Articles | Volume 19, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-3443-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-19-3443-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Reconstruction of mass balance and firn stratigraphy during the 1996–2011 warm period at high altitude on Mount Ortles, Eastern Alps: a comparison of modelled and ice core results
Luca Carturan
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
Alexander C. Ihle
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
Department of Geography and Byrd Polar and Climate Research Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Federico Cazorzi
Department of Agricultural, Food, Environmental and Animal Sciences, University of Udine, Udine, Italy
Tiziana Lazzarina Zendrini
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
Fabrizio De Blasi
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – Istituto di Scienze Polari, c/o Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
Giancarlo Dalla Fontana
Department of Land, Environment, Agriculture and Forestry, University of Padua, Legnaro, Italy
Giuliano Dreossi
Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
Daniela Festi
GeoSphere Austria, Department of Geoanalytics and Reference Collections, Vienna, Austria
Bryan Mark
Department of Geography and Byrd Polar and Climate Research Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
Klaus Dieter Oeggl
Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Roberto Seppi
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
Barbara Stenni
Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca' Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
Paolo Gabrielli
Italian Glaciological Committee, Turin, Italy
Related authors
Luca Carturan, Giulia Zuecco, Angela Andreotti, Jacopo Boaga, Costanza Morino, Mirko Pavoni, Roberto Seppi, Monica Tolotti, Thomas Zanoner, and Matteo Zumiani
The Cryosphere, 18, 5713–5733, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5713-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5713-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Pseudo-relict rock glaciers look relict but contain patches of permafrost. They are poorly known in terms of permafrost content, spatial distribution and frequency. Here we use spring-water temperature for a preliminary estimate of the permafrost presence in rock glaciers of a 795 km2 catchment in the Italian Alps. The results show that ~50 % of rock glaciers classified as relict might be pseudo-relict and might contain ~20 % of the ice stored in the rock glaciers in the study area.
Luca Carturan, Fabrizio De Blasi, Roberto Dinale, Gianfranco Dragà, Paolo Gabrielli, Volkmar Mair, Roberto Seppi, David Tonidandel, Thomas Zanoner, Tiziana Lazzarina Zendrini, and Giancarlo Dalla Fontana
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4661–4688, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4661-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4661-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a new dataset of air, englacial, soil surface and rock wall temperatures collected between 2010 and 2016 on Mt Ortles, which is the highest summit of South Tyrol, Italy. Details are provided on instrument type and characteristics, field methods, and data quality control and assessment. The obtained data series are available through an open data repository. This is a rare dataset from a summit area lacking observations on permafrost and glaciers and their climatic response.
Mirko Pavoni, Jacopo Boaga, Alberto Carrera, Giulia Zuecco, Luca Carturan, and Matteo Zumiani
The Cryosphere, 17, 1601–1607, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1601-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1601-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decades, geochemical investigations at the springs of rock glaciers have been used to estimate their drainage processes, and the frozen layer is typically considered to act as an aquiclude or aquitard. In this work, we evaluated the hydraulic behavior of a mountain permafrost site by executing a geophysical monitoring experiment. Several hundred liters of salt water have been injected into the subsurface, and geoelectrical measurements have been performed to define the water flow.
Agnese Petteni, Mathieu Casado, Christophe Leroy-Dos Santos, Amaelle Landais, Niels Dutrievoz, Cécile Agosta, Pete D. Akers, Joel Savarino, Andrea Spolaor, Massimo Frezzotti, and Barbara Stenni
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3188, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-3188, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated the isotopic composition of surface snow in a previously unexplored region of East Antarctica to understand how differences in air mass origin influence its variability. By comparing observations with model data, we validated the model and quantified the impact of post-depositional processes at the snow–atmosphere interface. Our results offer valuable insights for reconstructing past temperatures from ice cores.
Serena Lagorio, Barbara Delmonte, Dieter Tetzner, Elisa Malinverno, Giovanni Baccolo, Barbara Stenni, Massimo Frezzotti, Valter Maggi, and Nancy Bertler
Clim. Past, 21, 1323–1341, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1323-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-21-1323-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Aeolian diatoms and dust in the Antarctic Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution project (RICE) ice core allow the reconstruction of atmospheric circulation and climate variability in the Eastern Ross Sea over the past 2 millennia. Since about 1470 CE and during the Little Ice Age, the site experienced a rapid atmospheric circulation reorganization related to the development of the Roosevelt Island polynya, the eastward protrusion of the Ross Sea polynya that significantly impacted the regional climate dynamics of the Ross Sea area.
Yalalt Nyamgerel, Yeongcheol Han, Soon Do Hur, Hyemi Kim, Songyi Kim, Jangil Moon, Barbara Stenni, and Jeonghoon Lee
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2408, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2408, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Earth System Dynamics (ESD).
Short summary
Short summary
This research explores climate patterns recorded in Antarctic ice over the past two centuries. By analyzing ice layers, we identified connections between Antarctica's climate and tropical ocean conditions. Results show changing influences over time and highlight the Indian Ocean's key role in Antarctic snowfall. This improves understanding of how polar and tropical climates interact, crucial for future climate predictions.
Claudio Stefanini, Barbara Stenni, Mauro Masiol, Giuliano Dreossi, Vincent Favier, Francesca Becherini, Claudio Scarchilli, Virginia Ciardini, Gabriele Carugati, and Massimo Frezzotti
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2477, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2477, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
This study analyzes snow accumulation near Concordia Station in Antarctica (3233 m) to estimate yearly snow accumulation. Data from Italian and French stake farms show strong variation due to wind and surface features. On average, 7–8 cm of snow accumulate yearly near the Station. The study also compares results with climate models and explores whether the station buildings affect measurements.
