Articles | Volume 14, issue 4
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1273-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1273-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
The influence of water percolation through crevasses on the thermal regime of a Himalayan mountain glacier
Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, P.O. Box
3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
currently at: GRID, Arendal, Norway
Tika R. Gurung
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, P.O. Box
3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
Koji Fujita
Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya
464-8601, Japan
Sudan B. Maharjan
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, P.O. Box
3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
Tenzing C. Sherpa
International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, P.O. Box
3226, Kathmandu, Nepal
Takehiro Fukuda
Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan
Institute of Low Temperature Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo
060-0819, Japan
currently at: Hokkaido Government, Sapporo 060-8588, Japan
Related authors
Adrien Gilbert, Silvan Leinss, Jeffrey Kargel, Andreas Kääb, Simon Gascoin, Gregory Leonard, Etienne Berthier, Alina Karki, and Tandong Yao
The Cryosphere, 12, 2883–2900, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2883-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2883-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In Tibet, two glaciers suddenly collapsed in summer 2016 and produced two gigantic ice avalanches, killing nine people. This kind of phenomenon is extremely rare. By combining a detailed modelling study and high-resolution satellite observations, we show that the event was triggered by an increasing meltwater supply in the fine-grained material underneath the two glaciers. Contrary to what is often thought, this event is not linked to a change in the thermal condition at the glacier base.
A. Gilbert, C. Vincent, D. Six, P. Wagnon, L. Piard, and P. Ginot
The Cryosphere, 8, 689–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, 2014
Orie Sasaki, Evan Stewart Miles, Francesca Pellicciotti, Akiko Sakai, and Koji Fujita
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2026, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2026, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study proposes a new method to detect snowline altitude (SLA) using the Google Earth Engine platform with high-resolution satellite imagery, applicable anywhere in the world. Applying this method to five glaciated watersheds in the Himalayas reveals regional consistencies and differences in snow dynamics. We also investigate the primary controls of these dynamics by analyzing climatic factors and topographic characteristics.
Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Remi Dallmayr, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Nobuhiro Moteki, Tatsuhiro Mori, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, Makoto Koike, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Kyotaro Kitamura, Kenji Kawamura, Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Naoko Nagatsuka, Akane Tsushima, Kaori Fukuda, and Teruo Aoki
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1496, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1496, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We developed a continuous flow analysis system to analyse an ice core from northwest Greenland, and coupled it with an improved BC measurement technique. This coupling allowed accurate high-resolution analyses of BC particles' size distributions and concentrations with diameters between 70 nm and 4 μm for the past 350 years. Our results provide crucial insights into BC's climatic effects. We also found that previous ice core studies substantially underestimated the BC mass concentrations.
Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kaori Fukuda, Koji Fujita, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Remi Dallmayr, Jun Ogata, Nobuhiro Moteki, Tatsuhiro Mori, Sho Ohata, Yutaka Kondo, Makoto Koike, Sumito Matoba, and Teruo Aoki
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1498, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1498, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Monthly records spanning 350 years from a Greenland ice core reveal trends in black carbon (BC) concentrations and sizes. BC concentrations have risen since the late 19th century due to the inflow of anthropogenic BC, with these particles being larger than those from biomass burning (BB). High BB BC concentration peaks in summer originating from BB could reduce albedo. However, BB BC showed no upward trend until the early 2000s. Our findings are crucial for validating aerosol and climate models.
Huili Chen, Qiuhua Liang, Jiaheng Zhao, and Sudan Bikash Maharjan
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-260, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-2023-260, 2024
Revised manuscript accepted for HESS
Short summary
Short summary
Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs) can cause serious damage. To assess their risks, we developed an innovative framework using remote sensing, Bayesian models, flood modeling, and open-source data. This enables us to evaluate GLOFs on a national scale, despite limited data and challenges accessing high-altitude lakes. We evaluated dangerous lakes in Nepal, identifying those most at risk. This work is crucial for understanding GLOF risks and the framework can be transferred to other areas.
