends detected by surface area changes in Himalayan ponds
Analyzing airflow in static ice caves by using the calcFLOW method
ENSO influence on surface energy and mass balance at Shallap Glacier, Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Weak precipitation, warm winters and springs impact glaciers of south slopes of Mt. Everest (central Himalaya) in the last 2 decades (1994–2013)
Projected changes of snow conditions and avalanche activity in a warming climate: the French Alps over the 2020–2050 and 2070–2100 periods
The effect of snow/sea ice type on the response of albedo and light penetration depth (e-folding depth) to increasing black carbon
Sensitivity of lake ice regimes to climate change in the Nordic region
Climate change implications for the glaciers of the Hindu Kush, Karakoram and Himalayan region
Modeling near-surface firn temperature in a cold accumulation zone (Col du Dôme, French Alps): from a physical to a semi-parameterized approach
Boreal and temperate snow cover variations induced by black carbon emissions in the middle of the 21st century
Coupling of climate models and ice sheet models by surface mass balance gradients: application to the Greenland Ice Sheet
Jouni Räisänen
The Cryosphere, 17, 1913–1934, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1913-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1913-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Changes in snow amount since the mid-20th century are studied, focusing on the mechanisms that have changed the water equivalent of the snowpack (SWE). Both reanalysis and climate model data show a decrease in SWE in most of the Northern Hemisphere. The total winter precipitation has increased in most areas, but this has been compensated for by reduced snowfall-to-precipitation ratio and enhanced snowmelt. However, the details and magnitude of these trends vary between different data sets.
Tomás Carrasco-Escaff, Maisa Rojas, René Darío Garreaud, Deniz Bozkurt, and Marius Schaefer
The Cryosphere, 17, 1127–1149, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1127-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1127-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In this study, we investigate the interplay between climate and the Patagonian Icefields. By modeling the glacioclimatic conditions of the southern Andes, we found that the annual variations in net surface mass change experienced by these icefields are mainly controlled by annual variations in the air pressure field observed near the Drake Passage. Little dependence on main modes of variability was found, suggesting the Drake Passage as a key region for understanding the Patagonian Icefields.
Matteo Guidicelli, Matthias Huss, Marco Gabella, and Nadine Salzmann
The Cryosphere, 17, 977–1002, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-977-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-977-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Spatio-temporal reconstruction of winter glacier mass balance is important for assessing long-term impacts of climate change. However, high-altitude regions significantly lack reliable observations, which is limiting the calibration of glaciological and hydrological models. We aim at improving knowledge on the spatio-temporal variations in winter glacier mass balance by exploring the combination of data from reanalyses and direct snow accumulation observations on glaciers with machine learning.
Jakob Simon Dörr, David B. Bonan, Marius Årthun, Lea Svendsen, and Robert C. J. Wills
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2023-29, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2023-29, 2023
Revised manuscript accepted for TC
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic sea-ice cover is retreating due to climate change, but this retreat is influenced by natural (internal) variability in the climate system. We use a new statistical method to investigate how much internal variability has affected trends in the summer and winter Arctic sea ice cover using observations since 1979. Our results suggest that the impact of internal variability on sea ice retreat might be lower than what climate models have estimated.
Wei Li, Jie Chen, Lu Li, Yvan J. Orsolini, Yiheng Xiang, Retish Senan, and Patricia de Rosnay
The Cryosphere, 16, 4985–5000, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4985-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4985-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Snow assimilation over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) may influence seasonal forecasts over this region. To investigate the impacts of snow assimilation on the seasonal forecasts of snow, temperature and precipitation, twin ensemble reforecasts are initialized with and without snow assimilation above 1500 m altitude over the TP for spring and summer in 2018. The results show that snow assimilation can improve seasonal forecasts over the TP through the interaction between land and atmosphere.
Antony Siahaan, Robin S. Smith, Paul R. Holland, Adrian Jenkins, Jonathan M. Gregory, Victoria Lee, Pierre Mathiot, Antony J. Payne, Jeff K. Ridley, and Colin G. Jones
The Cryosphere, 16, 4053–4086, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4053-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4053-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The UK Earth System Model is the first to fully include interactions of the atmosphere and ocean with the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Under the low-greenhouse-gas SSP1–1.9 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathway) scenario, the ice sheet remains stable over the 21st century. Under the strong-greenhouse-gas SSP5–8.5 scenario, the model predicts strong increases in melting of large ice shelves and snow accumulation on the surface. The dominance of accumulation leads to a sea level fall at the end of the century.
John Erich Christian, Alexander A. Robel, and Ginny Catania
The Cryosphere, 16, 2725–2743, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2725-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2725-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Marine-terminating glaciers have recently retreated dramatically, but the role of anthropogenic forcing remains uncertain. We use idealized model simulations to develop a framework for assessing the probability of rapid retreat in the context of natural climate variability. Our analyses show that century-scale anthropogenic trends can substantially increase the probability of retreats. This provides a roadmap for future work to formally assess the role of human activity in recent glacier change.
Vincenzo Capozzi, Carmela De Vivo, and Giorgio Budillon
The Cryosphere, 16, 1741–1763, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1741-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1741-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work documents the snowfall variability observed from late XIX century to recent years in Montevergine (southern Italy) and discusses its relationship with large-scale atmospheric circulation. The main results lie in the absence of a trend until mid-1970s, in the strong reduction of the snowfall quantity and frequency from mid-1970s to 1990s and in the increase of both variables from early 2000s. In the past 50 years, the nivometric regime has been strongly modulated by AO and NAO indices.
