Articles | Volume 18, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5965-2024
© 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-18-5965-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Dec 2024
Research article |
| 18 Dec 2024
| 18 Dec 2024
Distributed surface mass balance of an avalanche-fed glacier
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
Amaury Dehecq
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Adrien Gilbert
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Auguste Basset
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Evan S. Miles
Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group, Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
Mass Movements and Mountain Hydrology, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow, and Avalanche Research, Birmensdorf, 8093, Switzerland
Guillaume Jouvet
IDYST, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
Bruno Jourdain
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Etienne Ducasse
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Luc Beraud
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Antoine Rabatel
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Jérémie Mouginot
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
deceased, 28 September 2022
Guillem Carcanade
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Olivier Laarman
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Fanny Brun
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Delphine Six
Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble-Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble, 38400, France
Viewed
Total article views: 6,072 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Jul 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4,496 | 1,227 | 349 | 6,072 | 583 | 213 | 314 |
- HTML: 4,496
- PDF: 1,227
- XML: 349
- Total: 6,072
- Supplement: 583
- BibTeX: 213
- EndNote: 314
Total article views: 3,328 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 18 Dec 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,730 | 507 | 91 | 3,328 | 200 | 104 | 153 |
- HTML: 2,730
- PDF: 507
- XML: 91
- Total: 3,328
- Supplement: 200
- BibTeX: 104
- EndNote: 153
Total article views: 2,744 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 02 Jul 2024)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,766 | 720 | 258 | 2,744 | 383 | 109 | 161 |
- HTML: 1,766
- PDF: 720
- XML: 258
- Total: 2,744
- Supplement: 383
- BibTeX: 109
- EndNote: 161
Viewed (geographical distribution)
Total article views: 6,072 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 5,945 with geography defined
and 127 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 3,328 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 3,207 with geography defined
and 121 with unknown origin.
Total article views: 2,744 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Thereof 2,738 with geography defined
and 6 with unknown origin.
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Country | # | Views | % |
|---|
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
| Total: | 0 |
| HTML: | 0 |
| PDF: | 0 |
| XML: | 0 |
- 1
1
Cited
8 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Substantial accumulation rates on a glacier avalanche cone from time-lapse photogrammetry and field measurements M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5327-2026
- A mechanics-based initiation criterion for ice avalanches: Linking fracture parameters to glacier-scale instability S. Peng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.06.012
- Topographically-controlled contribution of avalanches to glacier mass balance in the 21st century M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65608-z
- Helm Glacier projected to vanish within a decade J. Crompton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2026.10043
- Saharan dust impacts on the surface mass balance of Argentière Glacier (French Alps) L. Roussel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5201-2025
- Intensified snowmelt on Karakoram glaciers Revealed by Sentinel-1 Backscatter-Derived wet snow dynamics Y. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105391
- Multisource Satellite Altimetry Reveals Complex Elevation Dynamics at Klutlan Glacier in Alaska Between 2008 and 2024 J. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3726873
- Recent observations and glacier modeling point towards near-complete glacier loss in western Austria (Ötztal and Stubai mountain range) if 1.5 °C is not met L. Hartl et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1431-2025
8 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Substantial accumulation rates on a glacier avalanche cone from time-lapse photogrammetry and field measurements M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-5327-2026
- A mechanics-based initiation criterion for ice avalanches: Linking fracture parameters to glacier-scale instability S. Peng et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmst.2026.06.012
- Topographically-controlled contribution of avalanches to glacier mass balance in the 21st century M. Kneib et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-65608-z
- Helm Glacier projected to vanish within a decade J. Crompton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2026.10043
- Saharan dust impacts on the surface mass balance of Argentière Glacier (French Alps) L. Roussel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-5201-2025
- Intensified snowmelt on Karakoram glaciers Revealed by Sentinel-1 Backscatter-Derived wet snow dynamics Y. Shen et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jag.2026.105391
- Multisource Satellite Altimetry Reveals Complex Elevation Dynamics at Klutlan Glacier in Alaska Between 2008 and 2024 J. Hu et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2026.3726873
- Recent observations and glacier modeling point towards near-complete glacier loss in western Austria (Ötztal and Stubai mountain range) if 1.5 °C is not met L. Hartl et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1431-2025
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 01 Oct 2026
Short summary
Avalanches contribute to increasing the accumulation on mountain glaciers by redistributing snow from surrounding mountains slopes. Here we quantified the contribution of avalanches to the mass balance of Argentière Glacier in the French Alps, by combining satellite and field observations to model the glacier dynamics. We show that the contribution of avalanches locally increases the accumulation by 60–70 % and that accounting for this effect results in less ice loss by the end of the century.
Avalanches contribute to increasing the accumulation on mountain glaciers by redistributing snow...