Vigan Mensah, Koji Fujita, Stephen Howell, Miho Ikeda, Mizuki Komatsu, and Kay I. Ohshima
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2492, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2492, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We estimated the volume of freshwater released by sea ice, glaciers, rivers, and precipitation into Baffin Bay and the Labrador Sea, and their changes over the past 70 years. We found that the freshwater volume has risen in Baffin Bay due to increased glacier melting, and dropped in the Labrador Sea because of the decline in sea ice production. We also infer that freshwater from the Arctic Ocean has been exported to our study region for the past 30 years, possibly as a result of global warming.
Motoshi Nishimura, Teruo Aoki, Masashi Niwano, Sumito Matoba, Tomonori Tanikawa, Tetsuhide Yamasaki, Satoru Yamaguchi, and Koji Fujita
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 5207–5226, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5207-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-5207-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We presented the method of data quality checks and the dataset for two ground weather observations in northwest Greenland. We found that the warm and clear weather conditions in the 2015, 2019, and 2020 summers caused the snowmelt and the decline in surface reflectance of solar radiation at a low-elevated site (SIGMA-B; 944 m), but those were not seen at the high-elevated site (SIGMA-A; 1490 m). We hope that our data management method and findings will help climate scientists.
Yukihiko Onuma, Koji Fujita, Nozomu Takeuchi, Masashi Niwano, and Teruo Aoki
The Cryosphere, 17, 3309–3328, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3309-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3309-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We established a novel model that simulates the temporal changes in cryoconite hole (CH) depth using heat budgets calculated independently at the ice surface and CH bottom based on hole shape geometry. The simulations suggest that CH depth is governed by the balance between the intensity of the diffuse component of downward shortwave radiation and the wind speed. The meteorological conditions may be important factors contributing to the recent ice surface darkening via the redistribution of CHs.
Naoko Nagatsuka, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Koji Fujita, Yuki Komuro, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Kaori Fukuda, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kyotaro Kitamura, Ayaka Yonekura, Fumio Nakazawa, Yukihiko Onuma, Naoyuki Kurita, Sune Olander Rasmussen, Giulia Sinnl, Trevor James Popp, and Dorthe Dahl-Jensen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1666, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1666, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new high-temporal-resolution record of mineral composition in a northeastern Greenland ice-core (EGRIP) over the past 100 years. The ice core dust composition and its variation differed significantly from a northwestern Greenland ice core, which is likely due to differences in the geological sources of the dust. Our results suggest that the EGRIP ice core dust was constantly supplied from Northern Eurasia, North America, and Asia with minor contribution from Greenland coast.
Yota Sato, Koji Fujita, Hiroshi Inoue, Akiko Sakai, and Karma
The Cryosphere, 16, 2643–2654, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2643-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2643-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate fluctuations in Bhutanese lake-terminating glaciers focusing on the dynamics change before and after proglacial lake formation at Thorthormi Glacier (TG) based on photogrammetry, satellite, and GPS surveys. The thinning rate of TG became double compared to before proglacial lake formation, and the flow velocity has also sped up considerably. Those changes would be due to the reduction in longitudinal ice compression by the detachment of the glacier terminus from the end moraine.
Dorothea Stumm, Sharad Prasad Joshi, Tika Ram Gurung, and Gunjan Silwal
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 13, 3791–3818, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3791-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-13-3791-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier mass change data are valuable as a climate indicator and help to verify simulations of glaciological and hydrological processes. Data from the Himalaya are rare; hence, we established monitoring programmes on two glaciers in the Nepal Himalaya. We measured annual mass changes on Yala and Rikha Samba glaciers from 2011 to 2017 and calculated satellite-based mass changes from 2000 to 2012 for Yala Glacier. Both glaciers are shrinking, following the general trend in the Himalayas.
Naoko Nagatsuka, Kumiko Goto-Azuma, Akane Tsushima, Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Yukihiko Onuma, Remi Dallmayr, Moe Kadota, Motohiro Hirabayashi, Jun Ogata, Yoshimi Ogawa-Tsukagawa, Kyotaro Kitamura, Masahiro Minowa, Yuki Komuro, Hideaki Motoyama, and Teruo Aoki
Clim. Past, 17, 1341–1362, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1341-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-1341-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Here we present a first high-temporal-resolution record of mineral composition in a Greenland ice core (SIGMA-D) over the past 100 years using SEM–EDS analysis. Our results show that the ice core dust composition varied on multi-decadal scales, which was likely affected by local temperature changes. We suggest that the ice core dust was constantly supplied from distant sources (mainly northern Canada) as well as local ice-free areas in warm periods (1915 to 1949 and 2005 to 2013).
