GLACIER MASS BALANCE BULLETIN. · Mass Balance Bulletin, No.1, 1991 collection ofdigital data including themore numerous observations of glacier length variation can be found. It

GLACIER MASS BALANCE BULLETIN.Bulletin No. 1 (1988 - 1989)

A contribution to theGlobal Environment Monitoring System (GEMS)

and theInternational Hydrological Programme

Compiled by the World Glacier Monitoring Service

Edited by

Wilfried Haeberli and Eveline Herren

Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and GlaciologySwiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)

Zurich

IAHS (ICSI) - UNEP - UNESCO1991

The cover picture shows Storglaciären in Sweden, where the world's longest series of continuousmass balance measurements based on the direct glaciological method is available.

Printed by .

Kunz Druck + Co. AGCH - 9053 Teufen ARSwitzerland

Preface

PREFACE

Fluctuations of glaciers are caused by changes in the climate system. They also strongly affect re-gional hydrology of mountain areas as well as the world's sea level. The general shrinkage ofmountain glaciers following the end of the Little Ice Age is a major reflection of the fact that rapidsecular changes in the energy balance of the earth surface are taking place at a global scale. Thisglacier signal of atmospheric warming not only concerns the recent past but may also be con-sidered to be one of the key parameters for early detection of possible man-induced warming inthe near future. Within the complex chain of processes linking climate and glaciers, glacier massbalances are most directly related to changes in atmospheric conditions. They are therefore ofspecial interest in view of climatic trends which could exceed the band-width of historical varia-tions within the coming years and decades.

As a contribution to the Global Environment Monitoring System (GEMS) of the United NationsEnvironment Programme (UNEP) and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of theUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), the World GlacierMonitoring Service (WGMS) of the International Commission on Snow and Ice (ICSI/IAHS) asone of the permanent services of the Federation of Astronomical, Geophysical and Data AnalysisServices (FAGS/JCSU) collects and publishes worldwide standardized glacier data. The follo-wing series of reports on the variations of glaciers in space and time are already published:

- Fluctuations of Glaciers 1959 - 1965 (Vol. 1, P. Kasser)- Fluctuations of Glaciers 1965 - 1970 (Vol. 2, P. Kasser)- Fluctuations of Glaciers 1970 - 1975 (Vol. 3, F. Müller)- Fluctuations of Glaciers 1975 - 1980 (Vol. 4, W. Haeberli)- Fluctuations of Glaciers 1980 - 1985 (Vol. 5, W. Haeberli/P. Müller)

- World Glacier Inventory - Status 1988 (W. Haeberli / H. Bösch / K. Scherler / G. Østrem /C.C. Wallén)

VoL 6, Fluctuations of Glaciers 1985 - 1990, is now being prepared; publication and distributionis planned for winter 1992/93.

The present Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin (MBB) compiled by the World Glacier MonitoringService with the help of its national correspondents is the first issue of a long-planned series ofpublications. Based on recommendations by an ICSI working group consisting of M. Kuhn(Austria, chairman), W. Haeberli (Switzerland, WGMS representative), L. Reynaud (France) andB. Wold (Norway), the new bulletin is designed to speed up and facilitate access to informationconcerning glacier mass balances by reporting measured values from selected reference glaciers ata 2-yearly interval. In addition, the results of glacier mass balance measurements are made moreeasily understandable through the use of graphic presentations rather than purely numerical data.Thus, the Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin complements the Fluctuations series, where the full

Mass Balance Bulletin, No.1, 1991

collection of digital data including the more numerous observations of glacier length variation canbe found. It should be kept in mind also that this first and somewhat preliminary reporting ofmass balance measurements may require slight corrections and updates at a later time. Correctedand updated information can be found in the MBBs to follow as well as in the Fluctuations series.

The first bulletin reports the results for the balance years 1987/88 and 1988/89. The complete setof earlier mass balance data used to compile the present bulletin will soon be made available in thefirst issue of another, less regularly appearing publication series: the "World Glacier Monitoring -Updates and Assessments". In particular, the still unpublished data for the balance years 1985/86and 1986/87 will be presented there as well as in Vol. 6 of the Fluctuations series. The secondGlacier Mass Balance Bulletin will cover the years 1989/90 and 1990/91.

