The World's Glaciers

[knocker]

Mack and Velkena Glacier Retreat Novaya Zemlya 1988-2013

 

Mack and Velkena Glacier are tidewater glaciers on the northwest coast of Novaya Zemlya that drain into Legzdina Gulf.  The glaciers terminate in the Barents Sea and have been retreating like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya LEGOS, 2006).  The map shown below from this project indicate the glaciers joined in 1952 and 1976 and separated by less than 1 km in 1988. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. This ongoing retreat is illustrated by Krivosheina, Chernysheva, Roze and Sredniy; and Taisija Glacier also in northern Novaya Zemlya.  Here we examine Landsat imagery from 1988 to 2013 to identify changes in Mack and Velkena Glacier.

[knocker]

Modelling glacier change in the Everest region, Nepal Himalaya

 

Abstract. In this study, we apply a glacier mass balance and ice redistribution model to examine the sensitivity of glaciers in the Everest region of Nepal to climate change. High-resolution temperature and precipitation fields derived from gridded station data, and bias-corrected with independent station observations, are used to drive the historical model from 1961 to 2007. The model is calibrated against geodetically derived estimates of net glacier mass change from 1992 to 2008, termini position of four large glaciers at the end of the calibration period, average velocities observed on selected debris-covered glaciers, and total glacierized area. We integrate field-based observations of glacier mass balance and ice thickness with remotely sensed observations of decadal glacier change to validate the model. Between 1961 and 2007, the mean modelled volume change over the Dudh Koshi basin is −6.4 ± 1.5 km³, a decrease of 15.6% from the original estimated ice volume in 1961. Modelled glacier area change between 1961 and 2007 is −101.0 ± 11.4 km², a decrease of approximately 20% from the initial extent. The modelled glacier sensitivity to future climate change is high. Application of temperature and precipitation anomalies from warm/dry and wet/cold end-members of the CMIP5 RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 ensemble results in sustained mass loss from glaciers in the Everest region through the 21st century.

 

http://www.the-cryosphere.net/9/1105/2015/tc-9-1105-2015.html

 

Synopsis

 

New study: 99% of Mount Everest’s glaciers could be gone by 2100

http://www.carbonbrief.org/blog/2015/05/new-study-99-of-mount-everest%E2%80%99s-glaciers-could-be-gone-by-2100/?utm_source=Daily+Carbon+Briefing&utm_campaign=08a409a4eb-cb_daily&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_876aab4fd7-08a409a4eb-303447709

[knocker]

Further to the above

 

 

A new open-access paper on modelling glacier change in the Everest region is now out in The Cryosphere (http://www.the-cryosphere.net/9/1105/2015/tc-9-1105-2015.html), and a press release from the EGU about the paper can be found here (http://www.egu.eu/news/164/glacier-changes-at-the-top-of-the-world-over-70-of-glacier-volume-in-everest-region-could-be-lost-by-2100/). The paper, written by an international team of researchers, presents the first detailed modelling study of all glaciers in the Dudh Koshi basin in the Everest region of Nepal. This blog post aims to provide a bit of background on modelling glaciers and glacier change, explain the methods we used, and discuss the main results.

 

http://www.icimod.org/?q=18340

[knocker]

Midui Glacier, Tibet, China: Retreat and Terminus Collapse 1995-2014

 

Midui Glacier is 7 km from the G318 National Highway in China and 2 km from Midui village, hence the lake near the terminus is often visited. The glacier is near the headwaters of Yarlung Tsangpo. Glaciers in this region have experienced significant retreat and area loss as noted by the second China Glacier inventory. This compared glacier area from the 1950’s, 2002 and 2010, Liu et al (2013) noted that glacier area has declined 13%. The Midui Glacier was advancing as recently as 1964 when it emplaced an advance moraine (Xu et al, 2012).  This is a region where Li et al (2011) noted that increasing temperature, especially at altitude, the fronts of 32 glaciers have retreated, mass losses of 10 glaciers have been considerable, glacial lakes in six regions have expanded and melt water discharge of four basins has also increased. This is further documented by an inventory of 308 glaciers in the Nam Co Basin, Tibet, where an increased loss of area for the 2001-2009 period, 6% area loss (Bolch et al., 2010) was observed. The nearby Yemayundrung Glacier retreat is similar. Here we examine changes in this glacier using Landsat imagery and Google Earth from 1995-2014.

[Gray-Wolf]

Then there's this.

 

[knocker]

Big Bend Glacier, British Columbia Transitions to Alpine lake

 

“Big Bend†Glacier is an unnamed glacier west of Big Bend Peak north of Harrison Lake in Southwest British Columbia.  In 1985 the glacier was 2.6 km long filling a low valley with a surface elevation of 1600-1800 m elevation, the topographic map indicates this basic size. Here we utilize Landsat imagery to identify the changes in the glacier from 1985-2014 due to climate change. In essence the glaciated basin is transitioning to an alpine lake basin, quickly.

