Contrasted surface mass balances of debris-free glaciers observed between the southern and the inner parts of the Everest region (2007–15)

Sherpa, Sonam Futi; Wagnon, Patrick; Brun, Fanny; Berthier, Étienne; Vincent, Christian; Lejeune, Yves; Arnaud, Yves; Kayastha, Rijan Bhakta; Sinisalo, Anna

doi:10.1017/jog.2017.30

Cited by 67 publications

(97 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…We use the same glacier tongue outline as Vincent et al (2016), which was derived from a combination of UAV imagery, field measured velocity fields and field expertise. It is different from the outline available in the Randolph Glacier Inventory 6.0 (Pfeffer et al, 2014), which includes the nearby West Changri Nup Glacier in the same outline (Sherpa et al, 2017). The debris-covered part…”

Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 95%

Can ice-cliffs explain the debris-cover anomaly? New insights from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal, Central Himalaya

Brun

Wagnon

Shea

et al. 2018

Preprint

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Abstract. Ice cliff backwasting on debris-covered glaciers is recognized as an important process, potentially responsible for the so-called "debris-cover anomaly", i.e. the fact that debris-covered and debris-free glacier tongues appear to have similar thinning rates in Himalaya. In this study, we assess the total contribution of ice cliff backwasting to the net ablation of the tongue of the Changri Nup Glacier over two years. Detailed terrestrial photogrammetry surveys were conducted on select ice cliffs in November 2015 and 2016, and the entire glacier tongue was surveyed with unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) and 5Pléiades tri-stereo imagery in November 2015, November 2016, and November 2017. The total difference between the volume loss from ice cliffs measured with the terrestrial photogrammetry, considered as the reference data, and the UAV and Pléiades was less than 3 % and 7 %, respectively, demonstrating the ability of these datasets to measure volume loss from ice cliffs. For the period November 2015-November 2016 (resp. November 2016-November 2017), using UAV and Pléiades over the entire glacier tongue, we found that ice cliffs, which cover 7 % (resp. 8 %) of the planar area, contribute to 23 ± 5 % (resp. 24 ± 10 5 %) of the total net ablation of Changri Nup Glacier tongue. Ice cliffs have a net ablation rate 3.1 ± 0.6 (resp. 3.0 ± 0.6) times higher than the average glacier tongue surface. However, on Changri Nup Glacier, ice cliffs cannot compensate for the reduction of ablation due to debris-cover. Reduced ablation and lower emergence velocities on debris-covered glacier tongues could be responsible for the debris-cover anomaly.

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Section: Study Areamentioning

confidence: 95%

Can ice-cliffs explain the debris-cover anomaly? New insights from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal, Central Himalaya

Brun

Wagnon

Shea

et al. 2018

Preprint

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“…a -1 ) between 2010 and 2015, while Pokalde and Changri Nup glaciers, in the nearby interior of the range, showed a rapid wastage of -0.63 and -1.24 m w.e. a -1 , respectively, over the same period (Supplementary Table S6, Sherpa and others, 2017). Given the limited number of modeled mass-balance series for mean mass-balances computation, we believe these means should not be considered as regional representative and must be handled cautiously.…”

Section: Mass Balances Of Six Glaciers Are Dubious (Supplementarymentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the status and mass changes of Himalayan-Karakoram glaciers

et al. 2018

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ABSTRACT. We present a comprehensive review of the status and changes in glacier length (since the 1850s), area and mass (since the 1960s) along the Himalayan-Karakoram (HK) region and their climatechange context. A quantitative reliability classification of the field-based mass-balance series is developed. Glaciological mass balances agree better with remotely sensed balances when we make an objective, systematic exclusion of likely flawed mass-balance series. The Himalayan mean glaciological mass budget was similar to the global average until 2000, and likely less negative after 2000. Mass wastage in the Himalaya resulted in increasing debris cover, the growth of glacial lakes and possibly decreasing ice velocities. Geodetic measurements indicate nearly balanced mass budgets for Karakoram glaciers since the 1970s, consistent with the unchanged extent of supraglacial debris-cover. Himalayan glaciers seem to be sensitive to precipitation partly through the albedo feedback on the short-wave radiation balance. Melt contributions from HK glaciers should increase until 2050 and then decrease, though a wide range of present-day area and volume estimates propagates large uncertainties in the future runoff. This review reflects an increasing understanding of HK glaciers and highlights the remaining challenges.

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“…It has been reported that glaciers have been retreating rapidly since the 1850s [14]. In the case of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region, many studies have concluded the shrinkage and fragmentation of the glaciers [5,15,16], whereas slight mass gain has been observed in the Karakoram region in recent studies [17,18]. Most glaciers in the Eastern and Central Himalaya belong to the summer-accumulation type, gaining mass mainly from summer-monsoon snowfall, whereas winter accumulation is more important in the Northwest [5,19,20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Moreover, various glaciological studies have been carried out in the Yala Glacier since the 1980s [30,37]. French researchers also initiated the MB measurements on the Mera Glacier in 2007 and Pokalde in 2009 [16,38]. Kathmandu University together with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) has been conducting continuous MB measurements in the Yala Glacier since 2011 [37].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass and Energy Balance Estimation of Yala Glacier (2011–2017), Langtang Valley, Nepal

Acharya

Kayastha

2018

Water

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Six-year glaciological mass balance measurements, conducted at the Yala Glacier between November 2011 and November 2017 are presented and analyzed. A physically-based surface energy balance model is used to simulate summer mass and energy balance of the Yala Glacier for the 2012-2014 period. Cumulative mass balance of the Yala Glacier for the 2011-2017 period was negative at −4.88 m w.e. The mean annual glacier-wide mass balance was −0.81 ± 0.27 m w.e. with a standard deviation of ±0.48 m w.e. The modelled mass balance values agreed well with observations. Modelling showed that net radiation was the primary energy source for the melting of the glacier followed by sensible heat and heat conduction fluxes. Sensitivity of mass balance to changes in temperature, precipitation, relative humidity, surface albedo and snow density were examined. Mass balance was found to be most sensitive to changes in temperature and precipitation.

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Contrasted surface mass balances of debris-free glaciers observed between the southern and the inner parts of the Everest region (2007–15)

Cited by 67 publications

References 61 publications

Can ice-cliffs explain the debris-cover anomaly? New insights from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal, Central Himalaya

Can ice-cliffs explain the debris-cover anomaly? New insights from Changri Nup Glacier, Nepal, Central Himalaya

Review of the status and mass changes of Himalayan-Karakoram glaciers

Mass and Energy Balance Estimation of Yala Glacier (2011–2017), Langtang Valley, Nepal

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