Articles | Volume 11, issue 6
The Cryosphere, 11, 2897–2918, 2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2897-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
The Cryosphere, 11, 2897–2918, 2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2897-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article 12 Dec 2017
Research article | 12 Dec 2017
Evaluation of different methods to model near-surface turbulent fluxes for a mountain glacier in the Cariboo Mountains, BC, Canada
Valentina Radić et al.
Related authors
Sam Anderson and Valentina Radic
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-113, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-113, 2021
Revised manuscript under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
We develop and interpret a spatio-temporal deep learning model for regional streamflow prediction at more than 200 stream gauge stations in Western Canada. We find the novel modelling style to work very well for daily streamflow prediction. Importantly, we interpret model learning to show that it has learned to focus on physically interpretable and physically relevant information, which is a highly desirable quality of machine-learning based hydrological models.
Noel Fitzpatrick, Valentina Radić, and Brian Menounos
The Cryosphere, 13, 1051–1071, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1051-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1051-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of surface roughness are rare on glaciers, despite being an important control for heat exchange with the atmosphere and surface melt. In this study, roughness values were determined through measurements at multiple locations and seasons and found to vary across glacier surfaces and to differ from commonly assumed values in melt models. Two new methods that remotely determine roughness from digital elevation models returned good performance and may facilitate improved melt modelling.
Mekdes Ayalew Tessema, Valentina Radić, Brian Menounos, and Noel Fitzpatrick
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-154, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-154, 2018
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
To force physics-based models of glacier melt, meteorological variables and energy fluxes are needed at or in vicinity of the glaciers in question. In the absence of observations detailing these variables, the required forcing is commonly derived by downscaling the coarse-resolution output from global climate models (GCMs). This study investigates how the downscaled fields from GCMs can successfully resolve the local processes driving surface melting at three glaciers in British Columbia.
S. H. Mernild, W. H. Lipscomb, D. B. Bahr, V. Radić, and M. Zemp
The Cryosphere, 7, 1565–1577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1565-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1565-2013, 2013
Dhiraj Pradhananga, John W. Pomeroy, Caroline Aubry-Wake, D. Scott Munro, Joseph Shea, Michael N. Demuth, Nammy Hang Kirat, Brian Menounos, and Kriti Mukherjee
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 2875–2894, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2875-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-2875-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents hydrological, meteorological, glaciological and geospatial data of Peyto Glacier Basin in the Canadian Rockies. They include high-resolution DEMs derived from air photos and lidar surveys and long-term hydrological and glaciological model forcing datasets derived from bias-corrected reanalysis products. These data are crucial for studying climate change and variability in the basin and understanding the hydrological responses of the basin to both glacier and climate change.
Christophe Kinnard, Olivier Larouche, Michael N. Demuth, and Brian Menounos
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-109, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-109, 2021
Preprint under review for TC
Short summary
Short summary
This study implements a physically based, distributed glacier mass balance model in a context of sparse direct observations. Carefully constraining model parameters with ancillary data allowed to accurately reconstructing the mass balance of Saskatchewan Glacier over a 37-year period. We show that the mass balance sensitivity to warming is dominated by increased melting and that changes in glacier albedo and air humidity are the leading causes of increased glacier melt under warming scenarios.
Julie M. Thériault, Stephen J. Déry, John W. Pomeroy, Hilary M. Smith, Juris Almonte, André Bertoncini, Robert W. Crawford, Aurélie Desroches-Lapointe, Mathieu Lachapelle, Zen Mariani, Selina Mitchell, Jeremy E. Morris, Charlie Hébert-Pinard, Peter Rodriguez, and Hadleigh D. Thompson
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 1233–1249, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1233-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-1233-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This article discusses the data that were collected during the Storms and Precipitation Across the continental Divide (SPADE) field campaign in spring 2019 in the Canadian Rockies, along the Alberta and British Columbia border. Various instruments were installed at five field sites to gather information about atmospheric conditions focussing on precipitation. Details about the field sites, the instrumentation used, the variables collected, and the collection methods and intervals are presented.
Sam Anderson and Valentina Radic
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-113, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2021-113, 2021
Revised manuscript under review for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
We develop and interpret a spatio-temporal deep learning model for regional streamflow prediction at more than 200 stream gauge stations in Western Canada. We find the novel modelling style to work very well for daily streamflow prediction. Importantly, we interpret model learning to show that it has learned to focus on physically interpretable and physically relevant information, which is a highly desirable quality of machine-learning based hydrological models.
Vincent Vionnet, Christopher B. Marsh, Brian Menounos, Simon Gascoin, Nicholas E. Wayand, Joseph Shea, Kriti Mukherjee, and John W. Pomeroy
The Cryosphere, 15, 743–769, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-743-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-743-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Mountain snow cover provides critical supplies of fresh water to downstream users. Its accurate prediction requires inclusion of often-ignored processes. A multi-scale modelling strategy is presented that efficiently accounts for snow redistribution. Model accuracy is assessed via airborne lidar and optical satellite imagery. With redistribution the model captures the elevation–snow depth relation. Redistribution processes are required to reproduce spatial variability, such as around ridges.
Noel Fitzpatrick, Valentina Radić, and Brian Menounos
The Cryosphere, 13, 1051–1071, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1051-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1051-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Measurements of surface roughness are rare on glaciers, despite being an important control for heat exchange with the atmosphere and surface melt. In this study, roughness values were determined through measurements at multiple locations and seasons and found to vary across glacier surfaces and to differ from commonly assumed values in melt models. Two new methods that remotely determine roughness from digital elevation models returned good performance and may facilitate improved melt modelling.
Siraj Ul Islam, Charles L. Curry, Stephen J. Déry, and Francis W. Zwiers
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 811–828, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-811-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-811-2019, 2019
Fanny Brun, Patrick Wagnon, Etienne Berthier, Joseph M. Shea, Walter W. Immerzeel, Philip D. A. Kraaijenbrink, Christian Vincent, Camille Reverchon, Dibas Shrestha, and Yves Arnaud
The Cryosphere, 12, 3439–3457, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3439-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3439-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
On debris-covered glaciers, steep ice cliffs experience dramatically enhanced melt compared with the surrounding debris-covered ice. Using field measurements, UAV data and submetre satellite imagery, we estimate the cliff contribution to 2 years of ablation on a debris-covered tongue in Nepal, carefully taking into account ice dynamics. While they occupy only 7 to 8 % of the tongue surface, ice cliffs contributed to 23 to 24 % of the total tongue ablation.
Marco A. Hernández-Henríquez, Aseem R. Sharma, Mark Taylor, Hadleigh D. Thompson, and Stephen J. Déry
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 10, 1655–1672, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1655-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-10-1655-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
This article presents the development of a sub-hourly database on atmospheric conditions collected at 11 active weather stations in British Columbia's Cariboo Mountains extending from 2006 to present. Air and soil temperature, relative humidity, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, rainfall and snow depth are measured at 15 min intervals. Details on deployment sites, the instrumentation used, the collection and quality control process are provided.
Mekdes Ayalew Tessema, Valentina Radić, Brian Menounos, and Noel Fitzpatrick
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-154, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2018-154, 2018
Preprint withdrawn
Short summary
Short summary
To force physics-based models of glacier melt, meteorological variables and energy fluxes are needed at or in vicinity of the glaciers in question. In the absence of observations detailing these variables, the required forcing is commonly derived by downscaling the coarse-resolution output from global climate models (GCMs). This study investigates how the downscaled fields from GCMs can successfully resolve the local processes driving surface melting at three glaciers in British Columbia.
