Tree-ring-based mass-balance estimates for the past 300 years at Peyto Glacier, Alberta, Canada

Watson, Emma; Luckman, Brian H.

doi:10.1016/j.yqres.2004.04.007

Cited by 96 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Watson and Luckman (2004a) obtained adjusted R 2 values of 0.41 and 0.46 for winter and summer mass balance series, respectively, and extend the observational record using tree-ring indices. The authors variously report tree-ring temperature and precipitation reconstruction successes of R 2 = 0.51 (temperature; Watson and Luckman, 2004a) and 0.64 -0.74 (precipitation;Watson and Luckman, 2004b), which are comparable to our results.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Atmospheric flow indices, regional climate, and Glacier mass balance in the Canadian Rocky mountains

Shea

Marshall

2006

Intl Journal of Climatology

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Abstract:Glacier mass balance is governed by cumulative temperature and precipitation patterns in a region, making it a sensitive indicator of climate variability and trends. Many studies have drawn the link between local meteorological conditions and glacier mass balance, but these statistical relationships are difficult to extrapolate to other sites or to apply in sensitivity studies of future climate change. In this paper, we explore the ability to predict regional climate anomalies and glacier mass balance in the Canadian Rockies on the basis of 500-mb circulation indices derived from the NCEP-NCAR reanalysis dataset. Daily precipitation amounts and variance-weighted seasonal temperature and precipitation anomalies at a suite of six long-term meteorological stations in the Canadian Rockies (1953Rockies ( -2002) demonstrate a coherent dependence on the daily and mean seasonal atmospheric flow indices. The Peyto Glacier, Alberta, Canada offers the best available mass balance time-series in the Canadian Rockies (1966Rockies ( -2004. Regression models for Peyto Glacier winter, summer, and annual mass balance variability were constructed from (1) Jasper climate anomalies, (2) regional climate anomalies, and (3) atmospheric flow indices. Model performance was examined in terms of the multiple coefficient of determination and of the variables retained in the stepwise regression analysis. Flow indices were the stronger predictors of mass balance. This offers important advantages for mass balance forecasts, because large-scale circulation patterns are better captured than surface weather in mountain regions, in both reanalysed climatology and model-generated climate change scenarios.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 70%

Atmospheric flow indices, regional climate, and Glacier mass balance in the Canadian Rocky mountains

Shea

Marshall

2006

Intl Journal of Climatology

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“…Comparisons between the two climatic proxies, mass-balance series and tree-ring chronologies, have led to successful massbalance reconstructions in Europe and North America (Nicolussi and Patzelt, 1996;Lewis and Smith, 2004;Larocque and Smith, 2005;Watson and Luckman, 2004). Upon close examination of our dendrochronological data for the central European Alps, however, we found stronger correlations for the larger Hintereis Glacier series, whereas relationships to smaller glaciers closer to the dendroclimatic network were generally weaker.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 65%

“…3b and 3d). Since precipitation is a controlling factor modulating both tree-ring growth and glacier mass balance, another possible improvement for mass-balance reconstruction in this area therefore could be the inclusion of precipitation-sensitive chronologies and the consideration of winter and summer mass balances (Watson and Luckman, 2004).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on a regression model, past mass-balance estimates for the Hintereis Glacier cover about five centuries (Nicolussi and Patzelt, 1996). In the Western Cordillera and the Rocky Mountains, treering based reconstructions have been performed to estimate the past mass balance of four glaciers in a region extending over ,300 km (Lewis and Smith, 2004), as well as the summer and winter balances of several glaciers (Larocque and Smith, 2005) and of the Peyto Glacier (Watson and Luckman, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Non-stationary Responses of Tree-Ring Chronologies and Glacier Mass Balance to Climate in the European Alps