Xavier Fettweis, Stefan Hofer, Uta Krebs-Kanzow, Charles Amory, Teruo Aoki, Constantijn J. Berends, Andreas Born, Jason E. Box, Alison Delhasse, Koji Fujita, Paul Gierz, Heiko Goelzer, Edward Hanna, Akihiro Hashimoto, Philippe Huybrechts, Marie-Luise Kapsch, Michalea D. King, Christoph Kittel, Charlotte Lang, Peter L. Langen, Jan T. M. Lenaerts, Glen E. Liston, Gerrit Lohmann, Sebastian H. Mernild, Uwe Mikolajewicz, Kameswarrao Modali, Ruth H. Mottram, Masashi Niwano, Brice Noël, Jonathan C. Ryan, Amy Smith, Jan Streffing, Marco Tedesco, Willem Jan van de Berg, Michiel van den Broeke, Roderik S. W. van de Wal, Leo van Kampenhout, David Wilton, Bert Wouters, Florian Ziemen, and Tobias Zolles
The Cryosphere, 14, 3935–3958, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3935-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3935-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluated simulated Greenland Ice Sheet surface mass balance from 5 kinds of models. While the most complex (but expensive to compute) models remain the best, the faster/simpler models also compare reliably with observations and have biases of the same order as the regional models. Discrepancies in the trend over 2000–2012, however, suggest that large uncertainties remain in the modelled future SMB changes as they are highly impacted by the meltwater runoff biases over the current climate.
M. V. Peppa, S. B. Maharjan, S. P. Joshi, W. Xiao, and J. P. Mills
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., V-3-2020, 633–639, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2020-633-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2020-633-2020, 2020
Shun Tsutaki, Koji Fujita, Takayuki Nuimura, Akiko Sakai, Shin Sugiyama, Jiro Komori, and Phuntsho Tshering
The Cryosphere, 13, 2733–2750, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2733-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2733-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate thickness change of Bhutanese glaciers during 2004–2011 using repeat GPS surveys and satellite-based observations. The thinning rate of Lugge Glacier (LG) is > 3 times that of Thorthormi Glacier (TG). Numerical simulations of ice dynamics and surface mass balance (SMB) demonstrate that the rapid thinning of LG is driven by both negative SMB and dynamic thinning, while the thinning of TG is minimised by a longitudinally compressive flow regime.
Koji Fujita, Sumito Matoba, Yoshinori Iizuka, Nozomu Takeuchi, and Teruo Aoki
Clim. Past Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2019-97, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2019-97, 2019
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents a novel method for reconstructing summer temperatures from ice-layer thickness and annual accumulation in an ice core using an energy balance model. The method calculates a lookup table by considering heat conduction and meltwater refreezing in firn. We applied the method to four ice cores in different climates. Sensitivity analyses reveal that the annual temperature range, amount of annual precipitation, and firn albedo significantly affect the estimated summer temperature.
Sauvik Santra, Shubha Verma, Koji Fujita, Indrajit Chakraborty, Olivier Boucher, Toshihiko Takemura, John F. Burkhart, Felix Matt, and Mukesh Sharma
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 19, 2441–2460, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2441-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-19-2441-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The present study provided information on specific glaciers over the Hindu Kush Himalayan region identified as being vulnerable to BC-induced impacts (affected by high BC-induced snow albedo reduction in addition to being sensitive to BC-induced impacts), thus impacting the downstream hydrology. The source-specific contribution to atmospheric BC aerosols by emission sources led to identifying the potential emission source, which was distinctive over south and north to 30° N.