William Gregory, Julienne Stroeve, and Michel Tsamados
The Cryosphere, 16, 1653–1673, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1653-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1653-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This research was conducted to better understand how coupled climate models simulate one of the large-scale interactions between the atmosphere and Arctic sea ice that we see in observational data, the accurate representation of which is important for producing reliable forecasts of Arctic sea ice on seasonal to inter-annual timescales. With network theory, this work shows that models do not reflect this interaction well on average, which is likely due to regional biases in sea ice thickness.
Priscilla A. Mooney, Diana Rechid, Edouard L. Davin, Eleni Katragkou, Natalie de Noblet-Ducoudré, Marcus Breil, Rita M. Cardoso, Anne Sophie Daloz, Peter Hoffmann, Daniela C. A. Lima, Ronny Meier, Pedro M. M. Soares, Giannis Sofiadis, Susanna Strada, Gustav Strandberg, Merja H. Toelle, and Marianne T. Lund
The Cryosphere, 16, 1383–1397, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1383-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1383-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We use multiple regional climate models to show that afforestation in sub-polar and alpine regions reduces the radiative impact of snow albedo on the atmosphere, reduces snow cover, and delays the start of the snowmelt season. This is important for local communities that are highly reliant on snowpack for water resources and winter tourism. However, models disagree on the amount of change particularly when snow is melting. This shows that more research is needed on snow–vegetation interactions.
Lu Gao, Haijun Deng, Xiangyong Lei, Jianhui Wei, Yaning Chen, Zhongqin Li, Miaomiao Ma, Xingwei Chen, Ying Chen, Meibing Liu, and Jianyun Gao
The Cryosphere, 15, 5765–5783, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5765-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5765-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
There is a widespread controversy on the existence of the elevation-dependent warming (EDW) phenomenon due to the limited observations in high mountains. This study provides new evidence of EDW from the Chinese Tian Shan based on a high-resolution (1 km, 6-hourly) air temperature dataset. The result reveals the significant EDW on a monthly scale. The warming rate of the minimum temperature in winter showed a significant elevation dependence (p < 0.01), especially above 3000 m.
Rachel Diamond, Louise C. Sime, David Schroeder, and Maria-Vittoria Guarino
The Cryosphere, 15, 5099–5114, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5099-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5099-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The Hadley Centre Global Environment Model version 3 (HadGEM3) is the first coupled climate model to simulate an ice-free summer Arctic during the Last Interglacial (LIG), 127 000 years ago, and yields accurate Arctic surface temperatures. We investigate the causes and impacts of this extreme simulated ice loss and, in particular, the role of melt ponds.
Julien Beaumet, Michel Déqué, Gerhard Krinner, Cécile Agosta, Antoinette Alias, and Vincent Favier
The Cryosphere, 15, 3615–3635, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3615-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3615-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We use empirical run-time bias correction (also called flux correction) to correct the systematic errors of the ARPEGE atmospheric climate model. When applying the method to future climate projections, we found a lesser poleward shift and an intensification of the maximum of westerly winds present in the southern high latitudes. This yields a significant additional warming of +0.6 to +0.9 K of the Antarctic Ice Sheet with respect to non-corrected control projections using the RCP8.5 scenario.
Gerard H. Roe, John Erich Christian, and Ben Marzeion
The Cryosphere, 15, 1889–1905, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1889-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1889-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The worldwide retreat of mountain glaciers and consequent loss of ice mass is one of the most obvious signs of a changing climate and has significant implications for the hydrology and natural hazards in mountain landscapes. Consistent with our understanding of the human role in temperature change, we demonstrate that the central estimate of the size of the human-caused mass loss is essentially 100 % of the observed loss. This assessment resolves some important inconsistencies in the literature.
Jouni Räisänen
The Cryosphere, 15, 1677–1696, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1677-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1677-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Interannual variability of snow amount in northern Europe is studied. In the coldest areas, total winter precipitation governs snow amount variability. In warmer regions, the fraction of snowfall that survives without melting is more important. Since winter temperature and precipitation are positively correlated, there is often more snow in milder winters in the coldest areas. However, in model simulations of a warmer future climate, snow amount decreases nearly everywhere in northern Europe.
Philipp de Vrese, Tobias Stacke, Thomas Kleinen, and Victor Brovkin
The Cryosphere, 15, 1097–1130, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1097-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1097-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
With large amounts of carbon stored in frozen soils and a highly energy-limited vegetation the Arctic is very sensitive to changes in climate. Here our simulations with the land surface model JSBACH reveal a number of offsetting factors moderating the Arctic's net response to global warming. More importantly we find that the effects of climate change may not be fully reversible on decadal timescales, leading to substantially different CH4 emissions depending on whether the Arctic warms or cools.
Thomas E. Shaw, Wei Yang, Álvaro Ayala, Claudio Bravo, Chuanxi Zhao, and Francesca Pellicciotti
The Cryosphere, 15, 595–614, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-595-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-595-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Near surface air temperature (Ta) is important for simulating the melting of glaciers, though its variability in space and time on mountain glaciers is still poorly understood. We combine new Ta observations on glacier in Tibet with several glacier datasets around the world to explore the applicability of an existing method to estimate glacier Ta based upon glacier flow distance. We make a first step at generalising a method and highlight the remaining unknowns for this field of research.
Zoé Rehder, Anne Laura Niederdrenk, Lars Kaleschke, and Lars Kutzbach
The Cryosphere, 14, 4201–4215, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4201-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4201-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
To better understand the connection between sea ice and permafrost, we investigate how sea ice interacts with the atmosphere over the adjacent landmass in the Laptev Sea region using a climate model. Melt of sea ice in spring is mainly controlled by the atmosphere; in fall, feedback mechanisms are important. Throughout summer, lower-than-usual sea ice leads to more southward transport of heat and moisture, but these links from sea ice to the atmosphere over land are weak.