Leonelli

Pelfini

D’Arrigo

et al. 2011

Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

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Tree-ring width and glacier mass balance are two highly sensitive climatic proxies which are often used as indicators of biological and geophysical changes in high-altitude ecosystems. Tree-ring data have been widely used to reconstruct past temperatures and also to reconstruct past glacier mass balance. Here we show that tree-ring chronologies from a high-altitude Pinus cembra L. dendroclimatic network and glaciers from the same region in the European Alps have non-stationary responses to air temperature, and have also been responding non-proportionally to temperature extremes in recent decades. Both ring-width chronologies and the mass-balance series of some glaciers from the same region have shown an increasing sensitivity to summer (JJA) temperatures. Our results demonstrate that the sensitivity to climate of tree-ring chronologies and glacier mass balance may change over time and has been increasing in recent decades, posing some limitations to tree-ring-based glacier mass-balance reconstruction. Moreover, we found these reconstructions in the European Alps are more reliable for large rather than for small glaciers, and may not be able to reveal years of extreme ablation that could have occurred in the past. AbstractTree-ring width and glacier mass balance are two highly sensitive climatic proxies which are often used as indicators of biological and geophysical changes in highaltitude ecosystems. Tree-ring data have been widely used to reconstruct past temperatures and also to reconstruct past glacier mass balance. Here we show that tree-ring chronologies from a high-altitude Pinus cembra L. dendroclimatic network and glaciers from the same region in the European Alps have non-stationary responses to air temperature, and have also been responding non-proportionally to temperature extremes in recent decades. Both ring-width chronologies and the mass-balance series of some glaciers from the same region have shown an increasing sensitivity to summer (JJA) temperatures. Our results demonstrate that the sensitivity to climate of tree-ring chronologies and glacier mass balance may change over time and has been increasing in recent decades, posing some limitations to tree-ring-based glacier mass-balance reconstruction. Moreover, we found these reconstructions in the European Alps are more reliable for large rather than for small glaciers, and may not be able to reveal years of extreme ablation that could have occurred in the past.

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“…In addition, annual mass balance records have been extended for several centuries using meteorological and proxy data such as 30 historical records and tree-ring data (e.g. Lewis and Smith, 2004;Watson and Luckman, 2004;Nordli et al, 2005;Clim. Past Discuss., doi:10.5194/cp-2017-34, 2017 Manuscript under review for journal Clim.…”

Section: Glaciers As Direct and Indirect Climate Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Arctic hydroclimate variability during the last 2000 years – current understanding and research challenges

Linderholm¹,

Nicolle²,

Francus³

et al. 2017

Preprint

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Abstract. Along with Arctic amplification, changes in Arctic hydroclimate have become increasingly apparent. Reanalysis data show increasing trends in Arctic temperature and precipitation over the 20 th century, but changes are not homogenous 30 across seasons or space. The observed hydroclimate changes are expected to continue, and possibly accelerate, in the coming century, not only affecting pan-Arctic natural ecosystems and human activities, but also lower latitudes through changes in atmospheric and oceanic circulation. However, a lack of spatiotemporal observational data makes reliable quantification of Arctic hydroclimate change difficult, especially in a long-term context. To understand hydroclimate variability and the mechanisms driving observed changes, beyond the instrumental record, climate proxies are needed. Here we bring together 35 the current understanding of Arctic hydroclimate during the past 2000 years, as inferred from natural archives and proxies and palaeoclimate model simulations. Inadequate proxy data coverage is apparent, with distinct data gaps in most of Eurasia and parts of North America, which makes robust assessments for the whole Arctic currently impossible. Hydroclimate proxies and climate models indicate that the Medieval Climate Anomaly (MCA) was anomalously wet, while conditions Clim. Past Discuss., doi:10.5194/cp-2017Discuss., doi:10.5194/cp- -34, 2017 Manuscript under review for journal Clim. Past Discussion started: 17 March 2017 c Author(s) 2017. CC-BY 3.0 License. 2 were in general drier during the Little Ice Age (LIA), relative to the last 2000 years. However, it is clear that there are large regional differences, which are especially evident during the LIA. Due to the spatiotemporal differences in Arctic hydroclimate, we recommend detailed regional studies, e.g. including field reconstructions, to disentangle spatial patterns and potential forcing factors. At present, it is only possible to carry out regional syntheses for a few areas of the Arctic, e.g. Fennoscandia, Greenland and western North America. To fully assess pan-Arctic hydroclimate variability for the last two 5 millennia additional proxy records are required.

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Tree-ring-based mass-balance estimates for the past 300 years at Peyto Glacier, Alberta, Canada

Cited by 96 publications

References 28 publications

Atmospheric flow indices, regional climate, and Glacier mass balance in the Canadian Rocky mountains

Atmospheric flow indices, regional climate, and Glacier mass balance in the Canadian Rocky mountains

Non-stationary Responses of Tree-Ring Chronologies and Glacier Mass Balance to Climate in the European Alps

Arctic hydroclimate variability during the last 2000 years – current understanding and research challenges

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