Adrien Gilbert, Silvan Leinss, Jeffrey Kargel, Andreas Kääb, Simon Gascoin, Gregory Leonard, Etienne Berthier, Alina Karki, and Tandong Yao
The Cryosphere, 12, 2883–2900, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2883-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2883-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
In Tibet, two glaciers suddenly collapsed in summer 2016 and produced two gigantic ice avalanches, killing nine people. This kind of phenomenon is extremely rare. By combining a detailed modelling study and high-resolution satellite observations, we show that the event was triggered by an increasing meltwater supply in the fine-grained material underneath the two glaciers. Contrary to what is often thought, this event is not linked to a change in the thermal condition at the glacier base.
Masashi Niwano, Teruo Aoki, Akihiro Hashimoto, Sumito Matoba, Satoru Yamaguchi, Tomonori Tanikawa, Koji Fujita, Akane Tsushima, Yoshinori Iizuka, Rigen Shimada, and Masahiro Hori
The Cryosphere, 12, 635–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-635-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-635-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
We present a high-resolution regional climate model called NHM–SMAP applied to the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS). The model forced by JRA-55 reanalysis is evaluated using in situ data from automated weather stations, stake measurements,
and ice core obtained from 2011 to 2014. By utilizing the model, we highlight that the choice of calculation schemes for vertical water movement in snow and firn has an effect of up to 200 Gt/year in the yearly accumulated GrIS-wide surface mass balance estimates.
Damodar Lamsal, Koji Fujita, and Akiko Sakai
The Cryosphere, 11, 2815–2827, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2815-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2815-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents the geodetic mass balance of Kanchenjunga Glacier, a heavily debris-covered glacier in the easternmost Nepal Himalaya, between 1975 and 2010 using high-resolution DEMs. The rate of elevation change positively correlates with elevation and glacier velocity, and significant surface lowering is observed at supraglacial ponds. A difference in pond density would strongly affect the different geodetic mass balances of the Kanchenjunga and Khumbu glaciers.
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.
Anna Dittmann, Elisabeth Schlosser, Valérie Masson-Delmotte, Jordan G. Powers, Kevin W. Manning, Martin Werner, and Koji Fujita
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 16, 6883–6900, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6883-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-16-6883-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
For a better understanding of the stable water isotope data from ice cores, recent time periods have to be analysed, where both measurements and model simulations are available. This was done for Dome Fuji by combining observations, synoptic analysis, back trajectories, and isotopic modelling. It was found that a more northerly moisture source does not necessarily mean a larger temperature difference between source area and deposition site and thus precipitation more depleted in heavy isotopes.
H. Nagai, K. Fujita, A. Sakai, T. Nuimura, and T. Tadono
The Cryosphere, 10, 65–85, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-65-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-65-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Digital glacier inventories are invaluable data sets for revealing the characteristics of glacier distribution. However, quantitative comparison of present inventories was not performed. Here, we present a new inventory manually delineated from Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) imagery and compare it with existing inventories for the Bhutan Himalaya. Quantification of overlapping among available glacier outlines suggests consistency and recent improvement of their delineation quality.
T. Nuimura, A. Sakai, K. Taniguchi, H. Nagai, D. Lamsal, S. Tsutaki, A. Kozawa, Y. Hoshina, S. Takenaka, S. Omiya, K. Tsunematsu, P. Tshering, and K. Fujita
The Cryosphere, 9, 849–864, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-849-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-849-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We present a new glacier inventory for high-mountain Asia named “Glacier Area Mapping for Discharge from the Asian Mountains” (GAMDAM). Glacier outlines were delineated manually using 356 Landsat ETM+ scenes in 226 path-row sets from the period 1999–2003, in conjunction with a digital elevation model and high-resolution Google EarthTM imagery. Our GAMDAM Glacier Inventory includes 87,084 glaciers covering a total area of 91,263 ± 13,689 km2 throughout high-mountain Asia.
A. Sakai, T. Nuimura, K. Fujita, S. Takenaka, H. Nagai, and D. Lamsal
The Cryosphere, 9, 865–880, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-865-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-865-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
Among meteorological elements, precipitation has a large spatial variability and less observation, particularly in high-mountain Asia, although precipitation in mountains is an important parameter for hydrological circulation. Based on the GAMDAM glacier inventory, we estimated precipitation contributing to glacier mass at the median elevation of glaciers, which is presumed to be at equilibrium-line altitude, by tuning adjustment parameters of precipitation.