Fabian Willibald, Sven Kotlarski, Adrienne Grêt-Regamey, and Ralf Ludwig
The Cryosphere, 14, 2909–2924, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2909-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2909-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change will significantly reduce snow cover, but the extent remains disputed. We use regional climate model data as a driver for a snow model to investigate the impacts of climate change and climate variability on snow. We show that natural climate variability is a dominant source of uncertainty in future snow trends. We show that anthropogenic climate change will change the interannual variability of snow. Those factors will increase the vulnerabilities of snow-dependent economies.
Ramdane Alkama, Patrick C. Taylor, Lorea Garcia-San Martin, Herve Douville, Gregory Duveiller, Giovanni Forzieri, Didier Swingedouw, and Alessandro Cescatti
The Cryosphere, 14, 2673–2686, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2673-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2673-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The amount of solar energy absorbed by Earth is believed to strongly depend on clouds. Here, we investigate this relationship using satellite data and 32 climate models, showing that this relationship holds everywhere except over polar seas, where an increased reflection by clouds corresponds to an increase in absorbed solar radiation at the surface. This interplay between clouds and sea ice reduces by half the increase of net radiation at the surface that follows the sea ice retreat.
Lawrence Mudryk, María Santolaria-Otín, Gerhard Krinner, Martin Ménégoz, Chris Derksen, Claire Brutel-Vuilmet, Mike Brady, and Richard Essery
The Cryosphere, 14, 2495–2514, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2495-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2495-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We analyze how well updated state-of-the-art climate models reproduce observed historical snow cover extent and snow mass and how they project that these quantities will change up to the year 2100. Overall the updated models better represent historical snow extent than previous models, and they simulate stronger historical trends in snow extent and snow mass. They project that spring snow extent will decrease by 8 % for each degree Celsius that the global surface air temperature increases.
Álvaro Ayala, David Farías-Barahona, Matthias Huss, Francesca Pellicciotti, James McPhee, and Daniel Farinotti
The Cryosphere, 14, 2005–2027, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2005-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2005-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We reconstruct past glacier changes (1955–2016) and estimate the committed ice loss in the Maipo River basin (semi-arid Andes of Chile), with a focus on glacier runoff. We found that glacier volume has decreased by one-fifth since 1955 and that glacier runoff shows a sequence of decreasing maxima starting in a severe drought in 1968. As meltwater originating from the Andes plays a key role in this dry region, our results can be useful for developing adaptation or mitigation strategies.
Alice Barthel, Cécile Agosta, Christopher M. Little, Tore Hattermann, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Heiko Goelzer, Sophie Nowicki, Helene Seroussi, Fiammetta Straneo, and Thomas J. Bracegirdle
The Cryosphere, 14, 855–879, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-855-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-855-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We compare existing coupled climate models to select a total of six models to provide forcing to the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheet simulations of the Ice Sheet Model Intercomparison Project (ISMIP6). We select models based on (i) their representation of current climate near Antarctica and Greenland relative to observations and (ii) their ability to sample a diversity of projected atmosphere and ocean changes over the 21st century.
Hannah S. Weiss, Paul R. Bierman, Yves Dubief, and Scott D. Hamshaw
The Cryosphere, 13, 3367–3382, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3367-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3367-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Climate change is devastating winter tourism. High-elevation, high-latitude ski centers have turned to saving snow over the summer. We present results of two field seasons to test and optimize over-summer snow storage at a midlatitude, low-elevation nordic ski center in the northeastern USA. In 2018, we tested coverings and found success overlaying 20 cm of wet woodchips with a reflective sheet. In 2019, we employed this strategy to a large pile and stored sufficient snow to open the ski season.
Julien Beaumet, Michel Déqué, Gerhard Krinner, Cécile Agosta, and Antoinette Alias
The Cryosphere, 13, 3023–3043, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3023-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-3023-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The atmospheric model ARPEGE is used with a stretched grid in order to reach an average horizontal resolution of 35 km over Antarctica. Over 1981–2010, we forced the model with observed and modelled sea surface conditions (SSCs). For the late 21st century, we use original and bias-corrected sea surface conditions from RCP8.5 climate projections. We assess the impact of using direct or bias-corrected SSCs for the evolution of Antarctic climate and surface mass balance.
Suzanne L. Bevan, Adrian J. Luckman, Douglas I. Benn, Tom Cowton, and Joe Todd
The Cryosphere, 13, 2303–2315, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2303-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2303-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Kangerlussuaq Glacier in Greenland retreated significantly in the early 2000s and typified the response of calving glaciers to climate change. Satellite images show that it has recently retreated even further. The current retreat follows the appearance of extremely warm surface waters on the continental shelf during the summer of 2016, which likely entered the fjord and caused the rigid mass of sea ice and icebergs, which normally inhibits calving, to melt and break up.
Ward van Pelt, Veijo Pohjola, Rickard Pettersson, Sergey Marchenko, Jack Kohler, Bartłomiej Luks, Jon Ove Hagen, Thomas V. Schuler, Thorben Dunse, Brice Noël, and Carleen Reijmer
The Cryosphere, 13, 2259–2280, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2259-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2259-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The climate in Svalbard is undergoing amplified change compared to the global mean, which has a strong impact on the climatic mass balance of glaciers and the state of seasonal snow in land areas. In this study we analyze a coupled energy balance–subsurface model dataset, which provides detailed information on distributed climatic mass balance, snow conditions, and runoff across Svalbard between 1957 and 2018.