Paul J. Kushner, Lawrence R. Mudryk, William Merryfield, Jaison T. Ambadan, Aaron Berg, Adéline Bichet, Ross Brown, Chris Derksen, Stephen J. Déry, Arlan Dirkson, Greg Flato, Christopher G. Fletcher, John C. Fyfe, Nathan Gillett, Christian Haas, Stephen Howell, Frédéric Laliberté, Kelly McCusker, Michael Sigmond, Reinel Sospedra-Alfonso, Neil F. Tandon, Chad Thackeray, Bruno Tremblay, and Francis W. Zwiers
The Cryosphere, 12, 1137–1156, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1137-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1137-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Here, the Canadian research network CanSISE uses state-of-the-art observations of snow and sea ice to assess how Canada's climate model and climate prediction systems capture variability in snow, sea ice, and related climate parameters. We find that the system performs well, accounting for observational uncertainty (especially for snow), model uncertainty, and chaotic climate variability. Even for variables like sea ice, where improvement is needed, useful prediction tools can be developed.
Randal D. Koster, Alan K. Betts, Paul A. Dirmeyer, Marc Bierkens, Katrina E. Bennett, Stephen J. Déry, Jason P. Evans, Rong Fu, Felipe Hernandez, L. Ruby Leung, Xu Liang, Muhammad Masood, Hubert Savenije, Guiling Wang, and Xing Yuan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 3777–3798, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3777-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-3777-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Large-scale hydrological variability can affect society in profound ways; floods and droughts, for example, often cause major damage and hardship. A recent gathering of hydrologists at a symposium to honor the career of Professor Eric Wood motivates the present survey of recent research on this variability. The surveyed literature and the illustrative examples provided in the paper show that research into hydrological variability continues to be strong, vibrant, and multifaceted.
Emmy E. Stigter, Niko Wanders, Tuomo M. Saloranta, Joseph M. Shea, Marc F. P. Bierkens, and Walter W. Immerzeel
The Cryosphere, 11, 1647–1664, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1647-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1647-2017, 2017
Koji Fujita, Hiroshi Inoue, Takeki Izumi, Satoru Yamaguchi, Ayako Sadakane, Sojiro Sunako, Kouichi Nishimura, Walter W. Immerzeel, Joseph M. Shea, Rijan B. Kayastha, Takanobu Sawagaki, David F. Breashears, Hiroshi Yagi, and Akiko Sakai
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 749–764, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-749-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-17-749-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We create multiple DEMs from photographs taken by helicopter and UAV and reveal the deposit volumes over the Langtang village, which was destroyed by avalanches induced by the Gorkha earthquake. Estimated snow depth in the source area is consistent with anomalously large snow depths observed at a neighboring glacier. Comparing with a long-term observational data, we conclude that this anomalous winter snow amplified the disaster induced by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal.
Siraj Ul Islam and Stephen J. Déry
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 1827–1847, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1827-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-21-1827-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study focuses on predictive uncertainties in the snow hydrology of British Columbia's Fraser River Basin (FRB), using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model forced with several gridded climate datasets. Intercomparisons of forcing datasets and VIC simulations are performed to identify their strengths and weaknesses. This reveals widespread differences over FRB's mountains in precipitation and air temperature forcing datasets and their VIC simulations of runoff/snow water equivalent.
Tobias Bolch, Tino Pieczonka, Kriti Mukherjee, and Joseph Shea
The Cryosphere, 11, 531–539, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-531-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-531-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Previous geodetic estimates of glacier mass changes in the Karakoram have revealed balanced budgets or a possible slight mass gain since the year ∼ 2000. We used old US reconnaissance imagery and could show that glaciers in the Hunza River basin (Central Karakoram) experienced on average no significant mass changes also since the 1970s. Likewise the glaciers had heterogeneous behaviour with frequent surge activities during the last 40 years.
Stephen J. Déry, Tricia A. Stadnyk, Matthew K. MacDonald, and Bunu Gauli-Sharma
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 20, 4801–4818, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4801-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-20-4801-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This manuscript focuses on observed changes to the hydrology of 42 rivers in northern Canada draining one-half of its land mass over the period 1964–2013. Statistical and trend analyses are presented for the 42 individual rivers, 6 regional drainage basins, and collectively for all of northern Canada. A main finding is the reversal of a statistically significant decline in the first half of the study period to a statistically significant 18.1 % incline in river discharge across northern Canada.
Christian Vincent, Patrick Wagnon, Joseph M. Shea, Walter W. Immerzeel, Philip Kraaijenbrink, Dibas Shrestha, Alvaro Soruco, Yves Arnaud, Fanny Brun, Etienne Berthier, and Sonam Futi Sherpa
The Cryosphere, 10, 1845–1858, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1845-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1845-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Approximately 25 % of the glacierized area in the Everest region is covered by debris, yet the surface mass balance of these glaciers has not been measured directly. From terrestrial photogrammetry and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) methods, this study shows that the ablation is strongly reduced by the debris cover. The insulating effect of the debris cover has a larger effect on total mass loss than the enhanced ice ablation due to supraglacial ponds and exposed ice cliffs.
W. W. Immerzeel, N. Wanders, A. F. Lutz, J. M. Shea, and M. F. P. Bierkens
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4673–4687, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4673-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4673-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
The water resources of the upper Indus river basin (UIB) are important for millions of people, yet little is known about the rain and snow fall in the high-altitude regions because of the inaccessibility, the climatic complexity and the lack of observations. In this study we use mass balance of glaciers to reconstruct the amount of precipitation in the UIB and we conclude that this amount is much higher than previously thought.
J. M. Shea, W. W. Immerzeel, P. Wagnon, C. Vincent, and S. Bajracharya
The Cryosphere, 9, 1105–1128, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1105-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1105-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
A glacier mass balance and redistribution model that integrates field observations and downscaled climate fields is developed to examine glacier sensitivity to future climate in the Everest region of Nepal. The modelled sensitivity of glaciers to future climate change is high, and glacier mass loss is sustained through the 21st century for both middle- and high-emission scenarios. Projected temperature increases will expose large glacier areas to melt and reduce snow accumulations.