Paolo Gabrielli, Theo M. Jenk, Michele Bertó, Giuliano Dreossi, Daniela Festi, Werner Kofler, Mai Winstrup, Klaus Oeggl, Margit Schwikowski, Barbara Stenni, and Carlo Barbante
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2174, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-2174, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
A low latitude-high altitude Alpine ice core record was obtained in 2011 from the glacier Alto dell’Ortles (Eastern Alps, Italy) and provided evidence of one of the oldest Alpine ice core records spanning the last ~7000 years, back to the last Northern Hemisphere Climatic Optimum. Here we provide a new Alto dell’Ortles chronology of improved accuracy that will allow to constrain Holocene climatic and environmental histories emerging from this high-altitude glacial archive of Central Europe.
Tal Y. Shutkin, Bryan G. Mark, Nathan D. Stansell, Rolando Cruz Encarnación, Henry H. Brecher, Zhengyu Liu, Bidhyananda Yadav, and Forrest S. Schoessow
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3194, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3194, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Queshque Glacier, a tropical glacier located in central Peru, has lost about 22.5 million cubic meters of water since 2008. Despite a possible increase in recent snowfall, our research shows that ice loss has been caused by steadily warming temperatures. We also see that the formation of a new lake at the base of the glacier has sped up Queshque’s rate of retreat. We find that changes in glacier water storage are increasingly related to conditions in the Pacific Ocean during the austral summer.
Agnese Petteni, Elise Fourré, Elsa Gautier, Azzurra Spagnesi, Roxanne Jacob, Pete D. Akers, Daniele Zannoni, Jacopo Gabrieli, Olivier Jossoud, Frédéric Prié, Amaëlle Landais, Titouan Tcheng, Barbara Stenni, Joel Savarino, Patrick Ginot, and Mathieu Casado
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3335, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3335, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Our research compares three CFA-CRDS systems from Venice, Paris, and Grenoble for measuring water isotopes in ice cores, crucial for reconstructing past climate. We quantify each system’s mixing and measurement noise effects, which impact the achievable resolution of isotope continuous records. Our findings reveal specific configurations and procedures to enhance measurement accuracy, providing a framework to optimise water isotope analysis.
Inès Ollivier, Hans Christian Steen-Larsen, Barbara Stenni, Laurent Arnaud, Mathieu Casado, Alexandre Cauquoin, Giuliano Dreossi, Christophe Genthon, Bénédicte Minster, Ghislain Picard, Martin Werner, and Amaëlle Landais
The Cryosphere, 19, 173–200, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-173-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-173-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
The role of post-depositional processes taking place at the ice sheet's surface on the water stable isotope signal measured in polar ice cores is not fully understood. Using field observations and modelling results, we show that the original precipitation isotopic signal at Dome C, East Antarctica, is modified by post-depositional processes and provide the first quantitative estimation of their mean impact on the isotopic signal observed in the snow.
Luca Carturan, Giulia Zuecco, Angela Andreotti, Jacopo Boaga, Costanza Morino, Mirko Pavoni, Roberto Seppi, Monica Tolotti, Thomas Zanoner, and Matteo Zumiani
The Cryosphere, 18, 5713–5733, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5713-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5713-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Pseudo-relict rock glaciers look relict but contain patches of permafrost. They are poorly known in terms of permafrost content, spatial distribution and frequency. Here we use spring-water temperature for a preliminary estimate of the permafrost presence in rock glaciers of a 795 km2 catchment in the Italian Alps. The results show that ~50 % of rock glaciers classified as relict might be pseudo-relict and might contain ~20 % of the ice stored in the rock glaciers in the study area.
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.
Giuliano Dreossi, Mauro Masiol, Barbara Stenni, Daniele Zannoni, Claudio Scarchilli, Virginia Ciardini, Mathieu Casado, Amaëlle Landais, Martin Werner, Alexandre Cauquoin, Giampietro Casasanta, Massimo Del Guasta, Vittoria Posocco, and Carlo Barbante
The Cryosphere, 18, 3911–3931, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3911-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3911-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Oxygen and hydrogen stable isotopes have been extensively used to reconstruct past temperatures, with precipitation representing the input signal of the isotopic records in ice cores. We present a 10-year record of stable isotopes in daily precipitation at Concordia Station: this is the longest record for inland Antarctica and represents a benchmark for quantifying post-depositional processes and improving the paleoclimate interpretation of ice cores.
Romilly Harris Stuart, Amaëlle Landais, Laurent Arnaud, Christo Buizert, Emilie Capron, Marie Dumont, Quentin Libois, Robert Mulvaney, Anaïs Orsi, Ghislain Picard, Frédéric Prié, Jeffrey Severinghaus, Barbara Stenni, and Patricia Martinerie
The Cryosphere, 18, 3741–3763, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3741-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3741-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Ice core δO2/N2 records are useful dating tools due to their local insolation pacing. A precise understanding of the physical mechanism driving this relationship, however, remain ambiguous. By compiling data from 15 polar sites, we find a strong dependence of mean δO2/N2 on accumulation rate and temperature in addition to the well-documented insolation dependence. Snowpack modelling is used to investigate which physical properties drive the mechanistic dependence on these local parameters.
