Articles | Volume 11, issue 1
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-407-2017
© 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-11-407-2017
© Author(s) 2017. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Spatial variability in mass loss of glaciers in the Everest region, central Himalayas, between 2000 and 2015
Owen King
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Duncan J. Quincey
School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Jonathan L. Carrivick
School of Geography and water@leeds, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT, UK
Ann V. Rowan
Department of Geography, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
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Benjamin J. Davison, Andrew J. Sole, Gregoire Guillet, Douglas I. Benn, Jonathan Kingslake, Jeremy C. Ely, Stephen J. Livingstone, Christopher D. Stringer, Jonathan L. Carrivick, and Anna E. Hogg
The Cryosphere, 20, 4293–4311, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4293-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-4293-2026, 2026
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Some glaciers flow slowly for many years before dramatically accelerating. This is usually a sign of a surge. Theory and observations suggest that surges occur in certain climates. The Antarctic Peninsula has such a climate yet only one surge has been observed there. We present detailed observations of three glaciers that surged recently. We explore how climate change over the past hundred years, and projected climate change up to 2150, has and will affect surging behaviour on the Peninsula.
Anya M. Schlich-Davies, Ann V. Rowan, Andrew N. Ross, Duncan J. Quincey, and Vivi K. Pedersen
The Cryosphere, 20, 3151–3186, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3151-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3151-2026, 2026
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Glaciers in the Himalaya are shrinking in response to climate change. We use a glacier model to explore how future changes in precipitation distribution will drive the evolution of Khumbu Glacier in Nepal until 2100 CE. We find that, when compared to the impacts of climate warming alone, the combined effect of warming and the resulting increase in precipitation (rain and snowfall) could offset up to half of the glacier loss expected by the end of this Century.
Léa Rodari, Audrey Margirier, Ann V. Rowan, Christoph Schmidt, Remy Veness, Charlotte S. Curry, Alex C. Scoffield, Christiaan R. Diemont, Faye Perchanok, Guillaume Jouvet, Vivi Pedersen, Derek Fabel, and Georgina E. King
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1536, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2026-1536, 2026
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By combining innovative dating techniques and glacier modelling, we studied how sediment is produced, transported, and stored within the Mer de Glace catchment in the French Alps. We show that whilst sediment is transported through the glacier in less than a millennium, some sediment can be stored for many thousands of years before being re-entrained into glacial transport. This long-term storage affects how landscapes evolve and how climate signals are preserved during deglaciation.
Sunil N. Oulkar, Matthew W. Peacey, Michael Mitrev, Duncan J. Quincey, Bryn Hubbard, Tom Matthews, Ankita S. Oulkar, Katie E. Miles, and Ann V. Rowan
Geosci. Instrum. Method. Data Syst., 15, 75–88, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-75-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/gi-15-75-2026, 2026
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We designed and tested a system that can record and send data in near real time from extreme and remote locations, such as Mount Everest. Using solar power and satellite communication, the system worked reliably at high altitude, showing it can be applied in other remote regions. This approach will help scientists collect vital information on how the environment is changing in areas that are normally very difficult to study.
Penelope How, Dorthe Petersen, Kristian K. Kjeldsen, Katrine Raundrup, Nanna B. Karlsson, Alexandra Messerli, Anja Rutishauser, Jonathan L. Carrivick, James M. Lea, Robert S. Fausto, Andreas P. Ahlstrøm, and Signe B. Andersen
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 6331–6351, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-6331-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-6331-2025, 2025
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We mapped 2918 ice-marginal lakes across Greenland (2016–2023), revealing changes in size, abundance and temperature. This open dataset improves understanding of terrestrial water storage, glacier dynamics, and Arctic ecology, supporting research on sea level rise, glacier-lake interactions, and sustainable resource planning including hydropower development under Greenland’s climate commitments.