K. Rasouli, M. A. Hernández-Henríquez, and S. J. Déry
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 1287–1292, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1287-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-1287-2015, 2015
F. Brun, M. Dumont, P. Wagnon, E. Berthier, M. F. Azam, J. M. Shea, P. Sirguey, A. Rabatel, and Al. Ramanathan
The Cryosphere, 9, 341–355, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-341-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-341-2015, 2015
P. Wagnon, C. Vincent, Y. Arnaud, E. Berthier, E. Vuillermoz, S. Gruber, M. Ménégoz, A. Gilbert, M. Dumont, J. M. Shea, D. Stumm, and B. K. Pokhrel
The Cryosphere, 7, 1769–1786, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1769-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1769-2013, 2013
S. H. Mernild, W. H. Lipscomb, D. B. Bahr, V. Radić, and M. Zemp
The Cryosphere, 7, 1565–1577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1565-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1565-2013, 2013
K. Rasouli, M. A. Hernández-Henríquez, and S. J. Déry
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 17, 1681–1691, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1681-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-1681-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Energy Balance Obs/Modelling
Firn changes at Colle Gnifetti revealed with a high-resolution process-based physical model approach
The surface energy balance in a cold and arid permafrost environment, Ladakh, Himalayas, India
The diurnal Energy Balance Model (dEBM): a convenient surface mass balance solution for ice sheets in Earth system modeling
Spectral attenuation coefficients from measurements of light transmission in bare ice on the Greenland Ice Sheet
Brief communication: Evaluation of multiple empirical, density-dependent snow conductivity relationships at East Antarctica
On the statistical properties of sea-ice lead fraction and heat fluxes in the Arctic
Effect of small-scale snow surface roughness on snow albedo and reflectance
New insights into radiative transfer within sea ice derived from autonomous optical propagation measurements
Long-term surface energy balance of the western Greenland Ice Sheet and the role of large-scale circulation variability
Sensitivity of the surface energy budget to drifting snow as simulated by MAR in coastal Adelie Land, Antarctica
Seasonal and interannual variability of melt-season albedo at Haig Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Surface energy fluxes on Chilean glaciers: measurements and models
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier
Incorporating moisture content in surface energy balance modeling of a debris-covered glacier
Surface melt and the importance of water flow – an analysis based on high-resolution unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) data for an Arctic glacier
Impact of forcing on sublimation simulations for a high mountain catchment in the semiarid Andes
Intercomparison and improvement of two-stream shortwave radiative transfer schemes in Earth system models for a unified treatment of cryospheric surfaces
Water tracks intensify surface energy and mass exchange in the Antarctic McMurdo Dry Valleys
Quantifying the snowmelt–albedo feedback at Neumayer Station, East Antarctica
A key factor initiating surface ablation of Arctic sea ice: earlier and increasing liquid precipitation
Brief communication: An ice surface melt scheme including the diurnal cycle of solar radiation
Glacio-hydrological melt and run-off modelling: application of a limits of acceptability framework for model comparison and selection
Sunlight, clouds, sea ice, albedo, and the radiative budget: the umbrella versus the blanket
Forcing the SURFEX/Crocus snow model with combined hourly meteorological forecasts and gridded observations in southern Norway
Observations and simulations of the seasonal evolution of snowpack cold content and its relation to snowmelt and the snowpack energy budget
Effects of short-term variability of meteorological variables on soil temperature in permafrost regions
Shifted energy fluxes, increased Bowen ratios, and reduced thaw depths linked with drainage-induced changes in permafrost ecosystem structure
Quantifying bioalbedo: a new physically based model and discussion of empirical methods for characterising biological influence on ice and snow albedo
The importance of accurate glacier albedo for estimates of surface mass balance on Vatnajökull: evaluating the surface energy budget in a regional climate model with automatic weather station observations
SEMIC: an efficient surface energy and mass balance model applied to the Greenland ice sheet
Surface-layer turbulence, energy balance and links to atmospheric circulations over a mountain glacier in the French Alps
Evaposublimation from the snow in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada (Spain)
Surface energy balance sensitivity to meteorological variability on Haig Glacier, Canadian Rocky Mountains
Improving satellite-retrieved surface radiative fluxes in polar regions using a smart sampling approach
A Retrospective, Iterative, Geometry-Based (RIGB) tilt-correction method for radiation observed by automatic weather stations on snow-covered surfaces: application to Greenland
Cloud effects on surface energy and mass balance in the ablation area of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand
Changing surface–atmosphere energy exchange and refreezing capacity of the lower accumulation area, West Greenland
The global land shortwave cryosphere radiative effect during the MODIS era
Processes governing the mass balance of Chhota Shigri Glacier (western Himalaya, India) assessed by point-scale surface energy balance measurements
Representing moisture fluxes and phase changes in glacier debris cover using a reservoir approach
Updated cloud physics in a regional atmospheric climate model improves the modelled surface energy balance of Antarctica
Modeling energy and mass balance of Shallap Glacier, Peru
Meteorological drivers of ablation processes on a cold glacier in the semi-arid Andes of Chile
Micrometeorological conditions and surface mass and energy fluxes on Lewis Glacier, Mt Kenya, in relation to other tropical glaciers
Snow spectral albedo at Summit, Greenland: measurements and numerical simulations based on physical and chemical properties of the snowpack
High-resolution interactive modelling of the mountain glacier–atmosphere interface: an application over the Karakoram
Borehole temperatures reveal a changed energy budget at Mill Island, East Antarctica, over recent decades
Analysis of the snow-atmosphere energy balance during wet-snow instabilities and implications for avalanche prediction
A minimal, statistical model for the surface albedo of Vestfonna ice cap, Svalbard
Refreezing on the Greenland ice sheet: a comparison of parameterizations
Enrico Mattea, Horst Machguth, Marlene Kronenberg, Ward van Pelt, Manuela Bassi, and Martin Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 15, 3181–3205, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3181-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3181-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In our study we find that climate change is affecting the high-alpine Colle Gnifetti glacier (Swiss–Italian Alps) with an increase in melt amounts and ice temperatures.
In the near future this trend could threaten the viability of the oldest ice core record in the Alps.
To reach our conclusions, for the first time we used the meteorological data of the highest permanent weather station in Europe (Capanna Margherita, 4560 m), together with an advanced numeric simulation of the glacier.
John Mohd Wani, Renoj J. Thayyen, Chandra Shekhar Prasad Ojha, and Stephan Gruber
The Cryosphere, 15, 2273–2293, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2273-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2273-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We study the surface energy balance from a cold-arid permafrost environment in the Indian Himalayan region. The GEOtop model was used for the modelling of surface energy balance. Our results show that the variability in the turbulent heat fluxes is similar to that reported from the seasonally frozen ground and permafrost regions of the Tibetan Plateau. Further, the low relative humidity could be playing a critical role in the surface energy balance and the permafrost processes.
Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Paul Gierz, Christian B. Rodehacke, Shan Xu, Hu Yang, and Gerrit Lohmann
The Cryosphere, 15, 2295–2313, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2295-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2295-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The surface mass balance scheme dEBM (diurnal Energy Balance Model) provides a novel, computationally inexpensive interface between the atmosphere and land ice for Earth system modeling. The dEBM is particularly suitable for Earth system modeling on multi-millennial timescales as it accounts for changes in the Earth's orbit and atmospheric greenhouse gas concentration.
Matthew G. Cooper, Laurence C. Smith, Asa K. Rennermalm, Marco Tedesco, Rohi Muthyala, Sasha Z. Leidman, Samiah E. Moustafa, and Jessica V. Fayne
The Cryosphere, 15, 1931–1953, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1931-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1931-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We measured sunlight transmitted into glacier ice to improve models of glacier ice melt and satellite measurements of glacier ice surfaces. We found that very small concentrations of impurities inside the ice increase absorption of sunlight, but the amount was small enough to enable an estimate of ice absorptivity. We confirmed earlier results that the absorption minimum is near 390 nm. We also found that a layer of highly reflective granular "white ice" near the surface reduces transmittance.
Minghu Ding, Tong Zhang, Diyi Yang, Ian Allison, Tingfeng Dou, and Cunde Xiao
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-70, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2021-70, 2021
Revised manuscript accepted for TC
Short summary
Short summary
The snow heat conductivity is essential for energy balance between atmosphere and firn but still not clear in Antarctica. Here we used 3 AWS data located in different types climate, and evaluated 9 schemes which is used to calculated the effective heat diffusivity of snow. The best solution was proposed. However, no conductivity-density relationship is optimal at all sites and the performance of each varies with depth.
Einar Ólason, Pierre Rampal, and Véronique Dansereau
The Cryosphere, 15, 1053–1064, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1053-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1053-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We analyse the fractal properties observed in the pattern of the long, narrow openings that form in Arctic sea ice known as leads. We use statistical tools to explore the fractal properties of the lead fraction observed in satellite data and show that our sea-ice model neXtSIM displays the same behaviour. Building on this result we then show that the pattern of heat loss from ocean to atmosphere in the model displays similar fractal properties, stemming from the fractal properties of the leads.