Andrea Spolaor, Federico Scoto, Catherine Larose, Elena Barbaro, Francois Burgay, Mats P. Bjorkman, David Cappelletti, Federico Dallo, Fabrizio de Blasi, Dmitry Divine, Giuliano Dreossi, Jacopo Gabrieli, Elisabeth Isaksson, Jack Kohler, Tonu Martma, Louise S. Schmidt, Thomas V. Schuler, Barbara Stenni, Clara Turetta, Bartłomiej Luks, Mathieu Casado, and Jean-Charles Gallet
The Cryosphere, 18, 307–320, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-307-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-307-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate the impact of the increased snowmelt on the preservation of the oxygen isotope (δ18O) signal in firn records recovered from the top of the Holtedahlfonna ice field located in the Svalbard archipelago. Thanks to a multidisciplinary approach we demonstrate a progressive deterioration of the isotope signal in the firn core. We link the degradation of the δ18O signal to the increased occurrence and intensity of melt events associated with the rapid warming occurring in the archipelago.
Luca Carturan, Fabrizio De Blasi, Roberto Dinale, Gianfranco Dragà, Paolo Gabrielli, Volkmar Mair, Roberto Seppi, David Tonidandel, Thomas Zanoner, Tiziana Lazzarina Zendrini, and Giancarlo Dalla Fontana
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4661–4688, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4661-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4661-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a new dataset of air, englacial, soil surface and rock wall temperatures collected between 2010 and 2016 on Mt Ortles, which is the highest summit of South Tyrol, Italy. Details are provided on instrument type and characteristics, field methods, and data quality control and assessment. The obtained data series are available through an open data repository. This is a rare dataset from a summit area lacking observations on permafrost and glaciers and their climatic response.
Azzurra Spagnesi, Pascal Bohleber, Elena Barbaro, Matteo Feltracco, Fabrizio De Blasi, Giuliano Dreossi, Martin Stocker-Waldhuber, Daniela Festi, Jacopo Gabrieli, Andrea Gambaro, Andrea Fischer, and Carlo Barbante
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1625, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-1625, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
We present new data from a 10 m ice core drilled in 2019 and a 8.4 m parallel ice core drilled in 2021 at the summit of Weißseespitze glacier. In a new combination of proxies, we discuss profiles of stable water isotopes, major ion chemistry as well as a full profile of microcharcoal and levoglucosan. We find that the chemical and isotopic signals are preserved, despite the ongoing surface mass loss. This is not be to expected considering what has been found at other glaciers at similar locations.
Simone Ventisette, Samuele Baldini, Claudio Artoni, Silvia Becagli, Laura Caiazzo, Barbara Delmonte, Massimo Frezzotti, Raffaello Nardin, Joel Savarino, Mirko Severi, Andrea Spolaor, Barbara Stenni, and Rita Traversi
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-393, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-393, 2023
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
The paper reports the spatial variability of concentration and fluxes of chemical impurities in superficial snow over unexplored area of the East Antarctic ice sheet. Pinatubo and Puyehue-Cordón Caulle volcanic eruptions in non-sea salt sulfate and dust snow pits record were used to achieve the accumulation rates. Deposition (wet, dry and uptake from snow surface) and post deposition processes are constrained. These knowledges are fundamental in Antarctic ice cores stratigraphies interpretation.
Mirko Pavoni, Jacopo Boaga, Alberto Carrera, Giulia Zuecco, Luca Carturan, and Matteo Zumiani
The Cryosphere, 17, 1601–1607, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1601-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1601-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decades, geochemical investigations at the springs of rock glaciers have been used to estimate their drainage processes, and the frozen layer is typically considered to act as an aquiclude or aquitard. In this work, we evaluated the hydraulic behavior of a mountain permafrost site by executing a geophysical monitoring experiment. Several hundred liters of salt water have been injected into the subsurface, and geoelectrical measurements have been performed to define the water flow.
Niccolò Maffezzoli, Eliza Cook, Willem G. M. van der Bilt, Eivind N. Støren, Daniela Festi, Florian Muthreich, Alistair W. R. Seddon, François Burgay, Giovanni Baccolo, Amalie R. F. Mygind, Troels Petersen, Andrea Spolaor, Sebastiano Vascon, Marcello Pelillo, Patrizia Ferretti, Rafael S. dos Reis, Jefferson C. Simões, Yuval Ronen, Barbara Delmonte, Marco Viccaro, Jørgen Peder Steffensen, Dorthe Dahl-Jensen, Kerim H. Nisancioglu, and Carlo Barbante
The Cryosphere, 17, 539–565, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-539-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-539-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Multiple lines of research in ice core science are limited by manually intensive and time-consuming optical microscopy investigations for the detection of insoluble particles, from pollen grains to volcanic shards. To help overcome these limitations and support researchers, we present a novel methodology for the identification and autonomous classification of ice core insoluble particles based on flow image microscopy and neural networks.