K. Fujita and A. Sakai
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 18, 2679–2694, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2679-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-18-2679-2014, 2014
A. Gilbert, C. Vincent, D. Six, P. Wagnon, L. Piard, and P. Ginot
The Cryosphere, 8, 689–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, 2014
H. Nagai, K. Fujita, T. Nuimura, and A. Sakai
The Cryosphere, 7, 1303–1314, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1303-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1303-2013, 2013
K. Fujita, A. Sakai, S. Takenaka, T. Nuimura, A. B. Surazakov, T. Sawagaki, and T. Yamanokuchi
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 13, 1827–1839, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-1827-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-13-1827-2013, 2013
Y. Zhang, Y. Hirabayashi, K. Fujita, S. Liu, and Q. Liu
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tcd-7-2413-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tcd-7-2413-2013, 2013
Revised manuscript not accepted
Related subject area
Discipline: Glaciers | Subject: Tropical Glaciers
El Niño enhances snow-line rise and ice loss on the Quelccaya Ice Cap, Peru
New insights into the decadal variability in glacier volume of a tropical ice cap, Antisana (0°29′ S, 78°09′ W), explained by the morpho-topographic and climatic context
Brief communication: Glacier thickness reconstruction on Mt. Kilimanjaro
Kara A. Lamantia, Laura J. Larocca, Lonnie G. Thompson, and Bryan G. Mark
The Cryosphere, 18, 4633–4644, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4633-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4633-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
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.
Rubén Basantes-Serrano, Antoine Rabatel, Bernard Francou, Christian Vincent, Alvaro Soruco, Thomas Condom, and Jean Carlo Ruíz
The Cryosphere, 16, 4659–4677, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4659-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4659-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We assessed the volume variation of 17 glaciers on the Antisana ice cap, near the Equator. We used aerial and satellite images for the period 1956–2016. We highlight very negative changes in 1956–1964 and 1979–1997 and slightly negative or even positive conditions in 1965–1978 and 1997–2016, the latter despite the recent increase in temperatures. Glaciers react according to regional climate variability, while local humidity and topography influence the specific behaviour of each glacier.
Catrin Stadelmann, Johannes Jakob Fürst, Thomas Mölg, and Matthias Braun
The Cryosphere, 14, 3399–3406, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3399-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3399-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The glaciers on Kilimanjaro are unique indicators for climatic changes in the tropical midtroposphere of Africa. A history of severe glacier area loss raises concerns about an imminent future disappearance. Yet the remaining ice volume is not well known. Here, we reconstruct ice thickness maps for the two largest remaining ice bodies to assess the current glacier state. We believe that our approach could provide a means for a glacier-specific calibration of reconstructions on different scales.
Cited articles
Aschwanden, A., Bueler, E., Khroulev, C., and Blatter, H.: An enthalpy
formulation for glaciers and ice sheets, J. Glaciol., 58, 441–457,
https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J088, 2012.
Bennett, M. M. and Glasser, N. F.: Glacial Geology: Ice Sheets and
Landforms, John Wiley & Sons, Oxford, ISBN 978-0-470-51690-4, 2011.
Boon, S. and Sharp, M.: The role of hydrologically-driven ice fracture in
drainage system evolution on an Arctic glacier, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 30, 18, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL018034, 2003.
Calonne, N., Flin, F., Morin, S., Lesaffre, B., Rolland du Roscoat, S., and
Geindreau, C.: Numerical and experimental investigations of the effective
thermal conductivity of snow, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L23501,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL049234, 2011.
Cuffey, K. and Paterson, W. S. B.: The Physics of Glaciers, Elsevier,
Butterworth-Heineman, Burlington, MA, USA, ISBN 9781493300761,
2010.
Dee, D. P., Uppala, S. M., Simmons, A. J., Berrisford, P., Poli, P.,
Kobayashi, S., Andrae, U., Balmaseda, M. A., Balsamo, G., Bauer, P.,
Bechtold, P., Beljaars, A. C. M., van de Berg, L., Bidlot, J., Bormann, N.,
Delsol, C., Dragani, R., Fuentes, M., Geer, A. J., Haimberger, L., Healy, S.