Andreas Born, Michael A. Imhof, and Thomas F. Stocker
The Cryosphere, 13, 1529–1546, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1529-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1529-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new numerical model to simulate the surface energy and mass balance of snow and ice. While similar models exist and cover a wide range of complexity from empirical models to those that simulate the microscopic structure of individual snow grains, we aim to strike a balance between physical completeness and numerical efficiency. This new model will enable physically accurate simulations over timescales of hundreds of millennia, a key requirement of investigating ice age cycles.
Peter J. Irvine, David W. Keith, and John Moore
The Cryosphere, 12, 2501–2513, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2501-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2501-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Stratospheric aerosol geoengineering, a form of solar geoengineering, is a proposal to add a reflective layer of aerosol to the upper atmosphere. This would reduce sea level rise by slowing the melting of ice on land and the thermal expansion of the oceans. However, there is considerable uncertainty about its potential efficacy. This article highlights key uncertainties in the sea level response to solar geoengineering and recommends approaches to address these in future work.
Martin Wegmann, Emanuel Dutra, Hans-Werner Jacobi, and Olga Zolina
The Cryosphere, 12, 1887–1898, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1887-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1887-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
An important factor for Earth's climate is the high sunlight reflectivity of snow. By melting, it reveals darker surfaces and sunlight is converted to heat. We investigate how well this process is represented in reanalyses data sets compared to observations over Russia. We found snow processes to be well represented, but reflectivity variability needs to be improved. Our results highlight the need for a better representation of this key climate change feedback process in modelled data.
Marcus Lofverstrom and Johan Liakka
The Cryosphere, 12, 1499–1510, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1499-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1499-2018, 2018
Prisco Frei, Sven Kotlarski, Mark A. Liniger, and Christoph Schär
The Cryosphere, 12, 1–24, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Snowfall is central to Alpine environments, and its future changes will be associated with pronounced impacts. We here assess future snowfall changes in the European Alps based on an ensemble of state-of-the-art regional climate model experiments and on two different greenhouse gas emission scenarios. The results reveal pronounced changes in the Alpine snowfall climate with considerable snowfall reductions at low and mid-elevations but also snowfall increases at high elevations in midwinter.
Jingang Zhan, Hongling Shi, Yong Wang, and Yixin Yao
The Cryosphere, 11, 1487–1499, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1487-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1487-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The mass balance change on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is the result of interactions between the atmospheric vapor and the surface water resources. We evaluated the spatial characteristics and principal components of mass balance change using CPCA and wavelet analysis. The results reflect the change in four major different atmospheric circulation patterns and their contribution percentages to mass balance. The novelty of the phase information revealed their impact area and travel route in detail.
Ira Leifer, Denis Chernykh, Natalia Shakhova, and Igor Semiletov
The Cryosphere, 11, 1333–1350, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1333-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1333-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Vast Arctic methane deposits may alter global climate and require remote sensing (RS) to map. Sonar has great promise, but quantitative inversion based on theory is challenged by multiple bubble acoustical scattering in plumes. We demonstrate use of a real-world in situ bubble plume calibration using a bubble model to correct for differences in the calibration and seep plumes. Spatial seep sonar maps were then used to improve understanding of subsurface geologic controls.
Riccardo E. M. Riva, Thomas Frederikse, Matt A. King, Ben Marzeion, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 11, 1327–1332, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1327-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1327-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The reduction of ice masses stored on land has made an important contribution to sea-level rise over the last century, as well as changed the Earth's shape. We model the solid-earth response to ice mass changes and find significant vertical deformation signals over large continental areas. We show how deformation rates have varied strongly throughout the last century, which affects the interpretation and extrapolation of recent observations of vertical land motion and sea-level change.
Henning Åkesson, Kerim H. Nisancioglu, Rianne H. Giesen, and Mathieu Morlighem
The Cryosphere, 11, 281–302, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-281-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-281-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We present simulations of the history of Hardangerjøkulen ice cap in southern Norway using a dynamical ice sheet model. From mid-Holocene ice-free conditions 4000 years ago, Hardangerjøkulen grows nonlinearly in response to a linear climate forcing, reaching maximum extent during the Little Ice Age (~ 1750 AD). The ice cap exhibits spatially asymmetric growth and retreat and is highly sensitive to climate change. Our results call for reassessment of glacier reconstructions from proxy records.
Ethan R. Dale, Adrian J. McDonald, Jack H. J. Coggins, and Wolfgang Rack
The Cryosphere, 11, 267–280, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-267-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-267-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This work studies the affects of strong winds on sea ice within the Ross Sea polynya. We compare both automatic weather station (AWS) and reanalysis wind data with sea ice concentration (SIC) measurements based on satellite images. Due to its low resolution, the reanalysis data were unable to reproduce several relationships found between the AWS and SIC data. We find that the strongest third of wind speeds had the most significant affect on SIC and resulting sea ice production.
Christopher J. Fogwill, Erik van Sebille, Eva A. Cougnon, Chris S. M. Turney, Steve R. Rintoul, Benjamin K. Galton-Fenzi, Graeme F. Clark, E. M. Marzinelli, Eleanor B. Rainsley, and Lionel Carter
The Cryosphere, 10, 2603–2609, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2603-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2603-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Here we report new data from in situ oceanographic surveys and high-resolution ocean modelling experiments in the Commonwealth Bay region of East Antarctica, where in 2010 there was a major reconfiguration of the regional icescape due to the collision of the 97 km long iceberg B09B with the Mertz Glacier tongue. Here we compare post-calving observations with high-resolution ocean modelling which suggest that this reconfiguration has led to the development of a new polynya off Commonwealth Bay.