Zurich, March 1991

Wilfried HaeberliDirector

World Glacier Monitoring Service

Contents

CONTENTS

PREFACE'

1. INTRODUCTION 1

2. SUMMARY DATA 5

2.1 SUMMARY TABLE (NET BALANCE, ELA, ELAO, AAR, AARo) 62.2 CUMULATIVE SPECIFIC NET BALANCES 7

3. EXTENSIVE INFORMATION 17

3.1 PLACE (CANADA) 193.1.1 Topography and observational network 203.1.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/89 213.1.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89) 223.1.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)

versus specific net balance for the whole observation period 22

3.2 STORGLACIÄREN (SWEDEN) 233.2.1 Topography and observational network 243.2.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/89 2S3.2.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89) 263.2.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.3 HINTEREISFERNER (AUSTRIA) 273.3.1 Topography and observational network 28J3.3.2 Net balance inaps 1987/88 and 1988/89 293.3.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89) 303.3.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.4 LEWIS (KENYA) 3 l3.4.1 Topography and observational network 323.4.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/89 333.4.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89) 343.4.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)



3.5 DJANKUAT (USSR)3.5.1 Topography and observational network3.5.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/893.5.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)3.5.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)

versus specific net balance for the whole observation period

3.6 ABRAMOV (USSR)3.6.1 Topography and observational network3.6.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/893.6.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)3.6.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.7 TUYUKSU (USSR)3.7.1 Topography and observational network3.7.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/893.7.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88.and 1988/89)3.7.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.8 MALlY AKTRU (USSR)3.8.1 Topography and observational network3.8.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/893.8.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)3.8.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.9 KOZELSKlY (USSR)3.9.1 Topography and observational network3.9.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/893.9.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)3.9.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


3.10 URUMQIHE S. NO.1 (CHINA)3.10.1 Topography and observational network3.10.2 Net balance maps· 1987/88 and 1988/893.10.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)3.10.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude (ELA)


35363739

39

40414244

44

45464748

48

49505152

52

53545556

56

57585961

61

4. FINAL REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 63

5. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND NATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS 6S

5.1 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS 655.2 NATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS OF WGMS 68

1./ntroduction

1. INTRODUCTION

Two main categories of data - summary information and extensive information - are being re-ported in the Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin. Summary information on specific balance, cumulati-ve specific balance, accumulation area ratio and equilibrium line altitude is given for 54 glaciers.Such information gives a regional overview. In addition, extensive information such as balancemaps, balance/altitude diagrams, relations between accumulation area ratios, equilibrium line alti-tudes and balance, as well as a short explanatory text with a photograph, are presented for 10 se-lected glaciers with existing long and complete series of direct glaciological measurements. Theselong-time series based on high density networks of stakes and firn pits are especially valuable foranalyzing processes of mass and energy exchange at glacier/atmosphere interfaces and, hence, forinterpreting climate/glacier relations.

The glaciers are marked on the following world map (next pages).

No. Glacier Name Country Location Coordinates

1 Place Canada Coast Mtns. 50° 26' N 122° 36' W2 Helm Canada Coast Mtns. 49° 58' N 123° 00' W

3 South Cascade USA N Cascades Mtns. 48° 22' N 121° 03' W4 Wolverine USA (Alaska) Kenai Mtns. Alaska 60° 24' N 148° 55' W

5 Hofsjökull North Iceland Central Iceland 64° 57' N 18° 55' W6 Hofsjökull East Iceland Central Iceland 64° 40' N 18° 35' W

7 Austre Brøggerbreen N-Spitsbergen Svalbard 78° 53' N 11° 50' E8 Midtre Lovénbreen N-Spitsbergen Svalbard 78° 53' N 12° 04' E9 Kongsvegen N-Spitsbergen Svalbard 78° 50' N 13° E

10 Hansbreen N-Spitsbergen Svalbard 77° 05' N 15° 40' E11 Ålfotbreen Norway South Norway 61°45'N 5° 39' E12 Nigardsbreen Norway South Norway 61° 43' N 7° 08' E13 Storbreen Norway South Norway 61° 34' N 8° 08' E14 Gråsubreen Norway South Norway 61°39'N 8° 36' E15 Engabreen Norway North Norway 66° 39' N 13°51'E16 Langfjordjøkulen Norway North Norway 70° 07' N 21045'E

17 Storglaciären Sweden North Sweden 67° 54' N 18° 34' E18 Rabots glaciär Sweden North Sweden 67° 54' N Igo 33' E19 Tarfalaglaciären Sweden North Sweden 67° 56' N 18° 39' E20 Riukojietna Sweden North Sweden 68° 05' N 18° OS' E

21 Sarennes France Alps 45° 07' N 6° IO' E22 Saint Sorlin France Alps 45° 11' N 6° 10' E

23 Gries Switzerland Alps 46° 26' N 8° 20' E24 Limmern Switzerland Alps 46° 49' N 8° 59' E25 Plattalva Switzerland Alps 46° 50' N 8° 59' E26 Silvretta Switzerland Alps 46° 51' N 10005'E

