The World's Glaciers

[knocker]

Disintegrating Rockies glacier sends ‘strong message’ on climate

 

 

One of the world’s longest-studied glaciers is melting so fast in the heart of the Canadian Rockies that scientists say it is “disintegrating†before their eyes, causing monitoring stations to collapse.

 

The Peyto Glacier in Banff National Park has long been regarded as a key global reference site for climate change studies. But the ice has started to crumble so quickly, says John Pomeroy, that clusters of scientific instruments mounted on poles drilled deep into the ice are toppling over and other data collection sites are flooding.

 

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/disintegrating-rockies-glacier-sends-strong-message-on-climate/article26945443/?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=Referrer:+Social+Network+/+Media&utm_campaign=Shared+Web+Article+Links

[knocker]

Blágnípujökull, Iceland Retreat 1986-2015

 

Blágnípujökull is an outlet glacier on the western side of Hofsjökull. The Iceland Glaciological Society spearheads an annual terminus monitoring program led by Oddur Sigurðsson. This data set enabled an examination of glacier response to climate change in Iceland from 1930-1995 by Tómas Jóhannesson, Icelandic Meteorological Office and Sigurðsson (1998). This illustrated that Hofsjökull glaciers retreated little from 1950 to 1990, but all retreating significantly after 2000. Here we examine Landsat imagery of Blágnípujökull terminus change from 1986 to 2015.

 

Kronebreen and Kongsvegen, Svalbard Initiation of Glacier Separation 2015

 

Kronebreen is a large, (450 km2) tidewater glacier on the northwest coast of Svalbard terminating in a shared terminus with Kongsvegen at the head of Kongsfjorden.  Changes in 2015 indicate the shared terminus will not continue.  Luckman et al (2015) observed Kronebreen has a winter speed of 1.5–2 m/day, with summer peaks of 3–4 m/day associated with positive air temperatures and periods of high rainfall.  The terminus of the glacier was relatively stable from 1990 to 2001 with even a slight advance at the end of that period (Trusel et al, 2010).  The fjord lacks a significant sill at its mouth resulting in significant connectivity with water masses of the West Spitsbergen Shelf, including Atlantic Water  Trusel et al, 2010). This aspect during summer can aid in frontal ablation and terminus retreat as noted in Figure 2a from Luckman et al (2015). Shellenberger et al (2014) observed that the period of Kronebreen stability ended in 2007 and that the glacier retreated 850 m and lost 2.1 square kilometers from 2007-2013. Long term they observed that the ablation loss of the terminus reach increased from 0.14 Gt per year from 1960-1990, to 0.20 Gt per year from 1990-2007 and was 0.21 Gt per year in 2013. The University Centre in Svalbard has established a set of cameras for time lapse work at the terminus, which is fortuitous given the changes that have occurred recently. In 2015 returning in the spring University Centre in Svalbard researchers noted the thinning and stretching of the terminus reach: Doug Benn, Penelope How, Heidi Sevestre and Nick Hulton. Here we examine Landsat images to provide a snapshot of the changes that the above researchers have examined in

Edited October 26, 2015 by knocker

[knocker]

New TC discussion: Simulating the climatic mass balance of Svalbard glaciers from 2003 to 2013 with a high-res... http://bit.ly/1MvoNHj

 

China economy is slowing but lakes are expanding from glacier retreat ie. Zhizhai Glacier http://blogs.agu.org/fromaglaciersperspective/2015/10/29/zhizhai-glacier-retreat-lake-expansion-china/ â€¦

[knocker]

The dramatic decline of Kilimanjaro's  ice cap over recent decades, as seen from space: http://climate.nasa.gov/state_of_flux#Icemelt_Tanzania.jpg â€¦

[stewfox]

NASA – Antarctic Ice Sheet is Growing†

A new NASA study says that an increase in Antarctic snow accumulation that began 10,000 years ago is currently adding enough ice to the continent to outweigh the increased losses from its thinning glaciers.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nasa-study-mass-gains-of-antarctic-ice-sheet-greater-than-losses

[BornFromTheVoid]

NASA – Antarctic Ice Sheet is Growing†

A new NASA study says that an increase in Antarctic snow accumulation that began 10,000 years ago is currently adding enough ice to the continent to outweigh the increased losses from its thinning glaciers.