Antoine Grisart, Mathieu Casado, Vasileios Gkinis, Bo Vinther, Philippe Naveau, Mathieu Vrac, Thomas Laepple, Bénédicte Minster, Frederic Prié, Barbara Stenni, Elise Fourré, Hans Christian Steen-Larsen, Jean Jouzel, Martin Werner, Katy Pol, Valérie Masson-Delmotte, Maria Hoerhold, Trevor Popp, and Amaelle Landais
Clim. Past, 18, 2289–2301, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-2289-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-2289-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a compilation of high-resolution (11 cm) water isotopic records, including published and new measurements, for the last 800 000 years from the EPICA Dome C ice core, Antarctica. Using this new combined water isotopes (δ18O and δD) dataset, we study the variability and possible influence of diffusion at the multi-decadal to multi-centennial scale. We observe a stronger variability at the onset of the interglacial interval corresponding to a warm period.
Emilio I. Mateo, Bryan G. Mark, Robert Å. Hellström, Michel Baraer, Jeffrey M. McKenzie, Thomas Condom, Alejo Cochachín Rapre, Gilber Gonzales, Joe Quijano Gómez, and Rolando Cesai Crúz Encarnación
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 2865–2882, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2865-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-2865-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This article presents detailed and comprehensive hydrological and meteorological datasets collected over the past two decades throughout the Cordillera Blanca, Peru. With four weather stations and six streamflow gauges ranging from 3738 to 4750 m above sea level, this network displays a vertical breadth of data and enables detailed research of atmospheric and hydrological processes in a tropical high mountain region.
Paolo Gabrielli, Theo Manuel Jenk, Michele Bertó, Giuliano Dreossi, Daniela Festi, Werner Kofler, Mai Winstrup, Klaus Oeggl, Margit Schwikowski, Barbara Stenni, and Carlo Barbante
Clim. Past Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2022-20, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-2022-20, 2022
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
We present a methodology that reduces the chronological uncertainty of an Alpine ice core record from the glacier Alto dell’Ortles, Italy. This chronology will allow the constraint of the Holocene climatic and environmental histories emerging from this archive of Central Europe. This method will allow to obtain accurate chronologies also from other ice cores from-low latitude/high-altitude glaciers that typically suffer from larger dating uncertainties compared with well dated polar records.
Raffaello Nardin, Mirko Severi, Alessandra Amore, Silvia Becagli, Francois Burgay, Laura Caiazzo, Virginia Ciardini, Giuliano Dreossi, Massimo Frezzotti, Sang-Bum Hong, Ishaq Khan, Bianca Maria Narcisi, Marco Proposito, Claudio Scarchilli, Enricomaria Selmo, Andrea Spolaor, Barbara Stenni, and Rita Traversi
Clim. Past, 17, 2073–2089, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2073-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-17-2073-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The first step to exploit all the potential information buried in ice cores is to produce a reliable age scale. Based on chemical and isotopic records from the 197 m Antarctic GV7(B) ice core, accurate dating was achieved and showed that the archive spans roughly the last 830 years. The relatively high accumulation rate allowed us to use the non-sea-salt sulfate seasonal pattern to count annual layers. The accumulation rate reconstruction exhibited a slight increase since the 18th century.
Daniela Festi, Margit Schwikowski, Valter Maggi, Klaus Oeggl, and Theo Manuel Jenk
The Cryosphere, 15, 4135–4143, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4135-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4135-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In our study we dated a 46 m deep ice core retrieved from the Adamello glacier (Central Italian Alps). We obtained a timescale combining the results of radionuclides 210Pb and 137Cs with annual layer counting derived from pollen and refractory black carbon concentrations. Our results indicate that the surface of the glacier is older than the drilling date of 2016 by about 20 years, therefore revealing that the glacier is at high risk of collapsing under current climate warming conditions.
Pascal Bohleber, Marco Roman, Martin Šala, Barbara Delmonte, Barbara Stenni, and Carlo Barbante
The Cryosphere, 15, 3523–3538, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3523-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3523-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) offers micro-destructive, micrometer-scale impurity analysis of ice cores. For improved understanding of the LA-ICP-MS signals, novel 2D impurity imaging is applied to selected glacial and interglacial samples of Antarctic deep ice cores. This allows evaluating the 2D impurity distribution in relation to ice crystal features and assessing implications for investigating highly thinned climate proxy signals in deep polar ice.
E. Maset, S. Cucchiaro, F. Cazorzi, F. Crosilla, A. Fusiello, and A. Beinat
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B1-2021, 103–109, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B1-2021-103-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B1-2021-103-2021, 2021
Joel D. Barker, Susan Kaspari, Paolo Gabrielli, Anna Wegner, Emilie Beaudon, M. Roxana Sierra-Hernández, and Lonnie Thompson
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 21, 5615–5633, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5615-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-5615-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Black carbon (BC), an aerosol that contributes to glacier melt, is important for central Himalayan hydrology because glaciers are a water source to rivers that affect 25 % of the global population in Southeast Asia. Using the Dasuopu ice core (1781–1992 CE), we find that drought-associated biomass burning is an important source of BC to the central Himalaya over a period of months to years and that hemispheric changes in atmospheric circulation influence BC deposition over longer periods.
Lorenzo Marchi, Federico Cazorzi, Massimo Arattano, Sara Cucchiaro, Marco Cavalli, and Stefano Crema
Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 21, 87–97, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-87-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-21-87-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Debris-flow research requires experimental data that are difficult to collect because of the intrinsic characteristics of these hazardous processes. This paper presents debris-flow data recorded in the Moscardo Torrent (Italian Alps) between 1990 and 2019. In this time interval, 30 debris flows were observed. The paper presents data on triggering rainfall, flow velocity, peak discharge, and volume for the monitored hydrographs.
