Glacier annual balance measurement, forecasting and climate correlations, North Cascades, Washington 1984–2006

Pelto, Mauri

doi:10.5194/tc-2-13-2008

Cited by 18 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…As this figure shows, the westernmost patches would disappear almost completely by 2020, given the small residual thickness here which can be inferred from field evidence (widespread www.the-cryosphere.net/7/1819/2013/ The Cryosphere, 7, 1819-1838, 2013 Given the peculiar behaviour of the Careser Glacier, and its forthcoming decay, one may expect its representativeness to decrease further in the future, and one may wonder for how many years it still makes sense to continue the measurements. Besides local differences in the magnitude of annual glacier mass balance, a good correlation generally exists for year-to-year variations in mass balance up to distances of several hundreds of kilometres (Letréguilly and Reynaud, 1990;Cogley and Adams, 1998;Pelto, 2008;Fountain et al, 2009). The mass balance of the Careser Glacier in the last 3 decades was indeed significantly correlated with that of several other glaciers in the European Alps (Table 4).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Decay of a long-term monitored glacier: Careser Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, European Alps)

et al. 2013

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Abstract. The continuation of valuable, long-term glacier observation series is threatened by the accelerated mass loss which currently affects a large portion of so-called "benchmark" glaciers. In this work we present the evolution of the Careser Glacier, from the beginning of systematic observation at the end of the 19th century to its current condition in 2012. In addition to having one of the longest and richest observation records among the Italian glaciers, Careser is unique in the Italian Alps for its 46 yr mass balance series that started in 1967. In the present study, variations in the length, area and volume of the glacier since 1897 are examined, updating and validating the series of direct mass balance observations and adding to the mass balance record into the past using the geodetic method. The glacier is currently strongly out of balance and in rapid decay; its average mass loss rate over the last 3 decades was 1.5 m water equivalent per year, increasing to 2.0 m water equivalent per year in the last decade. Although these rates are not representative at a regional scale, year-to-year variations in mass balance show an unexpected increase in correlation with other glaciers in the Alps, during the last 3 decades. If mass loss continues at this pace, the glacier will disappear within a few decades, putting an end to this unique observation series.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 83%

Decay of a long-term monitored glacier: Careser Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, European Alps)

et al. 2013

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“…Advances of Mount Baker glaciers ranged from 120 to 750 m, an average of 480 m, and ended in 1978 (Heikkinen, ; Harper, ; Pelto, ). From 1977 to 2009, mass balance has been negative (Pelto, ) driven initially by a drier–warmer climate in the Pacific Northwest from 1978 to 1998 (Ebbesmeyer et al ., ) and by warmer conditions despite above‐average precipitation from 1999 to 2010 (Casola et al ., ). The impact on North Cascade glacier mass balance is evident from the US Geological Survey long‐term record of South Cascade Glacier (1958–2009) and Place Glacier, British Columbia.…”

Section: Mount Baker Glacier Behaviourmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mass balance loss of Mount Baker, Washington glaciers 1990–2010

Pelto

Brown

2012

Hydrological Processes

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Mount Baker, North Cascades, WA, has a current glacierized area of 38.6 km2. From 1984 to 2010, the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project has monitored the annual mass balance (Ba), accumulation area ratio (AAR), terminus behaviour and longitudinal profiles of Mount Baker glaciers. The Ba on Rainbow, Easton and Sholes Glaciers from 1990 to 2010 averaged −0.52 m w.e. a−1(m a−1). Terminus observations on nine principal Mount Baker glaciers, 1984–2009, indicate retreat ranging from 240 to 520 m, with a mean of 370 m or 14 m a−1. AAR observations on Rainbow, Sholes and Easton Glaciers for 1990–2010 indicate a mean AAR of 0.55 and a steady state AAR of 0.65. A comparison of Ba and AAR on these three glaciers yields a relationship that is used in combination with AAR observations made on all Mount Baker glaciers during 7 years to assess Mount Baker glacier mass balance. Utilizing the AAR–Ba relationship for the three glaciers yields a mean Ba of −0.55 m a−1 for the 1990–2010 period, 0.03 m a−1 higher than the measured mean Ba. The mean Ba based on the AAR–Ba relationship for the entire mountain from 1990 to 2010 is −0.57 m a−1. The product of the mean observed mass balance gradient determined from 11 000 surface mass balance measurements and glacier area in each 100‐m elevation band on Mount Baker yields a Ba of −0.50 m a−1 from 1990–2010 for the entire mountain. The median altitude of the three index glaciers is lower than that of all Mount Baker glaciers. Adjusting the balance gradient for this difference yields a mean Ba of −0.77 m a−1 from 1990 to 2010. All but one estimate converge on a loss of −0.5 m a−1 for Mount Baker from 1990 to 2010. This equates to an 11‐m loss in glacier thickness, 12–20% of the entire 1990 volume of glaciers on Mount Baker. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

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“…Mean annual mass balance has been −0.51 ma −1 , from 1984(Pelto, 2008. This equals a 20-40% loss in glacier volume in this interval for North Cascade glaciers (Pelto, 2008). The annual extent of the accumulation zone as a ratio of total glacier is the annual AAR.…”

Section: Accumulation Zone Persistencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the North Cascades annual mass balance measurements identify the annual balance (Pelto, 2008) and the annual accumulation area ratio (AAR), both reported to the WGMS. Mean annual mass balance has been −0.51 ma −1 , from 1984(Pelto, 2008.…”

Section: Accumulation Zone Persistencementioning

confidence: 99%

Forecasting temperate alpine glacier survival from accumulation zone observations

Pelto

2010

The Cryosphere

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Abstract.Temperate alpine glacier survival is dependent on the consistent presence of an accumulation zone. Frequent low accumulation area ratio values, below 30%, indicate the lack of a consistent accumulation zone, which leads to substantial thinning of the glacier in the accumulation zone. This thinning is often evident from substantial marginal recession, emergence of new rock outcrops and surface elevation decline in the accumulation zone. In the North Cascades 9 of the 12 examined glaciers exhibit characteristics of substantial accumulation zone thinning; marginal recession or emergent bedrock areas in the accumulation zone. The longitudinal profile thinning factor, f , which is a measure of the ratio of thinning in the accumulation zone to that at the terminus, is above 0.6 for all glaciers exhibiting accumulation zone thinning characteristics. The ratio of accumulation zone thinning to cumulative mass balance is above 0.5 for glacier experiencing substantial accumulation zone thinning. Without a consistent accumulation zone these glaciers are forecast not to survive the current climate or future additional warming. The results vary considerably with adjacent glaciers having a different survival forecast. This emphasizes the danger of extrapolating survival from one glacier to the next.

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Glacier annual balance measurement, forecasting and climate correlations, North Cascades, Washington 1984–2006

Abstract: Abstract. North Cascade glacier annual balance measured on 10 glaciers from 1984-2006 yielded mean annual balance (b a ) of −0.54 m/a, and −12.38 m cumulatively. This is a significant loss for glaciers that average 30-60 m in thickness,

Cited by 18 publications

References 24 publications

Decay of a long-term monitored glacier: Careser Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, European Alps)

Decay of a long-term monitored glacier: Careser Glacier (Ortles-Cevedale, European Alps)

Mass balance loss of Mount Baker, Washington glaciers 1990–2010

Forecasting temperate alpine glacier survival from accumulation zone observations

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