Articles | Volume 9, issue 6
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-2135-2015
© Author(s) 2015. 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-9-2135-2015
© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
Research article
| 
18 Nov 2015
Research article |
| 18 Nov 2015
From Doktor Kurowski's Schneegrenze to our modern glacier equilibrium line altitude (ELA)
R. J. Braithwaite
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
School of Environment, Education and Development (SEED), University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
Viewed
Total article views: 5,060 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 17 Jun 2015)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2,177 | 2,465 | 418 | 5,060 | 244 | 302 |
- HTML: 2,177
- PDF: 2,465
- XML: 418
- Total: 5,060
- BibTeX: 244
- EndNote: 302
Total article views: 4,002 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 18 Nov 2015)
| HTML | XML | Total | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,841 | 1,785 | 376 | 4,002 | 227 | 283 |
- HTML: 1,841
- PDF: 1,785
- XML: 376
- Total: 4,002
- BibTeX: 227
- EndNote: 283
Total article views: 1,058 (including HTML, PDF, and XML)
Cumulative views and downloads
(calculated since 17 Jun 2015)
| HTML | XML | Total | Supplement | BibTeX | EndNote | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 336 | 680 | 42 | 1,058 | 203 | 17 | 19 |
- HTML: 336
- PDF: 680
- XML: 42
- Total: 1,058
- Supplement: 203
- BibTeX: 17
- EndNote: 19
Cited
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Temporal evolution of headwall erosion rates derived from cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in the medial moraines of Glacier d'Otemma, Switzerland K. Wetterauer et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5386
- Hydroclimate intensification likely aided glacier survival on Svalbard in the Early Holocene A. Auer et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02064-z
- Late Pleistocene glaciation in the headwaters of the Ceremuşul Alb valley (Maramureş Mountains, Romania) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0243
- Thickness and Volume of Glaciers of the Mongun-taiga Massif, Altai, in 2021 Based on Ground Penetrating Radar Data and Modeling S. Griga et al. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673423040075
- On the Shift of Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) under the Changing Climate A. Ohmura & M. Boettcher https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182821
- Thickness and Volume of Glaciers in the Mongun-Taiga Massif (Altai) in 2021 Based on Ground Penetrating Radar and Modeling Data S. Griga et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807825603498
- Geomorphological record and equilibrium line altitude of glaciers during the last glacial maximum in the Rodna Mountains (eastern Carpathians) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2020.90
- Toward an imminent extinction of Colombian glaciers? A. Rabatel et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2017.1383015
- Spatial variability in mass loss of glaciers in the Everest region, central Himalayas, between 2000 and 2015 O. King et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-407-2017
- The significance of mountain glaciers as sentinels of climate and environmental change B. Mark & A. Fernández https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12318
- Recent Climate-Induced Changes in Glaciers, Biota, Land Use Types and Population Adaptation Models in the South-Eastern Altai Highlands D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030128
- The lowest elevation Pleistocene glaciers in the Carpathians — The geomorphological and sedimentological record of glaciation in the Polonyna Rivna and Borzhava massifs (Ukraine Carpathians) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.108060
- Using Deep Learning for Glacier Thickness Estimation at a Regional Scale L. Lopez Uroz et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2024.3353575
- Latest Pleistocene glacier advances and post-Younger Dryas rock glacier stabilization in the Mt. Kriváň group, High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia J. Zasadni et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107093
- Assessment of methods for reconstructing Little Ice Age glacier surfaces on the examples of Novaya Zemlya and the Swiss Alps J. Reinthaler & F. Paul https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109321
- Post-Little Ice Age Glacier Recession in the North-Chuya Ridge and Dynamics of the Bolshoi Maashei Glacier, Altai D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15082186
- Surface energy and mass balance variations near the equilibrium line altitude on Qaanaaq Ice Cap, northwestern Greenland, 2012–2022 M. Nishimura et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10159
- Late Pleistocene glaciations at Lake Donggi Cona, eastern Kunlun Shan (NE Tibet): early maxima and a diminishing trend of glaciation during the last glacial cycle H. Rother et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12227
- Spatio-temporal changes in glacier-wide mass balance quantified by optical remote sensing on 30 glaciers in the French Alps for the period 1983–2014 A. RABATEL et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.113
- Sedimentary ancient DNA reveals a threat of warming-induced alpine habitat loss to Tibetan Plateau plant diversity S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22986-4
- Positive degree-day sums in the Alps: a direct link between glacier melt and international climate policy R. Braithwaite & P. Hughes https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.140
- Glacier Recession in the Altai Mountains after the LIA Maximum D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14061508
- How sensitive are mountain glaciers to climate change? Insights from a block model E. BACH et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.15
- An 11-year record of mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, determined using a geostatistical approach N. CULLEN et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.128