B., Hersbach, H., Hólm, E. V., Isaksen, L., Kållberg, P.,
Köhler, M., Matricardi, M., McNally, A. P., Monge-Sanz, B. M.,
Morcrette, J.-J., Park, B.-K., Peubey, C., de Rosnay, P., Tavolato, C.,
Thépaut, J.-N., and Vitart, F.: The ERA-Interim reanalysis:
configuration and performance of the data assimilation system, Q. J. Roy.
Meteorol. Soc., 137, 553–597, https://doi.org/10.1002/qj.828, 2011.
Elmer/Ice: Elmer/Ice wiki, available at: http://elmerfem.org/elmerice/wiki/doku.php, last access: 9 April 2020.
Faillettaz, J., Sornette, D., and Funk, M.: Numerical modeling of a
gravity-driven instability of a cold hanging glacier: reanalysis of the 1895
break-off of Altelsgletscher, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 57, 817–831,
https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311798043852, 2011.
Fischer, A.: Calculation of glacier volume from sparse ice-thickness data,
applied to Schaufelferner, Austria, J. Glaciol., 55, 453–460,
https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309788816740, 2009.
Fountain, A. G. and Walder, J. S.: Water flow through temperate glaciers,
Rev. Geophys., 36, 299–328, https://https://doi.org/10.1029/97RG03579, 1998.
Fujita, K.: Effect of precipitation seasonality on climatic sensitivity of
glacier mass balance, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 276, 14–19,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2008.08.028, 2008.
Fujita, K. and Ageta, Y.: Effect of summer accumulation on glacier mass
balance on the Tibetan Plateau revealed by mass-balance model, J. Glaciol.,
46, 244–252, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756500781832945, 2000.
Fujita, K. and Nuimura, T.: Spatially heterogeneous wastage of Himalayan
glaciers, P. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 108, 14011–14014,
https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1106242108, 2011.
Fujita, K., Nakawo, M., Fujii, Y., and Paudyal, P.: Changes in glaciers in
Hidden Valley, Mukut Himal, Nepal Himalayas, from 1974 to 1994, J. Glaciol.,
43, 583–588, https://doi.org/10.3189/S002214300003519X, 1997.
Fujita, K., Nakazawa, F., and Rana, B.: Glaciological observations on Rikha
Samba Glacier in Hidden Valley, Nepal Himalayas, 1998 and 1999, Bull.
Glaciol. Res., 18, 31–35, 2001.
Gagliardini, O., Zwinger, T., Gillet-Chaulet, F., Durand, G., Favier, L., de Fleurian, B., Greve, R., Malinen, M., Martín, C., Råback, P., Ruokolainen, J., Sacchettini, M., Schäfer, M., Seddik, H., and Thies, J.: Capabilities and performance of Elmer/Ice, a new-generation ice sheet model, Geosci. Model Dev., 6, 1299–1318, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-6-1299-2013, 2013.
Gilbert, A., Vincent, C., Wagnon, P., Thibert, E., and Rabatel, A.: The
influence of snow cover thickness on the thermal regime of Tête Rousse
Glacier (Mont Blanc range, 3200 m asl): consequences for outburst flood
hazards and glacier response to climate change, J. Geophys. Res., 117,
F04018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JF002258, 2012.
Gilbert, A., Gagliardini, O., Vincent, C., and Wagnon, P.: A 3-D thermal
regime model suitable for cold accumulation zones of polythermal mountain
glaciers, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 1876–1893,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003199, 2014a.
Gilbert, A., Vincent, C., Six, D., Wagnon, P., Piard, L., and Ginot, P.: Modeling near-surface firn temperature in a cold accumulation zone (Col du Dôme, French Alps): from a physical to a semi-parameterized approach, The Cryosphere, 8, 689–703, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-689-2014, 2014b.
Gilbert, A., Vincent, C., Gagliardini, O., Krug, J., and Berthier, E.:
Assessment of thermal change in cold avalanching glaciers in relation to
climate warming, Geophys. Res. Lett., 42, 6382–6390,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2015GL064838, 2015.