[knocker]

Surface melt dominates Alaska glacier mass balance

 

 

Abstract

Mountain glaciers comprise a small and widely distributed fraction of the world's terrestrial ice, yet their rapid losses presently drive a large percentage of the cryosphere's contribution to sea level rise. Regional mass balance assessments are challenging over large glacier populations due to remote and rugged geography, variable response of individual glaciers to climate change, and episodic calving losses from tidewater glaciers. In Alaska, we use airborne altimetry from 116 glaciers to estimate a regional mass balance of −75±11 Gt yr^−1 (1994–2013). Our glacier sample is spatially well-distributed, yet pervasive variability in mass balances obscures geospatial and climatic relationships. However, for the first time, these data allow the partitioning of regional mass balance by glacier type. We find that tidewater glaciers are losing mass at substantially slower rates than other glaciers in Alaska and collectively contribute to only 6% of the regional mass loss.

 

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/2015GL064349/abstract?campaign=wlytk-41855.5282060185

 

Discussion

 

Alaska glaciers make large contributions to global sea level rise

http://news.agu.org/press-release/alaska-glaciers-make-large-contributions-to-global-sea-level-rise/

[Methuselah]

How is it that the vast majority of the world's glaciers are shrinking, flow-rates are speeding up, seal-levels are rising - blah, blah, blah; and the sceptics are still claiming the very opposite?

 

I eagerly await the Watts-Monckton equation... Stefan, Boltzmann, Charles and Boyle were clearly wrong!

[Blessed Weather]

Meteo France have today published a report about glacier loss in the Mont Blanc range. Translated in full courtesy of Google. The link below has a video too, but you'll need to understand French to understand it.

 

According to a study by the Research Laboratory in geophysics and space oceanography (LEGOS) in collaboration with the Laboratory of Glaciology and Geophysics of the Environment Grenoble (LGGE) between 2003 and 2012 the glaciers of the Mont Blanc lost on average about 10m thick on these 9 years, slightly more than 1m per year.
 The sad prize goes to the Italian Brenva glacier mass balance which fell 12 m. Downstream of the Mer de Glace, thinning occurs at an annual rate of 4 to 5 meters per year.
 Moreover, since 1994, the largest French glacier has seen its terminal tongue to fall by 700 m to less than 1.2 km in a century. For researchers, the phenomenon is accelerated significantly compared to thinning measured between 1979 and 2003. This is the summer melt and temperatures (+ 1.5 ° since 1970) that explain this loss of volume, so that the winter accumulation changed little in 40 years. However, in 2013 the precipitation allowed a respite from this cure slimming imposed by climate change.
 These results were obtained through the use of satellite observations of sub-meter resolution, which allow scientists to model glacier topographies of unprecedented accuracy. The comparison of these data with old images have led to these conclusions. With their resolution of 70 cm, satellites Pleiades 1A and 1B CNES (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) obtain images needed to restore vivid detail glaciers and even follow the roped climbers to train to climb the peaks .

 

 

http://www.ledauphine.com/montagne/2015/06/17/le-declin-des-glaciers-du-mont-blanc-s-accelere

[knocker]

Whistler Blackcomb launching pilot project to stabilize Horstman Glacier

 

Whistler Blackcomb is embarking on a pilot project to make snow on Horstman Glacier in a bid to halt the glacier’s steady retreat.

 

Horstman Glacier has shrunk by an average of half-a-million cubic metres annually over the last few decades, said Arthur De Jong, environmental resources manager at Whistler Blackcomb.

 

“Climate change has been happening,†De Jong said. “We’ve known this since we started operations in the ’60s.

 

http://www.theprovince.com/technology/Whistler+Blackcomb+launching+pilot+project+stabilize+Horstman+Glacier/11138946/story.html

[knocker]

Slender Glacier, Brooks Range, Alaska: Rapid Retreat 1992-2014

 

Slender Glacier is not an official name, but a well suited name to this glacier in the Romanzof Mountains of the Brooks Range of Northern Alaska.  It is adjacent to the Okpilak Glacier and drains into the Okpilak River, which is host to arctic grayling. Here we examine Landsat imagery from 1992-2014 to identify changes. U-Alaska-Fairbanks has an ongoing program in the nearby Jarvis Creek Watershed examining in part how will the anticipated future increase in glacier wastage and permafrost degradation affect lowland hydrology.  Matt Nolan (U-AK-Fairbanks) reports on changes of nearby McCall and Okpilak Glacier. These glacier have suffered increased mass loss since 1990 as a result of an increase in the equilibrium line altitude that has reduced accumulation area and is indicative of increased ablation (Delcourt al , 2008)

[knocker]

Apropos nothing at all really except I like it.