 

https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/nasa-study-mass-gains-of-antarctic-ice-sheet-greater-than-losses

 

 

Already posted in the Antarctic thread, Stew. Along with plenty of comments and critiques.

[stewfox]

The dramatic decline of Kilimanjaro's  ice cap over recent decades, as seen from space: http://climate.nasa.gov/state_of_flux#Icemelt_Tanzania.jpg â€¦

 

The link goes to ?

1000-year flood, South Carolina

[knocker]

A mystery as it's not in the ice images either.

[stewfox]

Already posted in the Antarctic thread, Stew. Along with plenty of comments and critiques.

 

I  acknowledge most of the worlds thinning glaciers have a direct impact on humans rather then some far away glaciers on unexplored ice sheets  , however its important to note as much as 90% ot the world glacial ice maybe be static or increasing so impact on sea level rise etc will be minimal

 

This may not change in the next 30/50yrs but its where we are at present. I would suggest if golbal temps did rise above we would see more snow in Greenland/Antarctica etc and have a parody that sea levels could fall with 2c rise although not sure that will happen of course

 

 

  TempLS up 0.07°C in August

 

Edited November 7, 2015 by stewfox

[BornFromTheVoid]

I  acknowledge most of the worlds thinning glaciers have a direct impact on humans rather then some far away glaciers on unexplored ice sheets  , however its important to note as much as 90% ot the world glacial ice maybe be static or increasing so impact on sea level rise etc will be minimal

 

 

But sea levels are rising, and this rise is accelerating faster than can be accounted for by the water expanding as it heats up (though many AGW "sceptics" dismiss the idea that ocean heat content is rising too). So clearly, as a whole, more and more land ice is ending up in the oceans

 

 

This may not change in the next 30/50yrs but its where we are at present. I would suggest if golbal temps did rise above we would see more snow in Greenland/Antarctica etc and have a parody that sea levels could fall with 2c rise although not sure that will happen of course

 

 

We are already seeing more snow in Greenland during winter months. The surface mass balance increase in winter is also accelerating. But it's not enough to counteract the melting in summer and annual glacier calving. We also see similar in western Antarctica, and as the NASA study points out, the possible positive mass balance in Antarctica is shrinking and will soon turn negative (if it hasn't already as most other studies suggest).

[Blessed Weather]

The following report was published in the French press today (translated using Google). I would imagine this summer's recurrent heatwaves in France have not helped matters.

 

Savoie: Maurienne glacier Saint Sorlin lost 3 metres in one year
Glaciologists from the Laboratory of Glaciology and Environmental Geophysics (LGGE) measured a loss of ice 3.31 metres thick during the past year on the glacier of Saint-Sorlin in the Grandes Rousses in the Savoie.
"This is a huge deficit. It is widespread on all the glaciers in the French Alps ", said AFP Christian Vincent, laboratory engineer. "By taking an average climate scenario, glaciers below 3,500 metres should disappear before 2100."

 

http://www.ledauphine.com/savoie/2015/11/09/maurienne-le-glacier-de-saint-sorlin

[knocker]

Why glaciers are not like Swiss cheese, examining moulins

 

http://blogs.agu.org/fromaglaciersperspective/2015/11/12/why-glaciers-are-not-like-swiss-cheese/ â€¦

[knocker]

The Lyell Glacier in is not really a glacier anymore. 

