Comparison of geodetic and glaciological mass budgets for White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Canada

Thomson, Laura; Zemp, Michael; Copland, Luke; Cogley, J. Graham; Ecclestone, M.A.

doi:10.1017/jog.2016.112

Cited by 37 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…This value is smaller than in most recent studies (e.g. Andreassen et al, 2016;Thomson et al, 2017;Klug et al, 2018). This is probably due to relative smaller area and accompanying higher density of point measurements of UG1 than aforementioned glaciers (Fig.…”

Section: Geodetic and Glaciological Mass Balancescontrasting

confidence: 54%

Long-range terrestrial laser scanning measurements of summer and annual mass balances for Urumqi Glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China

Xu¹,

Li²,

Li³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. The direct glaciological method typically provides in situ observations of annual or seasonal surface mass balance, but can only be implemented through a succession of intensive in situ measurements of measuring networks of stakes and snow pits. This has contributed to glacier surface mass-balance measurements being sparse and often discontinuous in the Tien Shan. Nevertheless, long-term glacier mass-balance measurements are the basis for understanding climate–glacier interactions and projecting future water availability for glacierized catchments in the Tien Shan. Riegl VZ®-6000 long-range terrestrial laser scanning (TLS), typically using class 3B laser beams, is exceptionally well suited for measuring snowy and icy terrain in repeated glacier mapping, and subsequently annual and seasonal geodetic mass balance can be determined. This paper introduces the applied TLS for monitoring summer and annual surface elevation and geodetic mass changes of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 (UG1) as well as delineating accurate glacier boundaries for two consecutive years (2015-17), and discusses the potential of such technology in glaciological applications. Three-dimensional changes of ice and firn/snow bodies and the corresponding densities were considered for the volume-to-mass conversion. UG1 showed pronounced thinning and mass loss for the four investigated periods; glacier-wide geodetic mass balance in the mass-balance year 2015-16 was slightly more negative than in 2016-17. The majority of TLS-derived geodetic elevation changes at individual stakes were slightly positive, but showed a close correlation with the glaciological elevation changes (changes in exposed stake height) of individual stakes (R2 ≥ 0.90). Statistical comparison shows that agreement between the glaciological and geodetic mass balances can be considered satisfying, indicating that the TLS system yields accurate results and has the potential to monitor remote and inaccessible glacier areas where no glaciological measurements are available.

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Section: Geodetic and Glaciological Mass Balancescontrasting

confidence: 54%

Long-range terrestrial laser scanning measurements of summer and annual mass balances for Urumqi Glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China

Xu¹,

Li²,

Li³

et al. 2018

Preprint

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show abstract

“…5.6), continued monitoring of the thickness of the ice pack is required. The European Space Agency CryoSat-2 has been measuring sea ice freeboard (i.e., the distance between the floating ice surface and the open water surface, from | S132 which sea ice thickness and volume are derived) since 2010 (Tilling et al 2015). The uncertainty of sea ice thickness from satellite radar altimetry is mainly controlled by potential ranging biases caused by varying surface roughness, complex snow morphology, and snow and ice densities.…”

Section: August 2017 State Of the Climate In 2016 | S129mentioning

confidence: 99%

State of the Climate in 2016

Aaron-Morrison¹,

Ackerman²,

Adams³

et al. 2017

Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society

154

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“…The quantity of stable bedrock points varied from 14 472 in the lowest elevation band to 1825 points in the highest elevation band. We used standard error propagation, as applied in previous geodetic mass balance studies (Ruiz et al, 2017;Thomson et al, 2017), given by…”

Section: Elevation Change Uncertaintymentioning

confidence: 99%

Local topography increasingly influences the mass balance of a retreating cirque glacier

et al. 2018

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Abstract. Local topographically driven processes – such as wind drifting, avalanching, and shading – are known to alter the relationship between the mass balance of small cirque glaciers and regional climate. Yet partitioning such local effects from regional climate influence has proven difficult, creating uncertainty in the climate representativeness of some glaciers. We address this problem for Sperry Glacier in Glacier National Park, USA, using field-measured surface mass balance, geodetic constraints on mass balance, and regional climate data recorded at a network of meteorological and snow stations. Geodetically derived mass changes during 1950–1960, 1960–2005, and 2005–2014 document average mass change rates during each period at −0.22 ± 0.12, −0.18 ± 0.05, and −0.10 ± 0.03 m w.e. yr−1, respectively. A correlation of field-measured mass balance and regional climate variables closely (i.e., within 0.08 m w.e. yr−1) predicts the geodetically measured mass loss from 2005 to 2014. However, this correlation overestimates glacier mass balance for 1950–1960 by +1.20 ± 0.95 m w.e. yr−1. Our analysis suggests that local effects, not represented in regional climate variables, have become a more dominant driver of the net mass balance as the glacier lost 0.50 km2 and retreated further into its cirque.

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Comparison of geodetic and glaciological mass budgets for White Glacier, Axel Heiberg Island, Canada

Cited by 37 publications

References 36 publications

Long-range terrestrial laser scanning measurements of summer and annual mass balances for Urumqi Glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China

Long-range terrestrial laser scanning measurements of summer and annual mass balances for Urumqi Glacier No. 1, eastern Tien Shan, China

State of the Climate in 2016

Local topography increasingly influences the mass balance of a retreating cirque glacier

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