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GLACIERSGLACIERS

The DDTeamThe DDTeam

(Daniela and Daniel)(Daniela and Daniel)

DYN-CLIMATE VAR & CLIMATE CHG

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GLACIERSGLACIERS

1/10 of the Earth‘s surface is covered with glaciers

Continental glaciers:– Antarctica, Greenland

Alpine/Mountain glaciers:– Valley glaciers (Alps)

– Ice caps over mountains and Plateau glaciers (South America, Himalaya, Iceland, Alaska)

– Tidewater glaciers (Alaska)

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ALETSCH GLACIER, SWITZERLANDALETSCH GLACIER, SWITZERLAND

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ALETSCH GLACIER ALETSCH GLACIER (Switzerland)(Switzerland)

SHRINKING LENGTH

4.808 m

2004 5.128 m (March 2006)

1980

MOLINOS GLACIER MOLINOS GLACIER (Colombia)(Colombia)

1900

2005

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MASS CHANGEMASS CHANGE

Illustration of mass change of the Grosser

Aletschgletscher

Considerable mass change during the last

100 years100 years

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MUIR GLACIER, ALASKAMUIR GLACIER, ALASKA

1941/08/131941/08/13

2004/08/312004/08/31

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MAIN VARIABLES INFLUENCING GLACIERS RETREAT

SUNSHINE

MEAN TEMPERATURE

MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE

SURFACE ALBEDO

CLOUD COVER GLOBAL

WARMING

POTENTIAL IMPACTS

LOSS OF BIODIVERSITY

LOSS OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOODS AND

SERVICES

DECREASES IN WATER SUPPLY AND

BASIN REGULATION

HUMAN HEALTH

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Impact on sea level rise?Impact on sea level rise?

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PROCESSES RESPONSIBLE FOR GSLRPROCESSES RESPONSIBLE FOR GSLR

VOLUME INCREASE DUE TO VOLUME INCREASE DUE TO OCEAN WARMINGOCEAN WARMING

MASS CHANGE, PRIMARILY FROM THE MASS CHANGE, PRIMARILY FROM THE MELTING OF CONTINENTAL ICEMELTING OF CONTINENTAL ICE

0.5 mm/yr

DIRECT ESTIMATES FROM TIDE GAUGES

GSLR = 1.5-2.0 mm/yr

< 0.5 mm/yr ?

Oceans are freshening at a rate equivalent to the addition of 1.4 mm/yr of fresh water

DYNAMIC HEIGHTS (reflect only volume changes)

0.5 mm/yr (1932-1997 )

0.2 mm/yr (1911-1998 )

GAUGE RECORDS

2.0 mm/yr (1932-1997 )

1.9-2.1 mm/yr (1932-1997 )

Mass change plays a dominant role!

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TAKE HOME POINTS

GLACIERS AND ICE SHEETS ARE LOCATED IN POLAR REGIONS AND

HIGH ALTITUDE AREAS

GLACIERS ALL OVER THE WORLD ARE IN A PROCESS OF

ACCELERATED MELTDOWN, WHICH CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO HUMAN

ACTIVITIES

CONSEQUENCES OF CONTINENTAL GLACIAL MELTING INCLUDE SEA

LEVEL RISE AND LOSS OF MARINE BIODIVERSITY

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT EFFECT OF THE RETREAT OF MOUNTAIN

GLACIERS IS POSSIBLY THE DRAMATIC LOSS OF ENVIRONMENTAL

GOODS AND SERVICES