Anna Wendleder, Jasmin Bramboeck, Jamie Izzard, Thilo Erbertseder, Pablo d'Angelo, Andreas Schmitt, Duncan J. Quincey, Christoph Mayer, and Matthias H. Braun
The Cryosphere, 18, 1085–1103, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1085-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1085-2024, 2024
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This study analyses the basal sliding and the hydrological drainage of Baltoro Glacier, Pakistan. The surface velocity was characterized by a spring speed-up, summer peak, and autumn speed-up. Snow melt has the largest impact on the spring speed-up, summer velocity peak, and the transition from inefficient to efficient drainage. Drainage from supraglacial lakes contributed to the fall speed-up. Increased summer temperatures will intensify the magnitude of meltwater and thus surface velocities.
Guanyu Li, Mingyang Lv, Duncan J. Quincey, Liam S. Taylor, Xinwu Li, Shiyong Yan, Yidan Sun, and Huadong Guo
The Cryosphere, 17, 2891–2907, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2891-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2891-2023, 2023
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Kyagar Glacier in the Karakoram is well known for its surge history and its frequent blocking of the downstream valley, leading to a series of high-magnitude glacial lake outburst floods. Using it as a test bed, we develop a new approach for quantifying surge behaviour using successive digital elevation models. This method could be applied to other surge studies. Combined with the results from optical satellite images, we also reconstruct the surge process in unprecedented detail.
Mads Dømgaard, Kristian K. Kjeldsen, Flora Huiban, Jonathan L. Carrivick, Shfaqat A. Khan, and Anders A. Bjørk
The Cryosphere, 17, 1373–1387, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1373-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1373-2023, 2023
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Sudden releases of meltwater from glacier-dammed lakes can influence ice flow, cause flooding hazards and landscape changes. This study presents a record of 14 drainages from 2007–2021 from a lake in west Greenland. The time series reveals how the lake fluctuates between releasing large and small amounts of drainage water which is caused by a weakening of the damming glacier following the large events. We also find a shift in the water drainage route which increases the risk of flooding hazards.
Liam S. Taylor, Duncan J. Quincey, and Mark W. Smith
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 329–341, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-329-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-23-329-2023, 2023
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Hazards from glaciers are becoming more likely as the climate warms, which poses a threat to communities living beneath them. We have developed a new camera system which can capture regular, high-quality 3D models to monitor small changes in glaciers which could be indicative of a future hazard. This system is far cheaper than more typical camera sensors yet produces very similar quality data. We suggest that deploying these cameras near glaciers could assist in warning communities of hazards.
Christopher D. Stringer, Jonathan L. Carrivick, Duncan J. Quincey, and Daniel Nývlt
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-250, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2022-250, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
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Glaciers in Antarctica have been decreasing in size at a fast rate, leading to the expansion of proglacial areas, with wide-ranging ecological implications. Several global land-cover maps exist, but they do not include Antarctica. We map land cover types across West Antarctica and the McMurdo Dry Valleys to a high degree of accuracy (77.0 %). We highlight the spatial variation in land cover and emphasise the need for more field data.
Gregoire Guillet, Owen King, Mingyang Lv, Sajid Ghuffar, Douglas Benn, Duncan Quincey, and Tobias Bolch
The Cryosphere, 16, 603–623, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-603-2022, 2022
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Surging glaciers show cyclical changes in flow behavior – between slow and fast flow – and can have drastic impacts on settlements in their vicinity.
One of the clusters of surging glaciers worldwide is High Mountain Asia (HMA).
We present an inventory of surging glaciers in HMA, identified from satellite imagery. We show that the number of surging glaciers was underestimated and that they represent 20 % of the area covered by glaciers in HMA, before discussing new physics for glacier surges.
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Short summary
We used multiple digital elevation models to quantify melt on 32 glaciers in the Everest region of the Himalayas. We examined whether patterns of melt differed depending on whether the glacier terminated on land or in water. We found that glaciers terminating in large lakes had the highest melt rates, but that those terminating in small lakes had comparable melt rates to those terminating on land. We carried out this research because Himalayan people are highly dependent on glacier meltwater.
We used multiple digital elevation models to quantify melt on 32 glaciers in the Everest region...