27 Careser Italy Alps 46° 27' N 10° 42' E

1


~_~18~0_0 ~15_0-0 ----.12-0°------.-9o-°------6-.-0-° 3-.--0_°_----,

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60° CJ ~

t>60°

~ 4....""- 'l

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.~j

30°30°

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O~C:71

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° ~:. 00

30°30°

glacier mass balance observations:

• CD extensive information• 2 summary data

.pJlb

~150° 120° 90° 60° 30°


28 Hintereisferner Austria Alps 46° 48' N 10° 46' E

29 Kesselwandferner Austria Alps 46° 50' N 10° 48' E

30 Sonnblickkees Austria Alps 47° 08' N 12° 36' E

31 Lewis Kenya Mount Kenya 0° 09' S 37° 18' E

32 Garabashi USSR Caucasus 43° 12' N 42° 30' E

33 Djankuat USSR Caucasus 43° 12' N 42° 46' E

34 Abramov USSR Pamir-Alai 39° 40' N 71° 30' E

35 Karabatkak USSR Tien Shan 42° 08' N 78° 16' E

36 No. 131 USSR Tien Shan 41° 53' N 77° 41' E

37 West. Suyok USSR Tien Shan 4l047'N 77° 45' E

38 Tuyuksu USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N 77° 06' E

39 Igly Tuyuksu USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N 77° 06' E

40 Molodyozhniy USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N 77° 06' E

2

00 300 600 900 1200 1500 1800

Q

G.I ~ . \).,

\. I' PJ

~:~qt-~t~1 ~ .d <>_~~c::. ..y./ ~~\

~ Y ~,~

~ -~~~ ~~~o

~

13.14.15~

16 «: ~t::;J;1~~ b

600 5,6

12I)

1117 ,18,19,20, ~

8 .. ._~ Â

7 9,10 •(190 ~ .-e

30°

Q tlf rJ

O 2624,25 28,29

30

" ..~ ! 53

)~ ~/

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IJ•...1

{j'..~p

Û'300

glacier mass balance observations: ~.@ extensive information

V• 39 summary data

C!>

00 300 600 900 1200 1500


41 Kosmodemyanskaya USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N42 Partizan USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N43 Ordzhonikidze USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N44 Mayakovskiy USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N45 Mametova USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N46 Visyachie 1-2 USSR Tien Shan 43° 00' N47 Sary-Tor USSR Tien Shan 41° 50' N48 Golubin USSR Tien Shan 42° 27' N49 Maliy Aktru USSR Altai 50° 05' N50 Leviy Aktru USSR Altai 50° 05' N51 Praviy Aktru USSR Altai 50° 05' N52 Vodopadniy USSR Altai ~ 50° Ol' N53 Kozelskiy USSR Kamchatka 53° 14' N

54 Urumqihe S. NO.1 China Tien Shan 43° 05' N

l . Introduction

(::::>

600

<>J ••...... ;

300

00

(

~"

300

dl1800

77° 06' E77° 06' E77° 06' E77° 06' E77° 06' E77° 06' E78° Il' E74° 30' E87° 45' E87° 41' E87° 44' E

~ 87° 47' E158° 49' E

86° 49' E

3


4

2. Summary data

2. SUMMARY DATA

Specific net balance (b), equilibrium line altitude (ELA) and accumulation area ratio (AAR) of allglaciers from the balance years 1987/88 and 1988/89 are presented in Part 2.1. The AAR valuesare given as integer values only.

Values for ELAo and AARo are given in addition. They represent the calculated ELA and AARvalues for a zero net balance, i.e. a hypothetical steady state. All values since the beginning ofmass balance measurements were used for this calculation on each glacier. Minimum sample sizefor regression was defined as 6 ELA or AAR values. Reconstructed values were excluded fromstatistical regression. Sorne of the observed glaciers can entirely become ablation or accumulationareas in extreme years. Corresponding AAR values of O or 1()O% as well as ELA values outsidethe altitude range of the observed glaciers were excluded, too, in the calculation of AARo andELAo values.

The graphs in the second part of this chapter (2.2) present the development of cumulative specificnet balance over the whole observation period for each glacier where two or more net balanceswere calculated.

The complete data set used to calculate the ELAo and the AARo values and which forms the basisof the cumulative specific net balance graphs will be made available in the first issue of the newpublication series "World Glacier Monitoring - Updates and Assessments".