Terhikki Manninen, Kati Anttila, Emmihenna Jääskeläinen, Aku Riihelä, Jouni Peltoniemi, Petri Räisänen, Panu Lahtinen, Niilo Siljamo, Laura Thölix, Outi Meinander, Anna Kontu, Hanne Suokanerva, Roberta Pirazzini, Juha Suomalainen, Teemu Hakala, Sanna Kaasalainen, Harri Kaartinen, Antero Kukko, Olivier Hautecoeur, and Jean-Louis Roujean
The Cryosphere, 15, 793–820, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-793-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-793-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The primary goal of this paper is to present a model of snow surface albedo (brightness) accounting for small-scale surface roughness effects. It can be combined with any volume scattering model. The results indicate that surface roughness may decrease the albedo by about 1–3 % in midwinter and even more than 10 % during the late melting season. The effect is largest for low solar zenith angle values and lower bulk snow albedo values.
Christian Katlein, Lovro Valcic, Simon Lambert-Girard, and Mario Hoppmann
The Cryosphere, 15, 183–198, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-183-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-183-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
To improve autonomous investigations of sea ice optical properties, we designed a chain of multispectral light sensors, providing autonomous in-ice light measurements. Here we describe the system and the data acquired from a first prototype deployment. We show that sideward-looking planar irradiance sensors basically measure scalar irradiance and demonstrate the use of this sensor chain to derive light transmittance and inherent optical properties of sea ice.
Baojuan Huai, Michiel R. van den Broeke, and Carleen H. Reijmer
The Cryosphere, 14, 4181–4199, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4181-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4181-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the surface energy balance (SEB) of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) using a SEB model forced with observations from automatic weather stations (AWSs). We correlate ERA5 with AWSs to show a significant positive correlation of GrIS summer surface temperature and melt with the Greenland Blocking Index and weaker and opposite correlations with the North Atlantic Oscillation. This analysis may help explain melting patterns in the GrIS with respect to circulation anomalies.
Louis Le Toumelin, Charles Amory, Vincent Favier, Christoph Kittel, Stefan Hofer, Xavier Fettweis, Hubert Gallée, and Vinay Kayetha
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2020-329, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2020-329, 2020
Revised manuscript accepted for TC
Short summary
Short summary
Snow is frequently eroded from the surface by the wind in Adelie Land (Antarctica) and suspended in the lower atmosphere. By performing model simulations, we show firstly that suspended snow layers interact with incoming radiations similarly to a near-surface cloud. Secondly, suspended snow modify the atmosphere thermodynamic structure and energy exchanges with the surface. Our results suggest snow transport by the wind should be taken into account in future model studies over the region.
Shawn J. Marshall and Kristina Miller
The Cryosphere, 14, 3249–3267, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3249-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3249-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Surface-albedo measurements from 2002 to 2017 from Haig Glacier in the Canadian Rockies provide no evidence of long-term trends (i.e., the glacier does not appear to be darkening), but there are large variations in albedo over the melt season and from year to year. The glacier ice is exceptionally dark in association with forest fire fallout but is effectively cleansed by meltwater or rainfall. Summer snowfall plays an important role in refreshing the glacier surface and reducing summer melt.
Marius Schaefer, Duilio Fonseca-Gallardo, David Farías-Barahona, and Gino Casassa
The Cryosphere, 14, 2545–2565, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2545-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2545-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Chile hosts glaciers in a large range of latitudes and climates. To project future ice extent, a sound quantification of the energy exchange between atmosphere and glaciers is needed. We present new data for six Chilean glaciers belonging to three glaciological zones. In the Central Andes, the main energy source for glacier melt is the incoming solar radiation, while in southern Patagonia heat provided by the mild and humid air is also important. Total melt rates are higher in Patagonia.
Pleun N. J. Bonekamp, Chiel C. van Heerwaarden, Jakob F. Steiner, and Walter W. Immerzeel
The Cryosphere, 14, 1611–1632, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Drivers controlling melt of debris-covered glaciers are largely unknown. With a 3D turbulence-resolving model the impact of surface properties of debris on micrometeorological variables and the conductive heat flux is shown. Also, we show ice cliffs are local melt hot spots and that turbulent fluxes and local heat advection amplify spatial heterogeneity on the surface.This work is important for glacier mass balance modelling and for the understanding of the evolution of debris-covered glaciers.
Alexandra Giese, Aaron Boone, Patrick Wagnon, and Robert Hawley
The Cryosphere, 14, 1555–1577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1555-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1555-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Rocky debris on glacier surfaces is known to affect the melt of mountain glaciers. Debris can be dry or filled to varying extents with liquid water and ice; whether debris is dry, wet, and/or icy affects how efficiently heat is conducted through debris from its surface to the ice interface. Our paper presents a new energy balance model that simulates moisture phase, evolution, and location in debris. ISBA-DEB is applied to West Changri Nup glacier in Nepal to reveal important physical processes.
Eleanor A. Bash and Brian J. Moorman
The Cryosphere, 14, 549–563, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-549-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-549-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
High-resolution measurements from unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery allowed for examination of glacier melt model performance in detail at Fountain Glacier. This work capitalized on distributed measurements at 10 cm resolution to look at the spatial distribution of model errors in the ablation zone. Although the model agreed with measurements on average, strong correlation was found with surface water. The results highlight the contribution of surface water flow to melt at this location.
Marion Réveillet, Shelley MacDonell, Simon Gascoin, Christophe Kinnard, Stef Lhermitte, and Nicole Schaffer
The Cryosphere, 14, 147–163, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-147-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-147-2020, 2020
Cheng Dang, Charles S. Zender, and Mark G. Flanner
The Cryosphere, 13, 2325–2343, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2325-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2325-2019, 2019
Tobias Linhardt, Joseph S. Levy, and Christoph K. Thomas
The Cryosphere, 13, 2203–2219, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2203-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2203-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents surface energy fluxes in an Antarctic polar desert in the summer season, comparing wetted soil at a water track with dominating dry soils. Elevated energy uptake, evaporation, and soil heat fluxes at the water track highlight the importance of wetted soils for water and energy cycling in polar deserts. This connection will grow more relevant, as wetted soils are expected to expand due to climate warming, with implications for landscape-scale hydrology and soil ecosystems.
Constantijn L. Jakobs, Carleen H. Reijmer, Peter Kuipers Munneke, Gert König-Langlo, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 13, 1473–1485, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1473-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1473-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We use 24 years of observations at Neumayer Station, East Antarctica, to calculate the surface energy balance and the associated surface melt, which we find to be mainly driven by the absorption of solar radiation. Meltwater can refreeze in the subsurface snow layers, thereby decreasing the surface albedo and hence allowing for more absorption of solar radiation. By implementing an albedo parameterisation, we show that this feedback accounts for a threefold increase in surface melt at Neumayer.
Tingfeng Dou, Cunde Xiao, Jiping Liu, Wei Han, Zhiheng Du, Andrew R. Mahoney, Joshua Jones, and Hajo Eicken
The Cryosphere, 13, 1233–1246, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The variability and potential trends of rain-on-snow events over Arctic sea ice and their role in sea-ice losses are poorly understood. This study demonstrates that rain-on-snow events are a critical factor in initiating the onset of surface melt over Arctic sea ice, and onset of spring rainfall over sea ice has shifted to earlier dates since the 1970s, which may have profound impacts on ice melt through feedbacks involving earlier onset of surface melt.
Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Paul Gierz, and Gerrit Lohmann
The Cryosphere, 12, 3923–3930, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3923-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3923-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new surface melt scheme for land ice. Derived from the energy balance of melting surfaces, the scheme may be particularly suitable for long ice-sheet simulations of past and future climates. It is computationally inexpensive and can be adapted to changes in the Earth's orbit and atmospheric composition. The scheme yields a better spatial representation of surface melt than common empirical schemes when applied to the Greenland Ice Sheet under present-day climate conditions.
Jonathan D. Mackay, Nicholas E. Barrand, David M. Hannah, Stefan Krause, Christopher R. Jackson, Jez Everest, and Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir
The Cryosphere, 12, 2175–2210, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2175-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2175-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We apply a framework to compare and objectively accept or reject competing melt and run-off process models. We found no acceptable models. Furthermore, increasing model complexity does not guarantee better predictions. The results highlight model selection uncertainty and the need for rigorous frameworks to identify deficiencies in competing models. The application of this approach in the future will help to better quantify model prediction uncertainty and develop improved process models.
Donald K. Perovich
The Cryosphere, 12, 2159–2165, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2159-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2159-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The balance of longwave and shortwave radiation plays a central role in the summer melt of Arctic sea ice. It is governed by clouds and surface albedo. The basic question is what causes more melting, sunny skies or cloudy skies. It depends on the albedo of the ice surface. For snow-covered or bare ice, sunny skies always result in less radiative heat input. In contrast, the open ocean always has, and melt ponds usually have, more radiative input under sunny skies than cloudy skies.
Hanneke Luijting, Dagrun Vikhamar-Schuler, Trygve Aspelien, Åsmund Bakketun, and Mariken Homleid
The Cryosphere, 12, 2123–2145, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2123-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2123-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Knowledge of the snow reservoir is important for energy production and water resource management. In this study, a detailed snow model is run over southern Norway with two different sets of forcing data. The results show that forcing data consisting of post-processed data from a numerical weather model (observations assimilated into the raw weather predictions) are most promising for snow simulations when larger regions are evaluated.
Keith S. Jennings, Timothy G. F. Kittel, and Noah P. Molotch
The Cryosphere, 12, 1595–1614, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1595-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1595-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We show through observations and simulations that cold content, a key part of the snowpack energy budget, develops primarily through new snowfall. We also note that cold content damps snowmelt rate and timing at sub-seasonal timescales, while seasonal melt onset is controlled by the timing of peak cold content and total spring precipitation. This work has implications for how cold content is represented in snow models and improves our understanding of its effect on snowmelt processes.
Christian Beer, Philipp Porada, Altug Ekici, and Matthias Brakebusch
The Cryosphere, 12, 741–757, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-741-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-741-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Idealized model experiments demonstrate that, in addition to a gradual climate change, changing daily to weekly variability of meteorological variables and extreme events will also have an impact on mean annual ground temperature in high-latitude permafrost areas. In fact, results of the land surface model experiments show that the projected increase of variability of meteorological variables leads to cooler permafrost soil in contrast to an otherwise soil warming in response to climate change.
Mathias Göckede, Fanny Kittler, Min Jung Kwon, Ina Burjack, Martin Heimann, Olaf Kolle, Nikita Zimov, and Sergey Zimov
The Cryosphere, 11, 2975–2996, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2975-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2975-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Shifts in hydrologic conditions will be a key factor for the sustainability of Arctic ecosystems under future climate change. Using a long-term manipulation experiment, we analyzed how energy exchange processes within a permafrost ecosystem react to sustained dry conditions. Changes in several important ecosystem characteristics lead to reduced evapotranspiration and increased sensible heat fluxes. Heat transfer into the soil was strongly reduced, keeping the permafrost colder.
Joseph M. Cook, Andrew J. Hodson, Alex S. Gardner, Mark Flanner, Andrew J. Tedstone, Christopher Williamson, Tristram D. L. Irvine-Fynn, Johan Nilsson, Robert Bryant, and Martyn Tranter
The Cryosphere, 11, 2611–2632, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2611-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2611-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Biological growth darkens snow and ice, causing it to melt faster. This is often referred to as
bioalbedo. Quantifying bioalbedo has not been achieved because of difficulties in isolating the biological contribution from the optical properties of ice and snow, and from inorganic impurities in field studies. In this paper, we provide a physical model that enables bioalbedo to be quantified from first principles and we use it to guide future field studies.
Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, Sverrir Guðmundsson, Peter L. Langen, Finnur Pálsson, Ruth Mottram, Simon Gascoin, and Helgi Björnsson
The Cryosphere, 11, 1665–1684, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1665-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1665-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
The regional climate model HIRHAM5 is evaluated over Vatnajökull, Iceland, using automatic weather stations and mass balance observations from 1995 to 2014. From this we asses whether the model can be used to reconstruct the mass balance of the glacier. We find that the simulated energy balance is underestimated overall, but it has been improved by using a new albedo scheme. The specific mass balance is reconstructed back to 1980, thus expanding on the observational records of the mass balance.
Mario Krapp, Alexander Robinson, and Andrey Ganopolski
The Cryosphere, 11, 1519–1535, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1519-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1519-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We present the snowpack model SEMIC. It calculates snow height, surface temperature, surface albedo, and the surface mass balance of snow- and ice-covered surfaces while using meteorological data as input. In this paper we describe how SEMIC works and how well it compares with snowpack data of a more sophisticated regional climate model applied to the Greenland ice sheet. Because of its simplicity and efficiency, SEMIC can be used as a coupling interface between atmospheric and ice sheet models.
Maxime Litt, Jean-Emmanuel Sicart, Delphine Six, Patrick Wagnon, and Warren D. Helgason
The Cryosphere, 11, 971–987, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-971-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-971-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Climate variations might change the frequency of typical weather conditions. We present a weather pattern classification as an useful tool for identifying changing glacier wind regimes. We show the intensity of turbulent heat exchanges between ice and air changes with these regimes, as well as the importance of discrepancies between bulk-aerodynamic and eddy-covariance fluxes. The results suggest these discrepancies influence melt estimates from surface energy balance calculations.
Javier Herrero and María José Polo
The Cryosphere, 10, 2981–2998, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2981-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2981-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We present 7 years of field work and modelling to assess the importance of the loss of water from the snow by means of evaposublimation in the Mediterranean mountains of Sierra Nevada. The actual evaposublimation rates were detected through detailed measurement of the mass fluxes from the snow. These data have led to some improvements in the modelling of the snow dynamics in this kind of mountainous semiarid regions. Evaposublimation is estimated to range 24–33% of total annual snowfall.
Samaneh Ebrahimi and Shawn J. Marshall
The Cryosphere, 10, 2799–2819, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2799-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2799-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric–glacier surface interactions govern melt, where each variable has a different impact depending on the region and time of year. To understand these impacts and their year-to-year variability on summer melt extent, we examine melt sensitivity to different meteorological variables at a glacier in the Canadian Rockies. Cloud conditions, surface albedo, temperature, and humidity are all important to melt extent and should be considered in models of glacier response to climate change.
Kristof Van Tricht, Stef Lhermitte, Irina V. Gorodetskaya, and Nicole P. M. van Lipzig
The Cryosphere, 10, 2379–2397, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2379-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2379-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Despite the crucial role of polar regions in the global climate system, the limited availability of observations on the ground hampers a detailed understanding of their energy budget. Here we develop a method to use satellites to fill these observational gaps. We show that by sampling satellite observations in a smart way, coverage is greatly enhanced. We conclude that this method might help improve our understanding of the polar energy budget, and ultimately its effects on the global climate.