Gilbert, A., Flowers, G. E., Miller, G. H., Rabus, B. T., Van Wychen, W.,
Gardner, A. S., and Copland, L.: Sensitivity of Barnes Ice Cap, Baffin
Island, Canada, to climate state and internal dynamics, J. Geophys. Res.,
121, 1516–1539, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF003839, 2016.
Gilbert, A., Leinss, S., Kargel, J., Kääb, A., Gascoin, S., Leonard, G., Berthier, E., Karki, A., and Yao, T.: Mechanisms leading to the 2016 giant twin glacier collapses, Aru Range, Tibet, The Cryosphere, 12, 2883–2900, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2883-2018, 2018.
Gillet-Chaulet, F., Gagliardini, O., Seddik, H., Nodet, M., Durand, G., Ritz, C., Zwinger, T., Greve, R., and Vaughan, D. G.: Greenland ice sheet contribution to sea-level rise from a new-generation ice-sheet model, The Cryosphere, 6, 1561–1576, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-6-1561-2012, 2012.
Gurung, S., Bhattarai, B. C., Kayastha, R. B., Stumm, D., Joshi, S. P., and
Mool, P. K.: Study of annual mass balance (2011–2013) of Rikha Samba
Glacier, Hidden Valley, Mustang, Nepal, Sci. Cold Arid Reg., 8, 311–318, 2016.
Gusmeroli, A., Jansson, P., Pettersson, R., and Murray, T.: Twenty years of
cold layer thinning at Storglaciaren, sub–Arctic Sweden, 1989–2009, J.
Glaciol., 58, 3–10, https://https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J018, 2012.
Hills, B. H., Harper, J. T., Humphrey, N. F., and Meierbachtol, T. W.:
Measured horizontal temperature gradients constrain heat transfer mechanisms
in Greenland ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 9778–9785,
https://https://doi.org/10.1002/2017GL074917, 2017.
ICIMOD: Regional Database System, a non-stop data portal for the Hindu Kush Himalaya, available at: http://rds.icimod.org, last access: 9 April 2020.
Irvine-Fynn, T. D. L., Moorman, B. J., Williams, J. L. M., and Walter, F. S.
A.: Seasonal changes in ground penetrating radar signature observed at a
polythermal glacier, Bylot Island, Canada, Earth Surf. Process. Landform.,
31, 892–909, https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.1299, 2006.
Krug, J., Weiss, J., Gagliardini, O., and Durand, G.: Combining damage and fracture mechanics to model calving, The Cryosphere, 8, 2101–2117, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-2101-2014, 2014.
Liu, Y., Hou, S., Wang, Y., and Song, L.: Distribution of borehole
temperature at four high altitude alpine glaciers in central Asia, J. Mt.
Sci., 6, 221–227, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11629-009-0254-9, 2009.
Lüthi, M. P., Ryser, C., Andrews, L. C., Catania, G. A., Funk, M., Hawley, R. L., Hoffman, M. J., and Neumann, T. A.: Heat sources within the Greenland Ice Sheet: dissipation, temperate paleo-firn and cryo-hydrologic warming, The Cryosphere, 9, 245–253, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-245-2015, 2015.
Mae, S.: Ice temperature of Khumbu Glacier, Seppyo, J. Jpn. Soc. Snow Ice,
38, Special Issue, 37–38, 1976.
Matheron, G.: Principles of geostatistics, Eco. Geol., 58,
1246–1266, https://https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.58.8.1246, 1963.
Miles, K. E., Hubbard, B., Quincey, D. J., Miles, E. S., Sherpa, T. C.,
Rowan, A. V., and Doyle, S. H.: Polythermal structure of a Himalayan
debris-covered glacier revealed by borehole thermometry, Sci. Rep., 8,
16825, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34327-5, 2018.
Miller, J. D., Immerzeel, W. W., and Rees, G.: Climate change impacts on
glacier hydrology and river discharge in the Hindu Kush–Himalayas, Mt. Res.
Dev., 32, 461–467, https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-12-00027.1, 2012.