Wolfgang Knierzinger, Ruth Drescher-Schneider, Klaus-Holger Knorr, Simon Drollinger, Andreas Limbeck, Lukas Brunnbauer, Felix Horak, Daniela Festi, and Michael Wagreich
E&G Quaternary Sci. J., 69, 121–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-121-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-69-121-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We present multi-proxy analyses of a 14C-dated peat core covering the past ⁓5000 years from the ombrotrophic Pürgschachen Moor. Pronounced increases in cultural indicators suggest significant human activity in the Bronze Age and in the period of the late La Tène culture. We found strong, climate-controlled interrelations between the pollen record, the humification degree and the ash content. Human activity is reflected in the pollen record and by heavy metals.
Cited articles
Adler, S.: Das Klima von Tirol-Südtirol-Belluno: 1981–2010; Vergangenheit-Gegenwart-Zukunft, Zentralanstalt für Meteorologie und Geodynamik, Südtirol Abteilung Brand- und Zivilschutz, Bozen, 102, 2015.
Andersen, K. K., Svensson, A., Johnsen, S. J., Rasmussen, S. O., Bigler, M., Röthlisberger, R., Ruth, U., Siggaard-Andersen, M. L., Peder Steffensen, J., Dahl-Jensen, D., Vinther, B. M., and Clausen, H. B.: The Greenland ice core chronology 2005, 15–42 ka. Part 1: constructing the time scale, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 25, 3246–3257, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2006.08.002, 2006.
Armando, E., Baroni, C., and Zanon, G.: Reports of the glaciological survey 2001. Relazioni della campagna glaciologica 2001, Geogr. Fis. Din. Quat., 25, 48–90, 2002.
Baroni C., Bondesan, A., Carturan, L., Chiarle, M., and Scotti R.: Annual glaciological survey of Italian glaciers (2022) – Campagna glaciologica annuale dei ghiacciai italiani (2022), Geogr. Fis. Din. Quat., 46, 3–123, https://doi.org/10.4454/gfdq.v46.883, 2023.
Bohleber, P.: Alpine Ice Cores as Climate and Environmental Archives, in: Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Climate Science, edited by: Bohleber, P., Oxford University Press, https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228620.013.743, 2019.
Bohleber, P., Wagenbach, D., Schöner, W., and Böhm, R.: To what extent do water isotope records from low accumulation Alpine ice cores reproduce instrumental temperature series?, Tellus B, 65, 20148, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v65i0.20148, 2013.
Bohleber, P., Schwikowski, M., Stocker-Waldhuber, M., Fang, L., and Fischer, A.: New glacier evidence for ice-free summits during the life of the Tyrolean Iceman, Sci. Rep.-UK, 10, 20513, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-77518-9, 2020.
Brönnimann, S., Mariani, I., Schwikowski, M., Auchmann, R., and Eichler, A.: Simulating the temperature and precipitation signal in an Alpine ice core, Clim. Past, 9, 2013–2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-9-2013-2013, 2013.
Carrer, M., Dibona, R., Prendin, A. L., and Brunetti, M.: Recent waning snowpack in the Alps is unprecedented in the last six centuries, Nat. Clim. Change, 13, 155–160, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01575-3, 2023.
Carturan, L.: Mass balance, stable isotopes and pollen data from 1997 to 2014 on Mt. Ortles (Eastern European Alps), Zenodo [data set], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15669722, 2025.
Carturan, L., Cazorzi, F., and Dalla Fontana, G.: Distributed mass-balance modelling on two neighbouring glaciers in Ortles-Cevedale, Italy, from 2004 to 2009, J. Glaciol., 58, 467–486, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J111, 2012a.
Carturan L., Dalla Fontana, G., and Borga, M.: Estimation of winter precipitation in a high-altitude catchment of the Eastern Italian Alps: validation by means of glacier mass balance observations, Geogr. Fis. Din. Quat., 35, 37–48, https://doi.org/10.4461/GFDQ.2012.35.4, 2012b.
Carturan, L., De Blasi, F., Dinale, R., Dragà, G., Gabrielli, P., Mair, V., Seppi, R., Tonidandel, D., Zanoner, T., Zendrini, T. L., and Dalla Fontana, G.: Modern air, englacial and permafrost temperatures at high altitude on Mt Ortles (3905 ), in the eastern European Alps, Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 4661–4688, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-4661-2023, 2023.
Cazorzi, F. and Dalla Fontana, G.: Snowmelt modelling by combining air temperature and a distributed radiation index, J. Hydrol., 181, 169–187, https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1694(95)02913-3, 1996.
Dansgaard, W.: Stable isotopes in precipitation, Tellus, XVI, 436–468, 1964.
Dietermann, N. and Weiler, M.: Spatial distribution of stable water isotopes in alpine snow cover, Hydrol. Earth. Syst. Sc., 17, 2657–2668, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-17-2657-2013, 2013.
Ebner, P. P., Steen-Larsen, H. C., Stenni, B., Schneebeli, M., and Steinfeld, A.: Experimental observation of transient δ18O interaction between snow and advective airflow under various temperature gradient conditions, The Cryosphere, 11, 1733–1743, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1733-2017, 2017.
Eichler, A., Schwikowski, M., Gäggeler, H. W., Furrer, V., Synal, H.-A., Beer, J., Saurer, M., and Funk, M.: Glaciochemical dating of an ice core from the upper Grenzgletscher (4200 ), J. Glaciol., 46, 507–515, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756500781833098, 2000.