Anders Levermann and Ricarda Winkelmann
The Cryosphere, 10, 1799–1807, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1799-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1799-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In recent decades, the Greenland Ice Sheet has been losing mass and has thereby contributed to global sea-level rise. Here we derive the basic equations for the melt elevation feedback that can lead to self-amplifying melt of the Greenland Ice Sheet and ice sheets in general. The theory unifies the results of complex models when the feedback dominates the dynamics and it allows us to estimate the melt time of ice sheets from data in cases where ice dynamic loss can be neglected.
Franco Salerno, Sudeep Thakuri, Nicolas Guyennon, Gaetano Viviano, and Gianni Tartari
The Cryosphere, 10, 1433–1448, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1433-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1433-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This contribution shows that the surface area variations of unconnected glacial ponds, i.e. ponds not directly connected to glacier ice, can be considered as suitable proxies for detecting past changes in the main hydrological components of the water balance (glacier melt, precipitation, evaporation) on the south side of Mt Everest.
Christiane Meyer, Ulrich Meyer, Andreas Pflitsch, and Valter Maggi
The Cryosphere, 10, 879–894, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-879-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-879-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In the paper a new method to calculate airflow speeds in static ice caves by using air temperature data is presented. As most study sites are in very remote places, where it is often not possible to use sonic anemometers and other devices for the analysis of the cave climate, we show how one can use the given database for calculating airflow speeds. Understanding/quantifying all elements of the specific cave climate is indispensable for understanding the evolution of the ice body in ice caves.
F. Maussion, W. Gurgiser, M. Großhauser, G. Kaser, and B. Marzeion
The Cryosphere, 9, 1663–1683, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1663-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1663-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Using a newly developed open-source tool, we downscale the glacier surface energy and mass balance fluxes at Shallap Glacier. This allows an unprecedented quantification of the ENSO influence on a tropical glacier at climatological time scales (1980-2013). We find a stronger and steadier anti-correlation between Pacific sea-surface temperature (SST) and glacier mass balance than previously reported and provide keys to understand its mechanism.
F. Salerno, N. Guyennon, S. Thakuri, G. Viviano, E. Romano, E. Vuillermoz, P. Cristofanelli, P. Stocchi, G. Agrillo, Y. Ma, and G. Tartari
The Cryosphere, 9, 1229–1247, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1229-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1229-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Climate-trends data in Himalaya are completely absent at high elevation. We explore the south slopes of Mt Everest though time series reconstructed from 7 stations (2660-5600m) during 1994-2013. The main increase in temp is concentrated outside of the monsoon, minimum temp increased far more than maximum, while we note a precipitation weakening. We contribute to change the perspective on which climatic drivers (temperature vs. precipitation) led mainly the glacier responses in the last 20 yr.
H. Castebrunet, N. Eckert, G. Giraud, Y. Durand, and S. Morin
The Cryosphere, 8, 1673–1697, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1673-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1673-2014, 2014
A. A. Marks and M. D. King
The Cryosphere, 8, 1625–1638, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1625-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1625-2014, 2014
S. Gebre, T. Boissy, and K. Alfredsen
The Cryosphere, 8, 1589–1605, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1589-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1589-2014, 2014
A. J. Wiltshire
The Cryosphere, 8, 941–958, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-941-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-941-2014, 2014
A. Gilbert, C. Vincent, D. Six, P. Wagnon, L. Piard, and P. Ginot
The Cryosphere, 8, 689–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, 2014
M. Ménégoz, G. Krinner, Y. Balkanski, A. Cozic, O. Boucher, and P. Ciais
The Cryosphere, 7, 537–554, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-537-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-537-2013, 2013
M. M. Helsen, R. S. W. van de Wal, M. R. van den Broeke, W. J. van de Berg, and J. Oerlemans
The Cryosphere, 6, 255–272, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-255-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-255-2012, 2012
Cited articles
Arfeuille, F., Weisenstein, D., Mack, H., Rozanov, E., Peter, T., and Brönnimann, S.: Volcanic forcing for climate modeling: a new microphysics-based data set covering years 1600-present, Clim. Past, 10, 359–375, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-359-2014, 2014.
Auer, I., Böhm, R., Jurkovic, A., Lipa, W., Orlik, A., Potzmann, R., Schöner, W., Ungersböck, M., Matulla, C., Briffa, K., Jones, P., Efthymiadis, D., Brunetti, M., Nanni, T., Maugeri, M., Mercalli, L., Mestre, O., Moisselin, J.-M., Begert, M., Müller-Westermeier, G., Kveton, V., Bochnicek, O., Stastny, P., Lapin, M., Szalai, S., Szentimrey, T., Cegnar, T., Dolinar, M., Gajic-Capka, M., Zaninovic, K., Majstorovic, Z., and Nieplova, E.: HISTALP – historical instrumental climatological surface time series of the greater Alpine region 1760–2003, Int. J. Climatol., 27, 17–46, 2007.
Beer, J., Abreu, J. A., and Steinhilber, F.: Sun and planets from a climate point of view, in: Universal Heliophysical Processes, no. 257 in Proceedings IAU Symposium, https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743921309029056, 2009.
Begert, M., Schlegel, T., and Kirchhofer, W.: Homogeneous temperature and precipitation series of Switzerland from 1864 to 2000, Int. J. Climatol., 25, 65–80, 2005.
Böhm, R., Jones, P., Hiebl, J., Frank, D., Brunetti, M., and Maugeri, M.: The early instrumental warm-bias: a solution for long central european temperature series 1760–2007, Climatic Change, 101, 4167, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-009-9649-4, 2010.