Pellicciotti, F., Brock, B., Strasser, U., Burlando, P., Funk, M., and
Corripio, J.: An enhanced temperature-index glacier melt model including the
shortwave radiation balance: development and testing for Haut Glacier
d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 51, 573–587,
https://https://doi.org/10.3189/172756505781829124, 2005.
Pettersson, R., Jansson, P., Huwald, H., and Blatter, H.: Spatial pattern
and stability of the cold surface layer of Storglaciaren, Sweden, J.
Glaciol., 53, 99–109, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756507781833974, 2007.
Phillips, T., Rajaram, H., and Steffen, K.: Cryo-hydrologic warming: a
potential mechanism for rapid thermal response of ice sheets, Geophys. Res.
Lett., 37, L20503, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010GL044397, 2010.
Phillips, T., Rajaram, H., Colgan, W., Steffen, K., and Abdalati, W.:
Evaluation of cryo-hydrologic warming as an explanation for increased ice
velocities in the wet snow zone, Sermeq Avannarleq, West Greenland, J.
Geophys. Res., 118, 1241–1256, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrf.20079, 2013.
Pralong, A. and Funk, M.: Dynamic damage model of crevasse opening and
application to glacier calving, J. Geophys. Res., 110, B01309,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JB003104, 2005.
Robin, G. D. Q.: Velocity of radio waves in ice by means of a bore-hole
interferometric technique, J. Glaciol., 15, 151–159,
https://https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000034341, 1975.
Ryser, C., Lüthi, M., Blindow, N., Suckro, S., Funk, M., and Bauder, A.:
Cold ice in the ablation zone: its relation to glacier hydrology and ice
water content, J. Geophys. Res., 118, 693–705,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2012JF002526, 2013.
Seguinot, J., Funk, M., Bauder, A., Wyder, T., Senn, C., and Sugiyama, S.:
Englacial warming indicates deep crevassing in Bowdoin Glacier, Greenland,
Front. Earth Sci., 8, 65, https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00065, 2020.
Sugiyama, S., Fukui, K., Fujita, K., Tone, K., and Yamaguchi, S.: Changes in
ice thickness and flow velocity of Yala Glacier, Langtang Himal, Nepal, from
1982 to 2009, Ann. Glaciol., 54, 157–162,
https://https://doi.org/10.3189/2013AoG64A111, 2013.
Tao, W. and Shen, Z.: Heat flow distribution in Chinese continent and its
adjacent areas, Prog. Nat. Sci., 18, 843–849,
https://https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2008.01.018, 2008.
Van der Veen, C. J.: Fracture propagation as means of rapidly transferring
surface meltwater to the base of glaciers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 34,
L01501, https://https://doi.org/10.1029/2006GL028385, 2007.
Wang, Y., Zhang, T., Ren, J., Qin, X., Liu, Y., Sun, W., Chen, J., Ding, M., Du, W., and Qin, D.: An investigation of the thermomechanical features of Laohugou Glacier No. 12 on Qilian Shan, western China, using a two-dimensional first-order flow-band ice flow model, The Cryosphere, 12, 851–866, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-851-2018, 2018.
Watanabe, O., Takenaka, S., Iida, H., Kamiyama, K., Thapa, K. B., and Mulmi,
D. D.: First results from Himalayan glacier boring project in 1981–1982,
Part I. Stratigraphic analyses of full-depth cores from Yala Glacier,
Langtang Himal, Nepal. Bull. Glacier Res., 2, 7–23, 1984.
Wilson, N. J., Flowers, G. E., and Mingo, L.: Comparison of thermal
structure and evolution between neighboring subarctic glaciers, J. Geophys.
Res., 118, 1443–1459, https://doi.org/10.1002/jgrf.20096, 2013.
Zhang, T., Xiao, C., Colgan, W., Qin, X., Du, W., Sun, W., Liu, Y., and
Ding, M.: Observed and modelled ice temperature and velocity along the main
flowline of East Rongbuk Glacier, Qomolangma (Mount Everest), Himalaya, J.
Glaciol., 59, 438–448, https://https://doi.org/10.3189/2013JoG12J202, 2013.