- Late Pleistocene glaciation in the Eastern Carpathians – a regional overview P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.106994
- The impact of local topoclimatic factors on marginal Pleistocene glaciation in the Northern Romanian Carpathians P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105873
- Regional Geography of Glacier Mass Balance Variability Over Seven Decades 1946–2015 R. Braithwaite & P. Hughes https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00302
27 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Temporal evolution of headwall erosion rates derived from cosmogenic nuclide concentrations in the medial moraines of Glacier d'Otemma, Switzerland K. Wetterauer et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.5386
- Hydroclimate intensification likely aided glacier survival on Svalbard in the Early Holocene A. Auer et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-025-02064-z
- Late Pleistocene glaciation in the headwaters of the Ceremuşul Alb valley (Maramureş Mountains, Romania) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.7163/GPol.0243
- Thickness and Volume of Glaciers of the Mongun-taiga Massif, Altai, in 2021 Based on Ground Penetrating Radar Data and Modeling S. Griga et al. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673423040075
- On the Shift of Glacier Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) under the Changing Climate A. Ohmura & M. Boettcher https://doi.org/10.3390/w14182821
- Thickness and Volume of Glaciers in the Mongun-Taiga Massif (Altai) in 2021 Based on Ground Penetrating Radar and Modeling Data S. Griga et al. https://doi.org/10.1134/S0097807825603498
- Geomorphological record and equilibrium line altitude of glaciers during the last glacial maximum in the Rodna Mountains (eastern Carpathians) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/qua.2020.90
- Toward an imminent extinction of Colombian glaciers? A. Rabatel et al. https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2017.1383015
- Spatial variability in mass loss of glaciers in the Everest region, central Himalayas, between 2000 and 2015 O. King et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-407-2017
- The significance of mountain glaciers as sentinels of climate and environmental change B. Mark & A. Fernández https://doi.org/10.1111/gec3.12318
- Recent Climate-Induced Changes in Glaciers, Biota, Land Use Types and Population Adaptation Models in the South-Eastern Altai Highlands D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments13030128
- The lowest elevation Pleistocene glaciers in the Carpathians — The geomorphological and sedimentological record of glaciation in the Polonyna Rivna and Borzhava massifs (Ukraine Carpathians) P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2021.108060
- Using Deep Learning for Glacier Thickness Estimation at a Regional Scale L. Lopez Uroz et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2024.3353575
- Latest Pleistocene glacier advances and post-Younger Dryas rock glacier stabilization in the Mt. Kriváň group, High Tatra Mountains, Slovakia J. Zasadni et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2020.107093
- Assessment of methods for reconstructing Little Ice Age glacier surfaces on the examples of Novaya Zemlya and the Swiss Alps J. Reinthaler & F. Paul https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2024.109321
- Post-Little Ice Age Glacier Recession in the North-Chuya Ridge and Dynamics of the Bolshoi Maashei Glacier, Altai D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15082186
- Surface energy and mass balance variations near the equilibrium line altitude on Qaanaaq Ice Cap, northwestern Greenland, 2012–2022 M. Nishimura et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2026.10159
- Late Pleistocene glaciations at Lake Donggi Cona, eastern Kunlun Shan (NE Tibet): early maxima and a diminishing trend of glaciation during the last glacial cycle H. Rother et al. https://doi.org/10.1111/bor.12227
- Spatio-temporal changes in glacier-wide mass balance quantified by optical remote sensing on 30 glaciers in the French Alps for the period 1983–2014 A. RABATEL et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.113
- Sedimentary ancient DNA reveals a threat of warming-induced alpine habitat loss to Tibetan Plateau plant diversity S. Liu et al. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-22986-4
- Positive degree-day sums in the Alps: a direct link between glacier melt and international climate policy R. Braithwaite & P. Hughes https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.140
- Glacier Recession in the Altai Mountains after the LIA Maximum D. Ganyushkin et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14061508
- How sensitive are mountain glaciers to climate change? Insights from a block model E. BACH et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.15
- An 11-year record of mass balance of Brewster Glacier, New Zealand, determined using a geostatistical approach N. CULLEN et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2016.128
- Late Pleistocene glaciation in the Eastern Carpathians – a regional overview P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2023.106994
- The impact of local topoclimatic factors on marginal Pleistocene glaciation in the Northern Romanian Carpathians P. Kłapyta et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105873
- Regional Geography of Glacier Mass Balance Variability Over Seven Decades 1946–2015 R. Braithwaite & P. Hughes https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.00302
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 14 Aug 2026
Short summary
Kurowski suggested in 1891 that ELA is equal to the mean altitude of the glacier when the glacier is in balance. I compare mean altitude with balanced-budget ELA for 103 modern glaciers. Kurowski’s mean altitude is significantly higher (at 95% level) than balanced-budget ELA for 19 outlet and 42 valley glaciers, but not significantly higher for 34 mountain glaciers. The error in Kurowski mean altitude as a predictor of balanced budget might be due to non-linearity in balance gradients.
Kurowski suggested in 1891 that ELA is equal to the mean altitude of the glacier when the...