 

https://flic.kr/p/AYnpho 

[knocker]

Dismal Glacier, British Columbia Prospects Match Name

 

 

Dismal Glacier flows north from Mount Durrand in the Selkirk Range of British Columbia.  It drains from 2500 m to 1950 m and its runoff flows into Downie Creek that is a tributary to the Columbia River and Revelstoke Lake.  This lake is impounded by the BCHydro Revelstoke Dam which is 2480 MW facility.  Here we examine Landsat images from 1988 and 2015 to identify changes in this glacier.  The glacier snowline in the mid-August image of 2015 is at 2400  m just above a substantial icefall.  The glacier has retreated 640 m from 1988 to 2015.  The eastern extension at 2200 to 2300 m of the glacier noted by a purple arrow, has lost considerable area, indicating thinning even well above the terminus  elevation. Note thinning of this section of the glacier by 2015 after it joins the main glacier, it is separated by a medial moraine. The terminus in the 2009 Google Earth image has a low slope and is uncrevassed.  This indicates the terminus reach is relatively inactive, but does not appear stagnant.   Tennant and Menounos (2012) examined changes of the Rocky Mountain glaciers just east of this region and found between 1919 and 2006 that glacier cover decreased by 590 square kilometers, 17 of 523 glaciers disappeared and 124 glaciers fragmented into multiple ice masses. This will happen at Dimsal Glacier as it has at Cummins Glacier.  Bolch et al (2010)  observed a 15% area loss from 1985-2005 in this region.  The snowline has been above the icefall at 2400+ m in 2013, 2014 and 2015, indicative of negative mass balance that will lead to continued retreat.  The glaciers name is not due to its future prospects, but its future prospects are indeed dismal.

[knocker]

Hofsjökull ice cap gains mass

 

For the first time in twenty years the Hofsjökull ice cap gains mass

http://en.vedur.is/about-imo/news/nr/3229

Edited November 21, 2015 by knocker

[knocker]

Glaciological and geodetic mass balance of ten long-term glaciers in Norway

 

Abstract. The glaciological and geodetic methods provide independent observations of glacier mass balance. The glaciological method measures the surface mass balance, on a seasonal or annual basis, whereas the geodetic method measures surface, internal and basal mass balances, over a period of years or decades. In this paper, we reanalyse the 10 glaciers with long-term mass balance series in Norway. The reanalysis includes (i) homogenisation of both glaciological and geodetic observation series, (ii) uncertainty assessment, (iii) estimates of generic differences including estimates of internal and basal melt, (iv) validation, and (v) partly calibration of mass balance series. This study comprises an extensive set of data (454 mass balance years, 34 geodetic surveys and large volumes of supporting data, such as metadata and field notes).

In total, 21 periods of data were compared and the results show discrepancies between the glaciological and geodetic methods for some glaciers, which in part are attributed to internal and basal ablation and in part to inhomogeneity in the data processing. Deviations were smaller than 0.2 m w.e. a^−1 for 12 out of 21 periods. Calibration was applied to seven out of 21 periods, as the deviations were larger than the uncertainty.

The reanalysed glaciological series shows a more consistent signal of glacier change over the period of observations than previously reported: six glaciers had a significant mass loss (14–22 m w.e.) and four glaciers were nearly in balance. All glaciers have lost mass after year 2000.

More research is needed on the sources of uncertainty, to reduce uncertainties and adjust the observation programmes accordingly. The study confirms the value of carrying out independent high-quality geodetic surveys to check and correct field observations.

http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/9/6581/2015/tcd-9-6581-2015.html

[Daniel*]

COP21: Rhone Glacier drone footage shows ice retreat

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34908482

[johnholmes]

I posted this in another thread but it may be of interest here

This is available on BBC News

http://www.bbc.co.uk...onment-34908482

I can add my own little bit of evidence, not of the Rhone glacier which is on the other side of where I ski, but on my side into the Lauterbrunnen valley is it also noticeable. I have visited the Jungfrau region for over 40 years and on this side of the mountain the glacier has retreated by a noticeable amount in that time. Where there was ice 10-20 years agi now there is just the gravel/dirt left behind with small Alpine flowers growing in the mid to late summer months.