Wenshan Wang, Charles S. Zender, Dirk van As, Paul C. J. P. Smeets, and Michiel R. van den Broeke
The Cryosphere, 10, 727–741, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-727-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-727-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We identify and correct station-tilt-induced biases in insolation observed by automatic weather stations on the Greenland Ice Sheet. Without tilt correction, only 40 % of clear days have the correct solar noon time (±0.5 h). The largest hourly bias exceeds 20 %. We estimate the tilt angles based on solar geometric relationship between insolation observed on horizontal surfaces and that on tilted surfaces, and produce shortwave radiation and albedo that agree better with independent data sets.
J. P. Conway and N. J. Cullen
The Cryosphere, 10, 313–328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-313-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-313-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Clouds are shown to force fundamental changes in the surface energy and mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand. Cloudy periods exhibit greater melt due to increased incoming long-wave radiation and higher atmospheric vapour pressure rather than through minimal changes in mean air temperature and wind speed. Surface mass-balance sensitivity to air temperature is enhanced in overcast compared to clear-sky periods due to more frequent melt and a strong precipitation phase to albedo feedback.
C. Charalampidis, D. van As, J. E. Box, M. R. van den Broeke, W. T. Colgan, S. H. Doyle, A. L. Hubbard, M. MacFerrin, H. Machguth, and C. J. P. P. Smeets
The Cryosphere, 9, 2163–2181, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2163-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2163-2015, 2015
D. Singh, M. G. Flanner, and J. Perket
The Cryosphere, 9, 2057–2070, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2057-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2057-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Our work quantifies the effect of snow/ice cover on Earth's top-of-atmosphere solar energy budget. We used higher resolution MODIS data, combined with microwave retrievals of snow presence and radiative kernels produced from 4 different models for Cryosphere Radiative Effect (CrRE) estimation. We have estimated a global land-based CrRE of about -2.6Wm-2 during 2001-2013, with about 59% of the effect originating from Antarctica. We were also be able to resolve contribution from mountain glaciers.
M. F. Azam, P. Wagnon, C. Vincent, AL. Ramanathan, V. Favier, A. Mandal, and J. G. Pottakkal
The Cryosphere, 8, 2195–2217, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-2195-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-2195-2014, 2014
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents point-scale surface energy balance on Chhota Shigri Glacier, Western Himalaya, India. Energy is available for melting only in summer-monsoon. Net all-wave radiation is the main heat flux towards the glacier surface accounting for 80% of the total melting energy followed by sensible (13%), latent (5%) turbulent and conductive (2%) heat fluxes. The intensity of summer-monsoon snowfalls is found among the most important drivers controlling the mass balance of this glacier.
E. Collier, L. I. Nicholson, B. W. Brock, F. Maussion, R. Essery, and A. B. G. Bush
The Cryosphere, 8, 1429–1444, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1429-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1429-2014, 2014
J. M. van Wessem, C. H. Reijmer, J. T. M. Lenaerts, W. J. van de Berg, M. R. van den Broeke, and E. van Meijgaard
The Cryosphere, 8, 125–135, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-125-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-125-2014, 2014
W. Gurgiser, B. Marzeion, L. Nicholson, M. Ortner, and G. Kaser
The Cryosphere, 7, 1787–1802, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1787-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1787-2013, 2013
S. MacDonell, C. Kinnard, T. Mölg, L. Nicholson, and J. Abermann
The Cryosphere, 7, 1513–1526, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1513-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1513-2013, 2013
L. I. Nicholson, R. Prinz, T. Mölg, and G. Kaser
The Cryosphere, 7, 1205–1225, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1205-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1205-2013, 2013
C. M. Carmagnola, F. Domine, M. Dumont, P. Wright, B. Strellis, M. Bergin, J. Dibb, G. Picard, Q. Libois, L. Arnaud, and S. Morin
The Cryosphere, 7, 1139–1160, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1139-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1139-2013, 2013
E. Collier, T. Mölg, F. Maussion, D. Scherer, C. Mayer, and A. B. G. Bush
The Cryosphere, 7, 779–795, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-779-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-779-2013, 2013
J. L. Roberts, A. D. Moy, T. D. van Ommen, M. A. J. Curran, A. P. Worby, I. D. Goodwin, and M. Inoue
The Cryosphere, 7, 263–273, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-263-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-263-2013, 2013
C. Mitterer and J. Schweizer
The Cryosphere, 7, 205–216, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-205-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-205-2013, 2013
M. Möller
The Cryosphere, 6, 1049–1061, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1049-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1049-2012, 2012
C. H. Reijmer, M. R. van den Broeke, X. Fettweis, J. Ettema, and L. B. Stap
The Cryosphere, 6, 743–762, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-743-2012, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-743-2012, 2012
Cited articles
Anderson, B., Mackintosh, A., Stumm, D., George, L., Kerr, T., Winter-Billington, A., and Fitzsimons, S.: Climate sensitivity of a high-precipitation glacier in New Zealand, J. Glaciol., 56, 114–128, 2010.
Andreas, E.: A theory for the scalar roughness and the scalar transfer coefficient over snow and sea ice, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 38, 159–184, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00121562, 1987.
Andreas, E. L., Persson, P. O. G., Jordan, R. E., Horst, T. W., Guest, P. S., Grachev, A. A., and Fairall, C. W.: Parameterizing Turbulent Exchange over Sea Ice in Winter, J. Hydrometeorol., 11, 87–104, https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JHM1102.1, 2010.
Arya, S. P.: Introduction to Micrometeorology, Academic Press, San Diego, 415 pp., 2001.
Axelsen, S. L. and van Dop, H.: Large-eddy simulation of katabatic winds, Part 1: Comparison with observations, Acta Geophys., 57, 803–836, https://doi.org/10.2478/s11600-009-0041-6, 2009.
Beedle, M. J., Menounos, B., and Wheate, R.: An evaluation of mass-balance methods applied to Castle Creek Glacier, British Columbia, Canada, J. Glaciol., 60, 262–276, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J091, 2014.
Berkowicz, R. and Prahm, L. P.: Evaluation of the profile method for estimation of surface fluxes of momentum and heat, Atmos. Environ., 16, 2809–2819, 1982.
Bevington, P. R.: Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences, McGraw-Hill, New York, 320 pp., 1969.
Bintanja, R. and van den Broeke, M.: Momentum and scalar transfer coefficients over aerodynamically smooth Antarctic surfaces, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 74, 89–111, 1995.
Braithwaite, R.: Aerodynamic stability and turbulent sensible-heat flux over a melting ice surface, the Greenland ice sheet, J. Glaciol., 41, 562–571, 1995.
Braithwaite, R., Konzelmann, T., Marty, C., and Olesen, O.: Reconnaissance study of glacier energy balance in North Greenland, 1993–94, J. Glaciol., 44, 239–247, 1998.
Burba, G.: Eddy Covariance Method for Scientific, Industrial, Agricultural, and Regulatory Applications: A Field Book on Measuring Ecosystem Gas Exchange and Areal Emission Rates, LI-COR Biosciences, Lincoln, NE, USA, 331 pp., 2013.
Businger, J., Wyngaard, J., Izumi, Y., and Bradley, E.: Flux-profile relationships in the atmospheric surface layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 28, 181–189, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(1971)028<0181:FPRITA>2.0.CO;2, 1971.