Breitenmoser, P., Beer, J., Brönnimann, S., Frank, D., Steinhilber, F., and Wanner, H.: Solar and volcanic fingerprints in tree-ring chronologies over the past 2000 years, Palaeogeogr. Palaeocl., 313–314, 127–139, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2011.10.014, 2012.
Büntgen, U., Frank, D. C., Nievergelt, D., and Esper, J.: Summer Temperature Variations in the European Alps, A.D. 755–2004, J. Climate, 19, 5606–5623, 2006.
Büntgen, U., Tegel, W., Nicolussi, K., McCormick, M., Frank, D., Trouet, V., Kaplan, J. O., Herzig, F., Heussner, K.-U., Wanner, H., Luterbacher, J., and Esper, J.: 2500 years of European climate variability and human susceptibility, Science, 331, 578–582, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1197175, 2011.
Callendar, G.: Note on the relation between the height of the firn line and dimensions of a glacier, J. Glaciol., 1, 459–461, 1950.
Casty, C., Wanner, H., Luterbacher, J., Esper, J., and Böhm, R.: Temperature and precipitation variability in the European Alps since 1500, Int. J. Climatol., 25, 1855–1880, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1216, 2005.
Chen, J. and Funk, M.: Mass balance of Rhonegletscher during 1882/83–1986/87, J. Glaciol., 36, 199–209, 1990.
Crowley, T.: Causes of climate change over the past 1000 years, Science, 289, 270–277, 2000.
Esper, J., Büntgen, U., Luterbacher, J., and Krusic, P. J.: Testing the hypothesis of post-volcanic missing rings in temperature sensitive dendrochronological data, Dendrochronologia, 31, 216–222, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dendro.2012.11.002, 2013a.
Esper, J., Schneider, L., Krusic, P. J., Luterbacher, J., Büntgen, U., Timonen, M., Sirocko, F., and Zorita, E.: European summer temperature response to annually dated volcanic eruptions over the past nine centuries, Bull. Vocanol., 75, 736, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00445-013-0736-z, 2013b.
Fischer, E. M., Luterbacher, J., Zorita, E., Tett, S. F. B., Casty, C., and Wanner, H.: European climate response to tropical volcanic eruptions over the last half millennium, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34, L05707, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL027992, 2007.
Frank, D., Büntgen, U., Böhm, R., and Maurizio Maugeri, J. E.: Warmer early instrumental measurements vs. colder reconstructed temperatures: shooting at a moving target, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 26, 3298–3310, 2007.
Frei, C. and Schär, C.: A precipitation climatology of the Alps from high-resolution rain-gauge observations, Int. J. Climatology, 18, 873–900, 1998.
Gao, C., Robock, A., and Ammann, C.: Volcanic forcing of climate over the past 1500 years: an improved ice core-based index for climate models, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D23111, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008JD010239, 2008.
Glaciological Reports: The Swiss Glaciers, 1880–2006/07, Tech. Rep. 1–128, Yearbooks of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), published since 1964 by Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW) of ETH Zürich, available at: http://glaciology.ethz.ch/swiss-glaciers/, 1881–2011.
Greuell, W.: Hintereisferner, Austria: mass-balance reconstruction and numerical modelling of the historical length variations, J. Glaciol., 38, 233–244, 1992.
Guiot, J., Corona, C., and ESCARSEL members: Growing season temperatures in Europe and climate forcings over the past 1400 years, PLOS One, 5, e9972, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0009972.g001, 2010.
Harrison, W. D., Raymond, C., Echelmeyer, K., and Krimmel, R.: A macroscopic approach to glacier dynamics, J. Glaciol., 49, 13–21, 2003.
Hindmarsh, A. C.: ODEPACK, a systematized collection of ODE solvers. In et al. (eds.), R. S. S., editor, Scientific Computing, pages 55–64, North-Holland, Amsterdam, vol. 1 of imacs transactions on scientific computation edition, 1983.
Hoelzle, M., Haeberli, W., Dischl, M., and Peschke, W.: Secular glacier mass balances derived from cumulative glacier length changes, Global Planet. Change, 36, 295–306, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0921-8181(02)00223-0, 2003.
Holzhauser, H.: Zur Geschichte des Gornergletschers, Vol. G 84, Geographica Bernensia, 2011.
Holzhauser, H. and Zumbühl, H.: Nacheiszeitliche Gletscherschwankungen, Tech. rep., Hydrologischer Atlas der Schweiz, Sonderdruck zum 54. Deutschen Geographentag, 2003.
Holzhauser, H., Magny, M., and Zumbühl, H.: Glacier and lake-level variations in west-central Europe over the last 3500 years, The Holocene, 15, 789–801, 2005.
Hormes, A., Müller, B. U., and Schlüchter, C.: The Alps with little ice: evidence for eight Holocene phases of reduced glacier extent in the Central Swiss Alps, The Holocene, 11, 255–265, https://doi.org/10.1191/095968301675275728, 2001.
Hormes, A., Beer, J., and Schlüchter, C.: A geochronological approach to understanding the role of solar activity on Holocene glacier length variability in the Swiss Alps, Geogr. Ann., 88, 281–294, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0435-3676.2006.00301.x, 2006.
Huss, M., Bauder, A., Funk, M., and Hock, R.: Determination of the seasonal mass balance of four Alpine glaciers since 1865, J. Geophys. Res., 113, F01015, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JF000803, 2008.
Huss, M., Funk, M., and Ohmura, A.: Strong Alpine glacier melt in the 1940s due to enhanced solar radiation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L23501, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL040789, 2009.
