Articles | Volume 18, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3591-2024
© Author(s) 2024. 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-18-3591-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
15 Aug 2024
Research article |
| 15 Aug 2024
| 15 Aug 2024
Arctic glacier snowline altitudes rise 150 m over the last 4 decades
Laura J. Larocca
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Cooperative Programs for the Advancement of Earth System Science, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307, USA
School of Ocean Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85281, USA
James M. Lea
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
Michael P. Erb
School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Nicholas P. McKay
School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Megan Phillips
School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
Kara A. Lamantia
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
School of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
Darrell S. Kaufman
School of Earth and Sustainability, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA
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Short summary
Here we present summer snowline altitude (SLA) time series for 269 Arctic glaciers. Between 1984 and 2022, SLAs rose ∼ 150 m, equating to a ∼ 127 m shift per 1 °C of summer warming. SLA is most strongly correlated with annual temperature variables, highlighting their dual effect on ablation and accumulation processes. We show that SLAs are rising fastest on low-elevation glaciers and that > 50 % of the studied glaciers could have SLAs that exceed the maximum ice elevation by 2100.
Here we present summer snowline altitude (SLA) time series for 269 Arctic glaciers. Between 1984...