Clarke, G. K. C., Jarosch, A. H., Anslow, F. S., Radić, V., and Menounos, B.: Projected deglaciation of western Canada in the twenty-first century, Nat. Geosci., 8, 372–377, https://doi.org/10.1038/NGEO2407, 2015.
Conway, J. and Cullen, N.: Constraining turbulent heat flux parameterization over a temperate maritime glacier in New Zealand, Ann. Glaciol., 54, 41–51, https://doi.org/10.3189/2013AoG63A604, 2013.
Cullen, N. J., Mölg, T., Kaser, G., Steffen, K., and Hardy, D. R.: Energy-balance model validation on the top of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, using eddy covariance data, Ann. Glaciol., 46, 227–233, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756407782871224, 2007.
Denby, B. and Greuell, W.: The use of bulk and profile methods for determining surface heat fluxes in the presence of glacier winds, J. Glaciol., 46, 445–452, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756500781833124, 2000.
Déry, S. J., Clifton, A., MacLeod, S., and Beedle, M. J.: Blowing Snow Fluxes in the Cariboo Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 42, 188–197, https://doi.org/10.1657/1938-4246-42.2.188, 2010.
Dyer, A.: A review of flux-profile-relationships, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 7, 363–372, 1974.
Fairall, C., Persson, P., Bradley, E., Payne, R., and Anderson, S.: A new look at calibration and use of Eppley precision infrared radiometers, Part I: Theory and application, J. Atmos. Ocean. Tech., 15, 1229–1242, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0426(1998)015<1229:ANLACA>2.0.CO;2, 1998.
Fitzpatrick, N., Radić, V., and Menounos, B.: Surface Energy Balance Closure and Turbulent Flux Parameterization on a Mid-Latitude Mountain Glacier, Purcell Mountains, Canada, Front. Earth Sci., 5, 1–20, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2017.00067, 2017.
Foken, T.: Micrometeorology, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 308 pp., 2008.
Forrer, J. and Rotach, M.: On the turbulence structure in the stable boundary layer over the Greenland ice sheet, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 85, 111–136, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1000466827210, 1997.
Gillett, S. and Cullen, N. J.: Atmospheric controls on summer ablation over Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, Int. J. Climatol., 31, 2033–2048, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.2216, 2011.
Grachev, A. A., Andreas, E. L., Fairall, C. W., Guest, P. S., and Persson, P. O. G.: On the turbulent Prandtl number in the stable atmospheric boundary layer, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 125, 329–341, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-007-9192-7, 2007.
Greuell, J. W., van den Broeke, M., Knao, W., Reijmer, C., Smeets, P., and Struijk, I.: PASTEX: A Glacio-Meteorological Experiment on the Pasterze (Austria), Field Report, Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, Utrecht University, p. 34, 1994.
Greuell, W. and Oerlemans, J.: Energy balance calculations on and near Hintereisferner (Austria) and an estimate of the effect of greenhouse warming on ablation, in: Glacier fluctuations and climatic change, edited by: Oerlemans, J., Glaciology and Quaternary Geology, 6, 305–323, 1989.
Grisogono, B. and Oerlemans, J.: Katabatic flow: Analytic solution for gradually varying eddy diffusivities, J. Atmos. Sci., 58, 3349–3354, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0469(2001)058<3349:KFASFG>2.0.CO;2, 2001.
Guo, X., Yang, K., Zhao, L., Yang, W., Li, S., Zhu, M., Yao, T., and Chen, Y.: Critical Evaluation of Scalar Roughness Length Parametrizations Over a Melting Valley Glacier, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 139, 307–332, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-010-9586-9, 2011.
Harrison, R.: Natural ventilation effects on temperatures within Stevenson screens, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 136, 253–259, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.537, 2010.
Hay, J. and Fitzharris, B.: A comparison of the energy-balance and bulk-aerodynamic approaches for estimating glacier melt, J. Glaciol., 34, 145–153, 1988.
Hock, R.: Glacier melt: a review of processes and their modelling, Prog. Phys. Geog., 29, 362–391, https://doi.org/10.1191/0309133305pp453ra, 2005.
Hock, R. and Holmgren, B.: Some aspects of energy balance and ablation of Storglaciaren, northern Sweden, Geogr. Ann. A, 78, 121–131, https://doi.org/10.2307/520974, 1996.
Hock, R. and Holmgren, B.: A distributed surface energy-balance model for complex topography and its application to Storglaciaren, Sweden, J. Glaciol., 51, 25–36, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756505781829566, 2005.
Holtslag, A. and de Bruin, H.: Applied modeling of the nighttime surface energy balance over land, J. Appl. Meteorol., 27, 689–704, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1988)027<0689:AMOTNS>2.0.CO;2, 1988.
Horst, T. W. and Lenschow, D. H.: Attenuation of Scalar Fluxes Measured with Spatially-displaced Sensors, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 130, 275–300, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-008-9348-0, 2009.
Huintjes, E., Neckel, N., Hochschild, V., and Schneider, C.: Surface energy and mass balance at Purogangri ice cap, central Tibetan Plateau, 2001–2011, J. Glaciol., 61, 1048–1060, https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG15J056, 2015.
Hulth, J., Rolstad, C., Trondsen, K., and Rodby, R. W.: Surface mass and energy balance of Sorbreen, Jan Mayen, 2008, Ann. Glaciol., 51, 110–119, 2010.
Huwald, H., Higgins, C. W., Boldi, M.-O., Bou-Zeid, E., Lehning, M., and Parlange, M. B.: Albedo effect on radiative errors in air temperature measurements, Water Resour. Res., 45, W08431, https://doi.org/10.1029/2008WR007600, 2009.
Ibrom, A., Dellwik, E., Flyvbjerg, H., Jensen, N. O., and Pilegaard, K.: Strong low-pass filtering effects on water vapour flux measurements with closed-path eddy correlation systems, Agr. Forest Meteorol., 147, 140–156, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2007.07.007, 2007.
Jarosch, A. H., Anslow, F., and Shea, J.: A versatile tower platform for glacier instrumentation: GPS and Eddy Covariance Measurements, extended abstracts and recommendations from the IASC Workshop on the Use of Automatic Measuring Systems on Glaciers, Pontresina, Switzerland, 23–26 March 2011, 52–55, 2011.
Klok, E. J., Nolan, M., and Van den Broeke, M. R.: Analysis of meteorological data and the surface energy balance of McCall Glacier, Alaska, USA, J. Glaciol., 51, 451–461, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756505781829241, 2005.
Konzelmann, T. and Braithwaite, R.: Variations of ablation, albedo and energy balance at the margin of the Greenland ice sheet, Kronprins Christian Land, eastern north Greenland, J. Glaciol., 41, 174–182, 1995.
Lee, C. B.: Simple model and climatological aspects of the structure of the convective boundary layer, Atmos. Environ., 20, 705–714, 1986.
Lettau, H.: Atmosphärische Turbulenz, Akademische Verlagsgesellschaft, Leipzig, 283 pp., 1934.
Li, Z., Lyu, S., Zhao, L., Wen, L., Ao, Y., and Wang, S.: Turbulent transfer coefficient and roughness length in a high-altitude lake, Tibetan Plateau, Theor. Appl. Climatol., 124, 723–735, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00704-015-1440-z, 2016.
MacDougall, A. H. and Flowers, G. E.: Spatial and Temporal Transferability of a Distributed Energy-Balance Glacier Melt Model, J. Climate, 24, 1480–1498, https://doi.org/10.1175/2010JCLI3821.1, 2011.
