Articles | Volume 11, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2463-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2463-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Nov 2017
Research article |
| 03 Nov 2017
Monitoring tropical debris-covered glacier dynamics from high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle photogrammetry, Cordillera Blanca, Peru
Oliver Wigmore
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Geography, Ohio State University, Columbus,
OH, USA
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH, USA
Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, University of
Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Earth Lab, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
Bryan Mark
Department of Geography, Ohio State University, Columbus,
OH, USA
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Ohio State
University, Columbus, OH, USA
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Glaciers that exist within tropical regions are vital water resources and excellent indicators of a changing climate. We use satellite imagery analysis to detect the boundary between snow and ice on the Quelccaya Ice Cap (QIC), Peru, which indicates the ice cap's overall health. These results are analyzed with other variables, such as temperature, precipitation, and sea surface temperature anomalies, to better understand the factors and timelines driving the ice retreat.
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Adrien Gilbert, Anna Sinisalo, Tika R. Gurung, Koji Fujita, Sudan B. Maharjan, Tenzing C. Sherpa, and Takehiro Fukuda
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Pascal Bohleber, Leo Sold, Douglas R. Hardy, Margit Schwikowski, Patrick Klenk, Andrea Fischer, Pascal Sirguey, Nicolas J. Cullen, Mariusz Potocki, Helene Hoffmann, and Paul Mayewski
The Cryosphere, 11, 469–482, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-469-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-469-2017, 2017
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Our study is the first to use ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to investigate ice thickness and internal layering at Kilimanjaro’s largest ice body, the Northern Ice Field (NIF). For monitoring the ongoing ice loss, our ice thickness soundings allowed us to estimate the total ice volume remaining at NIF's southern portion. Englacial GPR reflections indicate undisturbed layers within NIF's center and provide a first link between age information obtained from ice coring and vertical wall sampling.
Simon J. Cook, Ioannis Kougkoulos, Laura A. Edwards, Jason Dortch, and Dirk Hoffmann
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This is the first study of recent glacier change for the whole of the Bolivian Cordillera Oriental from 1986 to 2014. These glaciers have shrunk by ~ 43 %, which is a concern for regional water resources. We provide the first quantification of meltwater lake development across the Bolivian Andes as glaciers have receded. These lakes have increased markedly in number and area. We identify 25 lakes as potential outburst flood risks to downstream communities. These lakes require further monitoring.
R. Prinz, L. I. Nicholson, T. Mölg, W. Gurgiser, and G. Kaser
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Lewis Glacier has lost > 80 % of its extent since the late 19th century. A sensitivity study using a process-based model assigns this shrinking to decreased atmospheric moisture without increasing air temperatures required. The glacier retreat implies a distinctly different coupling between the glacier's surface-air layer and its surrounding boundary layer, underlining the difficulty of deriving palaeoclimates for larger glacier extents on the basis of modern measurements of small glaciers.
C. G. Schmitt, J. D. All, J. P. Schwarz, W. P. Arnott, R. J. Cole, E. Lapham, and A. Celestian
The Cryosphere, 9, 331–340, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-331-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-331-2015, 2015
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This paper presents the results of 3 years of measurements of light absorbing particles on the glaciers in Peru. A new analysis technique has been developed and results are shown to be well correlated with black carbon mass estimates made with the Single Particle Soot Photometer (SP2) instrument, the state-of-the-art instrument for this type of measurement. Effective black carbon levels were found to be moderate on glaciers near cities and close to zero in more remote regions.
N. J. Cullen, P. Sirguey, T. Mölg, G. Kaser, M. Winkler, and S. J. Fitzsimons
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N. Salzmann, C. Huggel, M. Rohrer, W. Silverio, B. G. Mark, P. Burns, and C. Portocarrero
The Cryosphere, 7, 103–118, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-103-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-103-2013, 2013
A. Rabatel, B. Francou, A. Soruco, J. Gomez, B. Cáceres, J. L. Ceballos, R. Basantes, M. Vuille, J.-E. Sicart, C. Huggel, M. Scheel, Y. Lejeune, Y. Arnaud, M. Collet, T. Condom, G. Consoli, V. Favier, V. Jomelli, R. Galarraga, P. Ginot, L. Maisincho, J. Mendoza, M. Ménégoz, E. Ramirez, P. Ribstein, W. Suarez, M. Villacis, and P. Wagnon
The Cryosphere, 7, 81–102, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-81-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-81-2013, 2013
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Short summary
Using a drone custom built for high altitude flight (4000–6000 m) we completed repeat surveys of Llaca Glacier in the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Analysis of high resolution imagery and elevation data reveals highly heterogeneous patterns of glacier change and the important role of ice cliffs in glacier melt dynamics. Drones are found to provide a viable and potentially transformative method for studying glacier change at high spatial resolution, on demand and at relatively low cost.
Using a drone custom built for high altitude flight (4000–6000 m) we completed repeat surveys of...