For whatever reason this glacier has retreated. Oddly enough when in New Zealand about 10 years ago one of those we visited had increased by a small distance.

[knocker]

A Voice for Glaciers at COP21

Quote

During the last six years From a Glaciers Perspective has published 520 Posts examining the response of glaciers to climate change.  No hyperbole has been needed to use words such as disappear, fragmented, disintegrated, and collapse.  Glacier by glacier from the fragmentation of glaciers to the formation of new lakes and new islands has emphasized the changing map of our world as glaciers retreat.   The story details change, but the story remains the same; glaciers are poorly suited for our warming climate, and their only response is to hastily retreat to a point of equilibrium, which many will not attain, and some have already ultimately failed. The Gallery below is a mere snippet of the changes that are occurring. These are illustrations of why our paper this year led by the World Glacier Monitoring Service team was titled Historically unprecedented global glacier decline in the early 21st century. As the UN Climate Change Conference 2015 in Paris, COP21 begins, since no glaciers are invited, there story must be told in pictures, data and our words.

 

[knocker]

Greenland glaciers retreating at record pace

Nearly 10,000-year record shows acute temperature sensitivity

Quote

Greenland's glaciers are retreating quickly, and a new study shows in historical terms just how quickly: over the past century, at least twice as fast as any other time in the past 9,500 years. The study also provides new evidence for just how sensitive glaciers are to temperature, showing that they responded to past abrupt cooling and warming periods, some of which might have lasted only decades.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2015/12/151207165747.htm

[Methuselah]

And to think that, only this morning, Piers Corbyn was on LBC, yammering-on about a 'cooling planet'?

[knocker]

Vulnerability of mountain glaciers in China to climate change

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Mountain glaciers in China are an important water source for both China and adjoining countries, and therefore their adaptation to glacier change is crucial in relation to maintaining populations. This study aims to improve our understanding of glacial vulnerability to climate change to establish adaptation strategies. A glacial numerical model is developed using spatial principle component analysis (SPCA) supported by remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) technologies. The model contains nine factors–slope, aspect, hillshade, elevation a.s.l., air temperature, precipitation, glacial area change percentage, glacial type and glacial area, describing topography, climate, and glacier characteristics. The vulnerability of glaciers to climate change is evaluated during the period of 1961−2007 on a regional scale, and in the 2030s and 2050s based on projections of air temperature and precipitation changes under the IPCC RCP6.0 scenario and of glacier change in the 21st century. Glacial vulnerability is graded into five levels: potential, light, medial, heavy, and very heavy, using natural breaks classification (NBC). The spatial distribution of glacial vulnerability and its temporal changes in the 21st century for the RCP6.0 scenario are analyzed, and the factors influencing vulnerability are discussed. Results show that mountain glaciers in China are very vulnerable to climate change, and 41.2 % of glacial areas fall into the levels of heavy and very heavy vulnerability in the period 1961−2007. This is mainly explained by topographical exposure and the high sensitivity of glaciers to climate change. Trends of glacial vulnerability are projected to decline in the 2030s and 2050s, but a declining trend is still high in some regions. In addition to topographical factors, variation in precipitation in the 2030s and 2050s is found to be crucial.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674927815000842

[knocker]