Eichler, A., Schwikowski, M., and Gäggeler, H. W.: Meltwater-induced relocation of chemical species in Alpine firn, Tellus B, 53, 192–203, https://doi.org/10.3402/tellusb.v53i2.16575, 2001.
Ekaykin, A. A. and Lipenkov, V. Y.: Formation of the ice core isotopic composition, Physics of ice core records, Low Temp. Sci., 68, 299–314, 2009.
Erdtman, G.: The acetolysis method. A revised description, Svensk Bot. Tidskr., 54, 561–569, 1960.
Evans, M. N., Tolwinski-Ward, S. E., Thompson, D. M., and Anchukaitis, K. J.: Applications of proxy system modeling in high resolution paleoclimatology, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 76, 16–28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2013.05.024, 2013.
Ewing, M. E., Reese, C. A., and Nolan, M. A.: The potential effects of percolating snowmelt on palynological records from firn and glacier ice. J. Glaciol., 60, 661–669, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J158, 2014.
Faegri, K., Iversen, J., Kaland, P. E., and Krzywinski, K.: Bestimmungsschlüssel für die nordwesteuropäische Pollenflora, Gustav Fischer, Jena, ISBN 333460439X, 1993.
Festi, D., Kofler, W., Bucher, E., Carturan, L., Mair, V., Gabrielli, P., and Oeggl, K.: A novel pollen-based method to detect seasonality in ice cores: a case study from the Ortles glacier, South Tyrol, Italy, J. Glaciol., 61, 815–824, https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J236, 2015.
Festi, D., Carturan, L., Kofler, W., dalla Fontana, G., de Blasi, F., Cazorzi, F., Bucher, E., Mair, V., Gabrielli, P., and Oeggl, K.: Linking pollen deposition and snow accumulation on the Alto dell'Ortles glacier (South Tyrol, Italy) for sub-seasonal dating of a firn temperate core, The Cryosphere, 11, 937–948, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-937-2017, 2017.
Festi, D., Schwikowski, M., Maggi, V., Oeggl, K., and Jenk, T. M.: Significant mass loss in the accumulation area of the Adamello glacier indicated by the chronology of a 46 m ice core, The Cryosphere, 15, 4135–4143, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4135-2021, 2021.
Fischer, A., Stocker-Waldhuber, M., Frey, M., and Bohleber, P.: Contemporary mass balance on a cold Eastern Alpine ice cap as a potential link to the Holocene climate, Sci. Rep.-UK, 12, 1331, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-04699-2, 2022.
Gabrielli, P., Carturan, L., Gabrieli, J., Dinale, R., Krainer, K., Hausmann, H., Davis, M., Zagorodnov, V., Seppi, R., Barbante, C., Fontana, G. D., and Thompson, L. G.: Atmospheric warming threatens the untapped glacial archive of Ortles mountain, South Tyrol, J. Glaciol., 56, 843–853, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214310794457263, 2010.
Gabrielli, P., Barbante, C., Carturan, L., Cozzi, G., Dalla Fontana, G., Dinale, R., Draga, G., Gabrieli, J., Kehrwald, N., Mair, V., Mikhalenko, V. N., Piffer, G., Rinaldi, M., Seppi, R., Spolaor, A., Thompson, L. G., and Tonidandel, D.: Discovery of cold ice in a new drilling site in the Eastern European Alps, Geogr. Fis. Din. Quat., 35, 101–105, https://doi.org/10.4461/GFDQ.2012.35.10, 2012.
Gabrielli, P., Barbante, C., Bertagna, G., Bertó, M., Binder, D., Carton, A., Carturan, L., Cazorzi, F., Cozzi, G., Dalla Fontana, G., Davis, M., De Blasi, F., Dinale, R., Dragà, G., Dreossi, G., Festi, D., Frezzotti, M., Gabrieli, J., Galos, S. P., Ginot, P., Heidenwolf, P., Jenk, T. M., Kehrwald, N., Kenny, D., Magand, O., Mair, V., Mikhalenko, V., Lin, P. N., Oeggl, K., Piffer, G., Rinaldi, M., Schotterer, U., Schwikowski, M., Seppi, R., Spolaor, A., Stenni, B., Tonidandel, D., Uglietti, C., Zagorodnov, V., Zanoner, T., and Zennaro, P.: Age of the Mt. Ortles ice cores, the Tyrolean Iceman and glaciation of the highest summit of South Tyrol since the Northern Hemisphere Climatic Optimum, The Cryosphere, 10, 2779–2797, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2779-2016, 2016.
García-Herrera, R., Díaz, J., Trigo, R. M., Luterbacher, J., and Fischer, E. M.: A Review of the European Summer Heat Wave of 2003, Crit. Rev. Env. Sci. Tec., 40, 267–306. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643380802238137, 2010.
Haeberli, W. and Alean, J.: Temperature and accumulation of high altitude firn in the Alps, Ann. Glaciol., 6, 161–163, https://doi.org/10.3189/1985AoG6-1-161-163, 1985.
Hashimoto, S., Zhou, S., Nakawo, M., Shimizu, M., and Ishikawa, N.: Temporal isotope changes in wet snow layers in association with mass exchange between snow particles and liquid water in between the particles, Ann. Glaciol., 40, 128–132, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756405781813492, 2005.
He, S. and Ohara, N.: A new formula for estimating the threshold wind speed for snow movement, J. Adv. Model. Earth Sy., 9, 2514–2525. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017MS000982, 2017.