Machguth, H., Paul, F., Hoelzle, M., and Haeberli, W.: Distributed glacier mass-balance modelling as an important component of modern multi-level glacier monitoring, Ann. Glaciol., 43, 335–343, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756406781812285, 2006.
Mölg, T., Cullen, N. J., Hardy, D. R., Kaser, G., and Klok, L.: Mass balance of a slope glacier on Kilimanjaro and its sensitivity to climate, Int. J. Climatol., 28, 881–892, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1589, 2008.
Mölg, T., Cullen, N. J., Hardy, D. R., Winkler, M., and Kaser, G.: Quantifying Climate Change in the Tropical Midtroposphere over East Africa from Glacier Shrinkage on Kilimanjaro, J. Climate, 22, 4162–4181, https://doi.org/10.1175/2009JCLI2954.1, 2009.
Moncrieff, J., Clement, R., Finnigan, J., and Meyers, T.: Averaging, detrending, and filtering of eddy covariance time series, in: Handbook of Micrometeorology: A guide for Surface Flux Measurement and Analysis, edited by: Lee, X., Massman, W., Law, B., Lee, X., Massman, W., and Law, B., Kluwer Academic Publishers, the Netherlands, 7–31, 2004.
Munro, D.: Surface roughness and bulk heat transfer on a glacier: comparison with eddy correlation, J. Glaciol., 35, 343–348, 1989.
Munro, D.: A surface energy exchange model of glacier melt and net mass balance, Int. J. Climatol., 11, 689–700, 1991.
O'Brien, J. J.: A note on the vertical structure of the eddy exchange coeffcient in the planetary boundary layer, J. Atmos. Sci., 27, 1213–1215, 1970.
Oerlemans, J.: The atmospheric boundary layer over melting glaciers, in: Clear and Cloudy Boundary Layers, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, 129–153, 1998.
Oerlemans, J.: Analysis of a 3 year meteorological record from the ablation zone of Morteratschgletscher, Switzerland: energy and mass balance, J. Glaciol., 46, 571–579, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756500781832657, 2000.
Oerlemans, J. and Grisogono, B.: Glacier winds and parameterisation of the related surface heat fluxes, Tellus A, 54, 440–452, https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1600-0870.2002.201398.x, 2002.
Oerlemans, J., Bjornsson, H., Kuhn, M., Obleitner, F., Palsson, F., Smeets, C., Vugts, H., and De Wolde, J.: Glacio-meteorological investigations on Vatnajokull, Iceland, Summer 1996: An overview, Bound.-Lay.Meteorol., 92, 3–26, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1001856114941, 1999.
Parmhed, O., Oerlemans, J., and Grisogono, B.: Describing surface fluxes in katabatic flow on Breidamerkurjokull, Iceland, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 130, 1137–1151, https://doi.org/10.1256/qj.03.52, 2004.
Prandtl, L.: The mechanics of viscous fluids (Aerodynamic theory), edited by: Durand, W. F., vol. III, Springer, Berlin, 1934.
Prandtl, L.: Führer durch die Strömungslehre, Vieweg und Sohn, 648 pp., 1942.
Prinz, R., Nicholson, L. I., Mölg, T., Gurgiser, W., and Kaser, G.: Climatic controls and climate proxy potential of Lewis Glacier, Mt. Kenya, The Cryosphere, 10, 133–148, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-133-2016, 2016.
Radić, V. and Hock, R.: Glaciers in the Earth's Hydrological Cycle: Assessments of Glacier Mass and Runoff Changes on Global and Regional Scales, Surv. Geophys., 35, 813–837, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10712-013-9262-y, 2014.
Radić, V., Bliss, A., Beedlow, A. C., Hock, R., Miles, E., and Cogley, J. G.: Regional and global projections of twenty-first century glacier mass changes in response to climate scenarios from global climate models, Clim. Dynam., 42, 37–58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00382-013-1719-7, 2014.
Reijmer, C. H. and Hock, R.: Internal accumulation on Storglacidren, Sweden, in a multi-layer snow model coupled to a distributed energy- and mass-balance model, J. Glaciol., 54, 61–72, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214308784409161, 2008.
Scotanus, P., Nieuwstadt, F., and Debruin, H.: Temperature measurement with a sonic anemometer and its application to heat and moisture fluxes, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 26, 81–93, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00164332, 1983.
Sicart, J., Wagnon, P., and Ribstein, P.: Atmospheric controls of the heat balance of Zongo Glacier (16° S, Bolivia), J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 110, D12106, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JD005732, 2005.
Sicart, J. E., Hock, R., Ribstein, P., Litt, M., and Ramirez, E.: Analysis of seasonal variations in mass balance and meltwater discharge of the tropical Zongo Glacier by application of a distributed energy balance model, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 116, D13105, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JD015105, 2011.
Smeets, C. J. P. P. and van den Broeke, M. R.: The parameterisation of scalar transfer over rough ice, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 128, 339–355, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10546-008-9292-z, 2008.
Smeets, C., Duynkerke, P., and Vugts, H.: Turbulence characteristics of the stable boundary layer over a mid-latitude glacier, Part I: A combination of katabatic and large-scale forcing, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 87, 117–145, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1000860406093, 1998.
Stull, R.: An Introduction to Boundary Layer Meteorology, Kluwer Acad. Publ., Dordrecht, Boston, London, 666 pp., 1988.
Tanner, B. D., Swiatek, E., and Greene, J. P.: Density fluctuations and use of the krypton hygrometer in surface flux measurements, in: Management of irrigation and drainage systems: integrated perspectives, edited by: Allen, R. G., American Society of Civil Engineers, New York, NY, 1993.
van den Broeke, M.: Characteristics of the lower ablation zone of the west Greenland ice sheet for energy-balance modelling, Ann. Glaciol., 23, 160–166, 1996.
van den Broeke, M., Van As, D., Reijmer, C., and Van De Wal, R.: Sensible heat exchange at the antarctic snow surface: A study with automatic weather stations, Int. J. Climatol., 25, 1081–1101, https://doi.org/10.1002/joc.1152, 2005.
van der Avoird, E. and Duynkerke, P.: Turbulence in a katabatic flow – Does it resemble turbulence in stable boundary layers over flat surfaces?, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 92, 39–66, 1999.
Wagnon, P., Sicart, J., Berthier, E., and Chazarin, J.: Wintertime high-altitude surface energy balance of a Bolivian glacier, Illimani, 6340 m above sea level, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 108, 4177, https://doi.org/10.1029/2002JD002088, 2003.
Webb, E., Pearman, G., and Leuning, R.: Correction of the flux measurements for density effects due to heat and water vapour transfer, Q. J. Roy. Meteorol. Soc., 106, 85–100, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.49710644707, 1980.
Webb, E. K.: Profile relationships: the log-linear range, and extension to strong stability, Quartely Journal of the Royal Meteorological Society, 96, 67–&, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.49709640708, 1970.
Wilczak, J., Oncley, S., and Stage, S.: Sonic anemometer tilt correction algorithms, Bound.-Lay. Meteorol., 99, 127–150, https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1018966204465, 2001.
Short summary
Our overall goal is to improve the numerical modeling of glacier melt in order to better predict the future of glaciers in Western Canada and worldwide.
Most commonly used models rely on simplifications of processes that dictate melting at a glacier surface, in particular turbulent processes of heat exchange. We compared modeled against directly measured turbulent heat fluxes at a valley glacier in British Columbia, Canada, and found that more improvements are needed in all the tested models.
Our overall goal is to improve the numerical modeling of glacier melt in order to better predict...