Huss, M., Hock, R., Bauder, A., and Funk, M.: 100-year glacier mass changes in the Swiss Alps linked to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L10501, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL042616, 2010.
IPCC: Climate Change 2007, the Physical Scientific Basis, Contributions of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Tech. rep., WMO/UNEP, Cambridge University Press, available at: http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/contents.html, 2007.
Joerin, U. E., Stocker, T. F., and Schlüchter, C.: Multicentury glacier fluctuations in the Swiss Alps during the Holocene, The Holocene, 16, 697–704, https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683606hl964rp, 2006.
Johnson, S. G.: The NLopt nonlinear-optimization package, available at: http://ab-initio.mit.edu/nlopt, 2012.
Klok, E. and Oerlemans, J.: Deriving historical equilibrium-line altitudes from a glacier length record by linear inverse modelling, The Holocene, 13, 343–351, 2003.
Leclercq, P. W. and Oerlemans, J.: Global and hemispheric temperature reconstruction from glacier length fluctuations, Clim. Dynam., 38, 1065–1079, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-011-1145-7, 2012.
Leclercq, P. W., Oerlemans, J., and Cogley, J. G.: Estimating the glacier contribution to sea-level rise for the period 1800–2005, Surv. Geophys., 32, 519–535, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-011-9121-7, 2011.
Leysinger-Vieli, G. J.-M. C. and Gudmundsson, G. H.: On estimating length fluctuations of glaciers caused by changes in climatic forcing, J. Geophys. Res., 109, f01007, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JF000027, 2004.
Lüthi, M. P.: Transient response of idealized glaciers to climate variations, J. Glaciol., 55, 918–930, 2009.
Lüthi, M. and Bauder, A.: Analysis of Alpine glacier length change records with a macroscopic glacier model, Geogr. Helvetica, 65, 92–102, 2010.
Lüthi, M. P., Bauder, A., and Funk, M.: Glacier volume change reconstruction from length change data of the Swiss Alps, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 115, F04022, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JF001695, 2010.
Mann, M. E., Zhang, Z., Rutherford, S., Bradley, R. S., Hughes, M. K., Shindell, D., Ammann, C., Faluvegi, G., and Ni, F.: Global signatures and dynamical origins of the Little Ice Age and Medieval Climate Anomaly, Science, 326, 1256–1260, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1177303, 2009.
Mann, M. E., Fuentes, J. D., and Rutherford, S.: Underestimation of volcanic cooling in tree-ring-based reconstructions of hemispheric temperatures, Nat. Geosci., 5, 202–205, https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1394, 2012.
Messerli, B., Zumbühl, H. J., Amman, K., Kienholz, H., Oeschger, H., Pfister, C., and Zurbuchen, M.: Die Schwankungen des Unteren Grindelwaldgletschers seit dem Mittelalter, Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, XI, 3–110, 1975.
Miller, G. H., Geirsdóttir, À., Zhong, Y., Larsen, D. J., Otto-Bliesner, B. L., Holland, M. M., Bailey, D. A., Refsnider, K. A., Lehman, S. J., Southon, J. R., Anderson, C., Björnsson, H., and Thordarson, T.: Abrupt onset of the Little Ice Age triggered by volcanism and sustained by sea-ice/ocean feedbacks, Geophys. Res. Lett., 39, L02708, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL050168, 2012.
Nesje, A. and Dahl, S. O.: The "Little Ice Age" – only temperature?, The Holocene, 13, 139–145, https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl603fa, 2003.
Nussbaumer, S. U. and Zumbühl, H. J.: The Little Ice Age history of the Glacier des Bossons (Mont Blanc massif, France): a new high-resolution glacier length curve based on historical documents, Climatic Change, 111, 301–334, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0130-9, 2012.
Nussbaumer, S., Zumbühl, H., and Steiner, D.: The history of the Mer de Glace AD 1570–2003 according to pictorial and written documents, Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie, 40, 2005.
Nussbaumer, S. U., Steinhilber, F., Trachsel, M., Breitenmoser, P., Beer, J., Blass, A., Grosjean, M., Hafner, A., Holzhauser, H., Wanner, H., and Zumbühl, H. J.: Alpine climate during the Holocene: a comparison between records of glaciers, lake sediments and solar activity, J. Quaternary Sci., 26, 703–713, https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.1495, 2011.
Nye, J. F.: On the theory of the advance and retreat of glaciers, Geophys. J. Roy. Astr. S., 7, 431–456, 1963.
Nye, J. F.: A numerical method of inferring the budget history of a glacier from its advance and retreat, J. Glaciol., 5, 589–607, 1965.
Oerlemans, J.: Extracting a climate signal from 169 glacier records, Science, 308, 270–277, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1107046, 2005.
Oerlemans, J.: Estimating response times of Vadret da Morteratsch, Vadret da Palü, Briksdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen from their length records, J. Glaciol., 53, 357–362, 2007.
Oerlemans, J.: The Microclimate of Valley Glaciers, Igitur, Utrecht Publishing & Archiving Services, iSBN 987-90-393-5305-5, 2010.
Oerlemans, J.: Minimal Glacier Models, Igitur, Utrecht Publishing & Archiving Services, iSBN 978-90-6701-022-1, 2011.
Ohmura, A., Kasser, P., and Funk, M.: Climate at the equilibrium line of glaciers, J. Glaciol., 38, 397–411, 1992.
Ohmura, A., Bauder, A., Müller, H., and Kappenberger, G.: Long-term change of mass balance and the role of radiation, Ann. Glaciol., 46, 367–374, 2007.