Hock, R.: A distributed temperature-index ice- and snowmelt model including potential direct solar radiation, J. Glaciol., 45, 101–111, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000003087, 1999.
Horita, J., Ueda, A., Mizukami, K., and Takatori, I.: Automatic δD and δ18O analyses of multi-water samples using H2− and CO2− water equilibration methods with a common equilibration set-up, Appl. Radiat. Isotopes, 40, 801–805, https://doi.org/10.1016/0883-2889(89)90100-7, 1989.
Huber, C. J., Eichler, A., Mattea, E., Brütsch, S., Jenk, T. M., Gabrieli, J., Barbante, C., and Schwikowski, M.: High-altitude glacier archives lost due to climate change-related melting, Nat. Geosci., 17, 110–113. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-023-01366-1, 2024.
Humphrey, N. F., Harper, J. T., and Meierbachtol, T. W.: Physical limits to meltwater penetration in firn, J. Glaciol., 67, 952–960, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.44, 2021.
Hurley, J. V., Vuille, M., and Hardy, D. R.: Forward modeling of δ18O in Andean ice cores, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 8178–8188, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL070150, 2016.
Jennings, K. S., Kittel, T. G. F., and Molotch, N. P.: Observations and simulations of the seasonal evolution of snowpack cold content and its relation to snowmelt and the snowpack energy budget, The Cryosphere, 12, 1595–1614, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1595-2018, 2018.
Kalis, A. J., Merkt, J., and Wunderlich, J.: Environmental changes during the Holocene climatic optimum in central Europe-human impact and natural causes, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 22, 33–79, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-3791(02)00181-6, 2003.
Koerner, R. M.: Some comments on climatic reconstructions from ice cores drilled in areas of high melt, J. Glaciol., 43, 90–97, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000002847, 1997.
Koerner, R. M., Paterson, W. S. B., and Krouse, H. R.: δ18O Profile in Ice formed between the Equilibrium and Firn Lines, Nature Physical Science, 245, 137–140, https://doi.org/10.1038/physci245137a0, 1973.
Laepple, T., Münch, T., Casado, M., Hoerhold, M., Landais, A., and Kipfstuhl, S.: On the similarity and apparent cycles of isotopic variations in East Antarctic snow pits, The Cryosphere, 12, 169–187, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-169-2018, 2018.
Lee, J.: A numerical study of isotopic evolution of a seasonal snowpack and its meltwater by melting rates, Geosci. J., 18, 503–510. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-014-0019-5, 2014.
Lee, J., Hur, S. Do, Lim, H. S., and Jung, H.: Isotopic characteristics of snow and its meltwater over the Barton Peninsula, Antarctica, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 173, 102997, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2020.102997, 2020.
Li, L. and J. W. Pomeroy.: Estimates of Threshold Wind Speeds for Snow Transport Using eteorological Data, J. Appl. Meteorol. Clim., 36, 205–213, https://doi.org/10.1175/1520-0450(1997)036<0205:EOTWSF>2.0.CO;2, 1997.
Madsen, M. V., Steen-Larsen, H. C., Hörhold, M., Box, J., Berben, S. M. P., Capron, E., Faber, A. K., Hubbard, A., Jensen, M. F., Jones, T. R., Kipfstuhl, S., Koldtoft, I., Pillar, H. R., Vaughn, B. H., Vladimirova, D., and Dahl-Jensen, D.: Evidence of isotopic fractionation during vapor exchange between the atmosphere and the snow surface in Greenland, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 2932–2945, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029619, 2019.
Moran, T., Marshall, S. J., and Sharp, M. J.: Isotope thermometry in melt-affected ice cores: ISOTOPE THERMOMETRY, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 116, F02010, https://doi.org/10.1029/2010JF001738, 2011.
Moser, D. E., Thomas, E. R., Nehrbass-Ahles, C., Eichler, A., and Wolff, E.: Review article: Melt-affected ice cores for polar research in a warming world, The Cryosphere, 18, 2691–2718, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2691-2024, 2024.
Nakazawa, F., Fujita, K., Takeuchi, N., Fujiki, T., Uetake, J., Aizen, V., and Nakawo, M.: Dating of seasonal snow/firn accumulation layers using pollen analysis, J. Glaciol., 51, 483–490, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756505781829179, 2005.
Neff, P. D., Steig, E. J., Clark, D. H., McConnell, J. R., Pettit, E. C., and Menounos, B.: Ice-core net snow accumulation and seasonal snow chemistry at a temperate-glacier site: Mount Waddington, southwest British Columbia, Canada., J. Glaciol., 58, 1165–1175, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG12J078, 2012.
Nye, J. F.: Correction factor for accumulation measured by the thickness of the annual layers in an ice sheet, J. Glaciol., 4, 785–788, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000028367, 1963.
Okazaki, A. and Yoshimura, K.: Global evaluation of proxy system models for stable water isotopes with realistic atmospheric forcing, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 124, 8972–8993, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JD029463, 2019.
Pavlova, P. A., Jenk, T. M., Schmid, P., Bogdal, C., Steinlin, C., and Schwikowski, M.: Polychlorinated Biphenyls in a Temperate Alpine Glacier: 1. Effect of Percolating Meltwater on their Distribution in Glacier Ice, Environ. Sci. Technol., 49, 14085–14091, https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b03303, 2015.