Climate Driven Retreat of Mount Baker Glaciers and Changing Water Resources

Quote

This post has the same title as a book released last month as part of the Springer Briefs in Climate Studies series.  The nice thing about publishing research emerging from 30 years of field research in a book  is that I had a chance to include 104 figures in 107 pages.   Here I give a brief synopsis of the book and a key figure from each of the six chapters.This book presents the impact of climate change on Mount Baker glaciers, USA, and the rivers surrounding them. Glaciers are natural reservoirs that yield their resource primarily on warm dry summer days when other sources are at their lowest yield. This natural tempering of drought conditions will be reduced as they retreat. Mount Baker, a volcano in the Cascades of Washington, is currently host to 12 principal glaciers with an area of 36.8 km2. The glaciers yield 125 million cubic meters of water each summer that is a resource for salmon, irrigation and hydropower to the Nooksack River and Baker River watersheds. Recent rapid retreat of all 22 glaciers is altering the runoff from the glaciers, impacting both the discharge and temperature of the Nooksack and Baker River. Over the last 30 years we have spent 270 nights camped on the mountain conducting 10,500 observations of snow depth and melt rate on Mount Baker. This data combined with observations of terminus change, area change and glacier runoff over the same 30 years allow an unusually comprehensive story to be told of the effects of climate change to Mount Baker Glaciers and the rivers that drain them.

 

[knocker]

Harbor Seals & people are attracted to Alaska Glaciers. Dawes Glacier retreat can alter this.

Dawes Glacier, Alaska Retreat and Harbor Seals

Quote

Dawes Glacier terminates at the head of Endicott Arm, a 55 km long fjord in southeast Alaska.  Dawes is a major outlet glacier of the Stikine Icefield.  Larsen et al (2007) observed a rapid thinning of the Stikine Icefield and that Dawes was thinning faster than all but Muir Glacier in Southeast Alaska during the 1948-2000 period. During the period from 1891 when first mapped and 1967 the glacier retreated 6.8 km (Molnia,2008). The retreat has been driven by rising snowlines in the region that has driven the retreat of North Dawes, Baird and Sawyer Glacier.

A comparison of 1987 and 2015 Landsat images illustrate recent retreat and thinning of the glacier.  The main terminus retreated 1100 m during this interval, a reduced rate from the previous period from 1978 to 1987 the glacier retreated 2.8 km. Key tributaries at the purple and green arrow each have a 30% decline in width.  At the pink arrows are three tributaries that fed the Dawes Glacier in 1987 and are now detached.  This fragmentation will continue.  The reduced inflow and up glacier thinning is ongoing as will the retreat.  A key mechanism for retreat over the last century has been calving.  The calving rate has declined of late, possibly due to reduced water depth. The 2007 Hydrographic map of the area indicates water depth at the calving front still over 100 m., with a depth of 150 m 1 km down fjord of the terminus (see bottom image). Examination of surface elevation portrayed in Google Earth indicate a relatively sharp rise near the first junction, the surface elevation being at 1400 feet.  The trimline is noted with blue arrows, note how much higher above the ice the tramline is at the terminus than at 1400 feet.  At this point the northern arm would appear to have a bed above sea level and the main arm at least a much shallower bed.  Pelto and Warren (1991) observed the calving rate reduction with water depth in the area.  Note the ogives, curved bands, on the northern arm that form once per year at the base of icefall due to seasonal velocity change. The glacier thinning is continuing, but the retreat rate will decline as the fjord head is approached.  As calving is reduced harbor seals will be disappointed as they like us are drawn to glaciers.

 

[knocker]

Himalaya Glacier Index

Quote

Himalaya-Pamir-Hindu Kush-Tien Shan-Quilian-Karakoram Range Glacier Change

Below is a list of individual glaciers in the Himalaya and high mountains of Central Asia that illustrate what is happening glacier by glacier. In addition to the individual sample glaciers we tie the individual glaciers to the large scale changes of approximately 10,000 glaciers that have been examined in repeat satellite image inventories. In the high mountains of Central Asia detailed glacier mapping inventories, from GLIMS: (Global Land Ice Measurements from Space), ICIMOD (International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development), ISRO ( Indian Space Research Organisation) and Chinese National Committee for International Association of Cryospheric Science (IACS) of thousands of glaciers have indicated increased strong thinning and area loss since 1990 throughout the region except the Karokoram. The inventories rely on repeat imagery from ASTER, Corona, Landsat, IKONOS and SPOT imagery. It is simply not possible to make observations on this number of glaciers in the field.