Quantifying 20th Century Glacier Change in the Sierra Nevada, California

Basagic, Hassan J.; Fountain, Andrew G.

doi:10.1657/1938-4246-43.3.317

Cited by 41 publications

(41 citation statements)

References 56 publications

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“…9). The magnitude of change in the Wind River Range is consistent with that observed elsewhere in the continental U.S., including the Sierra Nevada − 55% (Basagic and Fountain, 2011) and the Colorado Front Range about − 34% , and elsewhere globally (e.g., Paul et al, 2004). The rate of glacier change over the past century is consistent with glaciers elsewhere in the U.S. and in the Northern Hemisphere with rapid shrinkage after the Little Ice Age, from~1900, through to about the 1950s, after which the shrinkage generally slowed and in some cases glaciers enlarged.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

“…The date associated with these LIA extents (i.e., the year the glacier retreated from the terminal moraine) was inferred to be~1900, based on Wentworth and Delo (1931) who stated that 'it appears that there has been a moderate retreat of the glaciers and a restriction of glacial action in the last two decades in this district [Gannett Peak].' Our inference is supported by historic photos of glacier change in the Sierra Nevada Range, California, which showed the glaciers did not retreat from the LIA moraines before 1910 (Basagic and Fountain, 2011).…”

Section: Glaciers and Perennial Snowfieldsmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Because our study is entirely based on maps and remotely sensed imagery, we cannot detect movement directly, and we did not inspect the images for crevasses. Instead, movement was inferred based on whether the calculated basal shear stress exceeded the yield stress of ice (Basagic and Fountain, 2011). The basal shear stress is calculated from the thickness and surface slope of the ice and the yield stress, 10 5 Pa (Cuffey and Paterson, 2010).…”

Section: Glaciers and Perennial Snowfieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A century of glacier change in the Wind River Range, WY

DeVisser

Fountain

2015

Geomorphology

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 84%

Section: Glaciers and Perennial Snowfieldsmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Glaciers and Perennial Snowfieldsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A century of glacier change in the Wind River Range, WY

DeVisser

Fountain

2015

Geomorphology

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“…Average is the average change along the entire terminus. 983 Fountain and others: Glaciers in equilibrium, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica whereas local setting controls the magnitude of the response (Walters and Meier, 1989;Bitz and Battisti, 1999;Vuille and others, 2008;Basagic and Fountain, 2011). Both the correlation and regression values are much higher for summer balances than for winter indicating that the meteorological controls on ablation are similar between glaciers.…”

Section: Discussion and Summarymentioning

confidence: 98%

Glaciers in equilibrium, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

2016

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ABSTRACT. The McMurdo Dry Valleys are a cold, dry polar desert and the alpine glaciers therein exhibit small annual and seasonal mass balances, often <±0.06 m w.e. Typically, winter is the accumulation season, but significant snow storms can occur any time of year occasionally making summer the accumulation season. The yearly equilibrium line altitude is poorly correlated with mass balance because the elevation gradient of mass balance on each glacier can change dramatically from year to year. Most likely, winds redistribute the light snowfall disrupting the normal gradient of increasing mass balance with elevation. Reconstructed cumulative mass balance shows that the glaciers have lost <2 m w.e. over the past half century and area changes show minimal retreat. In most cases these changes are less than the uncertainty and the glaciers are considered in equilibrium. Since 2000, however, the glaciers have lost mass despite relatively stable summer air temperatures suggesting a different mechanism in play. Whether this trend is a harbinger of future changes or a temporary excursion is unclear.

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“…DeBeer and Sharp, 2009;Basagic and Fountain, 2011;Li and others, 2011;Stokes and others, 2013). Federici and Pappalardo (2010) and Shahgedanova and others (2012) also noted that the recession of some small glaciers slowed once they receded into the most protected portions of their shadowed cirques where they receive less direct radiation.…”

Section: Torngat Ice Masses In Regional Perspectivementioning

confidence: 96%

An inventory and topographic analysis of glaciers in the Torngat Mountains, northern Labrador, Canada

2014

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ABSTRACT. This study presents the first complete glacier inventory of the Torngat Mountains, northern Labrador, Canada. In total, 195 glaciers and ice masses are identified, covering a total area of 24.5 � 1.8 km 2 . Mapped ice masses range in size from 0.01 to 1.26 km 2 , with a median size of 0.08 km 2 . Ice masses have a median elevation of 776 m a.s.l. and span an altitudinal range of 290-1500 m a.s.l. Indications of ice flow suggest at least 105 active glaciers in the Torngat Mountains. Analysis of morphometric and topographic parameters suggests that the regional distribution of ice masses is linked to physiographic setting while the preservation of coastal ice masses at low elevation is related to local meteorological conditions. In the most coastal environments, ice masses are shown to exist below the regional glaciation level due to topographic shadowing, coastal proximity and widespread debris cover. This study provides a baseline for future change assessment.

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Quantifying 20th Century Glacier Change in the Sierra Nevada, California

Cited by 41 publications

References 56 publications

A century of glacier change in the Wind River Range, WY

A century of glacier change in the Wind River Range, WY

Glaciers in equilibrium, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica

An inventory and topographic analysis of glaciers in the Torngat Mountains, northern Labrador, Canada

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