Pellicciotti, F., Brock, B. W., Strasser, U., Burlando, P., Funk, M., and Corripio, J. G.: An enhanced temperature-index glacier melt model including shortwave radiation balance: development and testing for Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Glaciol., 51, 573–587, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756505781829124, 2005.
Penna, D., Stenni, B., Šanda, M., Wrede, S., Bogaard, T. A., Michelini, M., Fischer, B. M. C., Gobbi, A., Mantese, N., Zuecco, G., Borga, M., Bonazza, M., Sobotková, M., Čejková, B., and Wassenaar, L. I.: Technical Note: Evaluation of between-sample memory effects in the analysis of δ2H and δ18O of water samples measured by laser spectroscopes, Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 16, 3925–3933, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-16-3925-2012, 2012.
Pfeffer, W. T. and Humphrey, N. F.: Formation of ice layers by infiltration and refreezing of meltwater, Ann. Glaciol., 26, 83–91, https://doi.org/10.3189/1998aog26-1-83-91, 1998.
Renssen, H., Seppä, H., Crosta, X., Goosse, H., and Roche, D. M.: Global characterization of the Holocene thermal maximum, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 48, 7–19, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2012.05.022, 2012.
Samimi, S., Marshall, S. J., and MacFerrin, M.: Meltwater Penetration Through Temperate Ice Layers in the Percolation Zone at DYE-2, Greenland Ice Sheet, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47, e2020GL089211, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020GL089211, 2020.
Sinnl, G., Winstrup, M., Erhardt, T., Cook, E., Jensen, C. M., Svensson, A., Vinther, B. M., Muscheler, R., and Rasmussen, S. O.: A multi-ice-core, annual-layer-counted Greenland ice-core chronology for the last 3800 years: GICC21, Clim. Past, 18, 1125–1150, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-18-1125-2022, 2022.
Sokratov, S. A. and Golubev, V. N.: Snow isotopic content change by sublimation, J. Glaciol., 55, 823–828, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214309790152456, 2009.
Steen-Larsen, H. C., Masson-Delmotte, V., Hirabayashi, M., Winkler, R., Satow, K., Prié, F., Bayou, N., Brun, E., Cuffey, K. M., Dahl-Jensen, D., Dumont, M., Guillevic, M., Kipfstuhl, S., Landais, A., Popp, T., Risi, C., Steffen, K., Stenni, B., and Sveinbjörnsdottír, A. E.: What controls the isotopic composition of Greenland surface snow?, Clim. Past, 10, 377–392, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-10-377-2014, 2014.
Steiger, N. J., Steig, E. J., Dee, S. G., Roe, G. H., and Hakim, G. J.: Climate reconstruction using data assimilation of water isotope ratios from ice cores, J. Geophys. Res.-Atmos., 122, 1545–1568, https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JD026011, 2017.
Sturm, C., Zhang, Q., and Noone, D.: An introduction to stable water isotopes in climate models: benefits of forward proxy modelling for paleoclimatology, Clim. Past, 6, 115–129, https://doi.org/10.5194/cp-6-115-2010, 2010.
Takeuchi, N., Sera, S., Fujita, K., Aizen, V. B., and Kubota, J.: Annual layer counting using pollen grains of the Grigoriev ice core from the Tien Shan Mountains, central Asia, Arct. Antarct. Alp. Res., 51, 299–312, https://doi.org/10.1080/15230430.2019.1638202, 2019.
Thompson, L. G., Mosley-Thompson, E., Davis, M. E., and Brecher, H. H.: Tropical glaciers, recorders and indicators of climate change, are disappearing globally, Ann. Glaciol., 52, 23–34, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756411799096231, 2011.
Thompson, L. G., Davis, M. E., Mosley-Thompson, E., Porter, S. E., Corrales, G. V., Shuman, C. A., and Tucker, C. J.: The impacts of warming on rapidly retreating high-altitude, low-latitude glaciers and ice core-derived climate records, Global Planet. Change, 203, 103538, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2021.103538, 2021.
Unnikrishna, P. V., McDonnell, J. J., and Kendall, C.: Isotope variations in a Sierra Nevada snowpack and their relation to meltwater, J. Hydrol., 260, 38–57, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-1694(01)00596-0, 2002.
Zappa, M., and Kan, C.: Extreme heat and runoff extremes in the Swiss Alps, Nat. Hazards Earth Syst. Sci., 7, 375–389, https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-7-375-2007, 2007.
Zemp, M., Thibert, E., Huss, M., Stumm, D., Rolstad Denby, C., Nuth, C., Nussbaumer, S. U., Moholdt, G., Mercer, A., Mayer, C., Joerg, P. C., Jansson, P., Hynek, B., Fischer, A., Escher-Vetter, H., Elvehøy, H., and Andreassen, L. M.: Reanalysing glacier mass balance measurement series, The Cryosphere, 7, 1227–1245, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1227-2013, 2013.
Short summary
Paleoclimatic glacial archives in low-latitude mountains are increasingly affected by melt, causing heavy percolation and removing snow and firn accumulated across months, seasons, or even years. Here we present a proxy system model that explicitly accounts for melt in ice and firn cores. Compared to traditional annual layer counting, the model significantly improved the interpretation and annual dating of the Mt Ortles firn core, in the Italian Alps, which includes the very warm summer of 2003.
Paleoclimatic glacial archives in low-latitude mountains are increasingly affected by melt,...