 

The Ice Age â€@Jamie_Woodward_ Jun 19

Traversing the Mer de Glace at the beginning of the 20th century

 

[keithlucky]

Hubbard glacier continues to grow http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/2014JF003341

[knocker]

Gepatsch Glacier Retreat, Austria 1984-2013

 

Gepatsch Glacier (Gletscher), Austria the runoff from this glacier drains into the Gespatsch Reservoir, which has a storage volume of 140 million cubic metres of water and an annual electricity production of 620 million kwh. The glacier is Austria’s second largest with an area of over 16 square kilometers. The adjacent Weißsee-Kaunertal Gletscher is host to Kaunertal Gletscher ski area and in the summer a key destination of the Gletscherpark.  The ski area map below indicates several lifts on the Weißsee-Kaunertal Gletscher. This glaciers retreat will reduce summer water supply to the reservoir, as it provides 50 million cubic meters of runoff each summer. With climate change that runoff will no longer peak in the warmest-driest part of the summer. The retreat is similar to that of Obersulzbachkees, Austria the third largest in Austria.

[John Badrick]

12 more Glaciers  that are growing !!!!

http://www.ihatethemedia.com/12-more-glaciers-that-havent-heard-the-news-about-global-warming

More evidence of glaciers around the world advancing, not retreating 

http://iceagenow.info/category/glaciers-are-growing-around-the-world/

[Polar Maritime]

Yes very few are advancing. http://www.climatenewsnetwork.net/glaciers-are-melting-slowly-but-surely/

Edited June 28, 2015 by Polar Maritime

[Methuselah]

Yes very few are advancing.

Twelve?

[Gray-Wolf]

The only ones 'growing' are being fed by AGW driven changes in precipitation ? What are we trying to highlight here?

[stewfox]

The only ones 'growing' are being fed by AGW driven changes in precipitation ? What are we trying to highlight here?

 

That a one off study made 6 years that mentions 300 glaciers then tells us all 160,000 glaciers are retreating ?? based on a guess ???  that's my read

 

------------------

 

"""The conclusion was that although the 300 most closely-observed glaciers, the ones that have caused the most alarm, are indeed losing mass at a disturbing rate, this is not the whole picture. The other 160,000 glaciers distributed across the planet are losing ice overall at a slower rate"""

----------------

[knocker]

That a one off study made 6 years that mentions 300 glaciers then tells us all 160,000 glaciers are retreating ?? based on a guess ???  that's my read

 

 

A guess? I very much doubt it. In the recent satellite years a huge amount of material has been gathered on the world's glaciers resulting in 'GLIMS: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space. Monitoring the World's Changing Glaciers'

 

A 900 page book giving the details of this has also recently been published,. Global Land Ice Measurements from Space. This a comprehensive state-of-the art, technical and interpretive presentation of satellite image data. With 33 chapters and a companion website, the world's foremost experts in satellite image analysis of glaciers analyze the current state and recent and possible future changes of glaciers across the globe and interpret these findings for policy planners.

 

The book sets out the rationale for and history of glacier monitoring and satellite data analysis. It includes a comprehensive set of six "how-to" methodology-type chapters, 25 chapters detailing regional glacier changes, and a summary/interpretive chapter placing the observed glacier changes into a global context of the coupled atmosphere-land-ocean-sun system and the impacts of changing glaciers on water resources, glaciological hazards, and ecological systems.

 

It is a hugely impressive publication.

 

It seems incredible to me that sceptic/deniers continually dismiss stacks of scientific research simply because it contrdicts their ideological dogma. The paucity of intelligent thinking is breathtaking.

 

The website mentioned above.

 

http://www.glims.org/

Edited June 28, 2015 by knocker

[Methuselah]

And, as GW rightly pointed out: according to AGW theory (as when I first encountered it in 1973) a minority of glaciers would continue to advance...Warmer air = more moisture = more precipitation??

[knocker]

And, as GW rightly pointed out: according to AGW theory (as when I first encountered it in 1973) a minority of glaciers would continue to advance...Warmer air = more moisture = more precipitation??

 

Quite correct Ed. Local climate conditions such as applies to hundreds of glaciers in the Karakoram Range in Pakistan.

[Gray-Wolf]

It all seems a case of " There's and exception!!!!....... it must be the rule?" for many areas of data of AGW in action? Maybe they would be better served looking at the magnitude of changes rather than looking for anomalies in an attempt to overturn what others can see occurring?

[Hocus Pocus]

I think many forget that these glaciers have retreated many times in the past, hence why you often find the remains of human activity and woodland underneath the receding glaciers now. What no one can really say for sure is, "is this something more cyclical or is it the footprint of AGW".

[Gray-Wolf]

Again H.P. bring some perspective? For northern latitudes orbital forcings have been declining since the thermal max 8,000yrs ago so there has been plenty of time for folk to drop stuff at the snout of glaciers advancing?

 

The question has to be why we see mass retreat now and at no other time over that 8,000yrs of general growth?

 

When we find 'the ice man' poking out of the corrie he was buried in 5,000+ years ago you have to wonder 'why now'?

 

Surely our biggest climate modifier ( orbital) of the glacial epoch shouldn't be being over come by nothing more than 'naturals' combining in a cyclical way or we would see similar repeated over and over through the past inter-glacial and we do not

Edited June 29, 2015 by Gray-Wolf