Oppenheimer, C.: Ice core and palaeoclimatic evidence for the timing and nature of the great mid-13th century volcanic eruption, Int. J. Climatol., 23, 417–426, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.891, 2003.
PAGES 2k consortium: Continental-scale temperature variability during the past two millennia, Nat. Geosci., 6, 339–346, https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO1797, 2013.
Painter, T. H., Flanner, M. G., Kaser, G., Marzeion, B., VanCuren, R. A., and Abdalati, W.: End of the Little Ice Age in the Alps forced by industrial black carbon, P. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1302570110, 2013.
Pauling, A., Luterbacher, J., Casty, C., and Wanner, H.: Five hundred years of gridded high-resolution precipitation reconstructions over E}urope and the connection to large-scale circulation, {Clim. Dynam., 26, 387–405, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-005-0090-8, 2006.
Pauling, A. and Paeth, H.: On the variability of return periods of European winter precipitation extremes over the last three centuries, Clim. Past, 3, 65–76, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-3-65-2007, 2007.
Pfister, C.: Wetternachhersage: 500 Jahre Klimavariationen und Naturkatastrophen (1496–1995), Haupt, Bern, 1999.
Powell, M. J. D.: The BOBYQA algorithm for bound constrained optimization without derivatives, Tech. Rep. NA2009/06, Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Cambridge, England, 2009.
Robock, A.: Volcanic eruptions and climate, Rev. Geophys., 38, 191–219, https://doi.org/10.1029/1998RG000054, 2000.
Roe, G. H. and O'Neal, M. A.: The response of glaciers to intrinsic climate variability: observations and models of late-Holocene variations in the Pacific Northwest, J. Glaciol., 55, 839–854, 2009.
Schleussner, C. F. and Feulner, G.: A volcanically triggered regime shift in the subpolar North Atlantic Ocean as a possible origin of the Little Ice Age, Clim. Past, 9, 1321–1330, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-9-1321-2013, 2013.
Schmeits, M. and Oerlemans, J.: Simulation of the historical variations in length of the Unterer Grindelwaldgletscher, J. Glaciol., 43, 152–164, 1997.
Shapiro, A. I., Schmutz, W., Rozanov, E., Schoell, M., Haberreiter, M., Shapiro, A. V., and Nyeki, S.: A new approach to the long-term reconstruction of the solar irradiance leads to large historical solar forcing, Astron. Astrophys., 529, A67, https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201016173, 2011.
Steiner, D., Walter, A., and Zumbühl, H.: The application of a non-linear back-propagation neural network to study the mass balance of Grosse Aletschgletscher, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 51, 313–323, 2005.
Steiner, D., Pauling, A., Nussbaumer, S. U., Nesje, A., Luterbacher, J., Wanner, H., and Zumbühl, H. J.: Sensitivity of European glaciers to precipitation and temperature – two case studies, Clim. Change, 90, 413–441, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-008-9393-1, 2008.
Steinhilber, F., Beer, J., and Fröhlich, C.: Total solar irradiance during the Holocene, Geophys. Res. Lett., 36, L19704, https://doi.org/10.1029/2009GL040142, 2009.
Thibert, E., Eckert, N., and Vincent, C.: Climatic drivers of seasonal glacier mass balances: an analysis of 6 decades at Glacier de Sarennes (French Alps), The Cryosphere, 7, 47–66, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-47-2013, 2013.
Vincent, C.: Influence of climate change over the 20th Century on four French glacier mass balances, J. Geophys. Res., 107, 4375, https://doi.org/10.1029/2001GL014592, 2002.
Vincent, C., Kappenberger, G., Valla, F., Bauder, A., Funk, M., and Le Meur, E.: Ice ablation as evidence of climate change in the Alps over the 20th century, J. Geophys. Res., 109, D10104, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003JD003857, 2004.
Vincent, C., Le Meur, E., Six, D., and Funk, M.: Solving the paradox of the end of the Little Ice Age in the Alps, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L09706, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL022552, 2005.
Weber, S. L.: A timescale analysis of the Northern Hemisphere temperature response to volcanic and solar forcing, Clim. Past, 1, 9–17, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-1-9-2005, 2005.
Wegmann, M., Brönnimann, S., Bhend, J., Franke, J., Folini, D., and Luterbacher, M. W. J.: Volcanic influence on European summer precipitation through monsoons: Possible cause for "Years Without a Summer", J. Climate, https://doi.org/10.1175/JCLI-D-13-00524.1, 2014.
Zanchettin, D., Timmreck, C., Graf, H.-F., Rubino, A., Lorenz, S., Lohmann, K., Krüger, K., and Jungclaus, J. H.: Bi-decadal variability excited in the coupled ocean-atmosphere system by strong tropical volcanic eruptions, Clim. Dynam., 39, 419–444, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-011-1167-1, 2012
Zanchettin, D., Timmreck, C., Bothe, O., Lorenz, S. J., Hegerl, G., Graf, H., Luterbacher, J., and Jungclaus, J. H.: Delayed winter warming: A robust decadal response to strong tropical volcanic eruptions?, Geophys. Res. Lett., 40, 204–209. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GL054403, 2013.
Zumbühl, H.: Die Schwankungen der Grindelwaldgletscher in den historischen Bild- und Schriftquellen des 12. bis 19. Jahrhunderts, Denkschriften der Schweizerischen Naturforschenden Gesellschaft, 92, 279, 1980.
Zumbühl, H. and Holzhauser, H.: Alpengletscher in der Kleinen Eiszeit, Die Alpen, Sonderheft zum 125.-jährigen Jubiläum des SAC, 64, 130–322, 1988.