5


2.1 SUMMARY TABLE (NET BALANCE, ELA, ELAo, AAR, AARo)

Glacier Country b88 b89 ELA88 El.A89 ELAo AARHH AARH9 AARO

-. (mm] [mm) (m a.s.Ij__._l!_'!_a~.J __ l~_~~.:!:L __ r!~_-_- ___-.l?~ ____ _l~l-

Place Canada - 969 -1040 2300 2250 2079 25 18 50

Helm Canada - 150 -1670 2100 2150 2027 7 6 37

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------South Cascade USA -1640 -710

Wolverine USA-Alaska -1400 -1800 1370 1440 26 13

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Hofsjökull North Iceland -740 580 39 58

Hofsjökull East Iœland 1000 1020 70

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Austre Brøggerbreen N-Spitsbergen - 520 - 450 440 440 265 15 15 58

Midtre Lovénbreen N -Spitsbergen - 490 - 240 425 375 295 27 41 59

Kongsvegen N -Spitsbergen - 50 -150 525 570 63 53

Hansbreen N-Spitsbergen - 530 325 45

Âlfotbreen Norway -2480 2930 >1380 1030 1203 O 94 54

Nigardsbreen NOIWay - 890 3470 1660 1175 1564 37 94 Sg

Storbreen NOIWay - 950 1200 . 1970 1550 1703 6 90 62

Grâsubreen NOIWay - 580 450 2195 2128 10 65 34Engabreen NOIWay -1790 3170 1400 890 1168 7 93 56

Langfjordjøkulen NOIWay - 570 825 53

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Storglaciären Sweden - 840 1240 1564 1374 1458 27 66 46

Rabots glaciär Sweden -1050 460 1540 1335 1364 13 60 51

Tart alaglaciären Sweden -1290 1230 1730 1390 O 100

Riukojietna Sweden - 910 890 1525 1150 O 100

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Sarennes France - 690 -2590

Saint Sorlin France 310 -2490-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Gries Switzerland - 950 -1020 3120 3140 2832 7 6 56

Limmern Switzerland -220 - 308 2780 2770 2695 42 44 51

Plattalva Switzerland -310 -750 2850 2890 2751 23 13 53

Silvreua Switzerland -210 - 400 2780 2907 2756 51 25 55

~--------------------------------------~---------------------------------------------------------Careser Italy -1010 - 820 33981) 3275 3094 O 3 50

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------l Iintereisf emer Austria - 945 - 637 3130 3080 2920 29 38 66

Kesselwandferner Austria - 265 - 151 3150 3120 3101 56 ó6 72

Sonnblickkees Austria -711 252 2875 2715 2739 26 75 60

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lewis2) Kenya -2030 770 >5000 (4730) O 85

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Garabashi USSR 270 90 3660 3830 74 60

Djankuat USSR 520 40 3090 3170 3189 74 66 60

Abramov USSR 10 -220 4170 4200 4151 56 50 59

Karabatkak USSR - 456 - 396 3950 3900 46 52

No.131 USSR -712 - 354 4200 37

West. Suyok USSR - 499 4300 23

Tuyuksu USSR - 610 - 460 3835 3825 3742 35 37 53

Igly Tuyuksu USSR - 600 - 460Molodyozhniy USSR - 7(1..) - 590

Kosmodemyanskaya USSR - 350 - 220

Partizan USSR 160 260

Ordzhonikidze USSR - 300 - 180Mayakovskiy USSR - 210 - 100

Mametova USSR - 630 - 430

Visyachie 1-2 USSR - 490 - 390

Sary-Tor USSR - 453 - 167 4340 4260 27 37

Golubin USSR - 432 - 422 3870 3870 3788 67 67 76

Maliy Aktru USSR 470 220 3040 3150 3125 83 76 71

Leviy Aktru USSR 370 30 3070 3180 3153 66 58 59

Praviy Aktru USSR 310 190 3050 3060 3139 62 61 48

Vodopadniy USSR 160 100 3130 3160 3190 77 73 64

Kozelskiy USSR -1940 -740 1300 1470 1251 6 24 51

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Urumqihe S. No.1 China - 642 106 4080 3976 4027 36 66 55

l) above glacier maximum elevation.2) Note that the balance year here is from March to March and therefore starts half a year earlier than on the other glaciers.

6

2. Summary data

2.2 CUMULATIVE SPECIFIC NET BALANCES

CANADA:

E -4000~ -6000(I,)uæ -8000ro.oCi) -10000c(I,)

.~ -12000ro"3E -14000::Jo

USA:

2000o

E -2000.s -4000(I,)uc -6000ro(ti.o -8000Ci)c(I,) -10000>.~"3 -12000E::J -14000o

o~~~~ __ ~~~~~~~~~~~~-2000

Place-16000

-18000 +-___,.----.____,.----r-----.,.----,---.---.---._~.___.,r___+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years] .

South Cascade

-16000-18000..,__.-.,....___,---.. -.--_~....__+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

ICELAND:

E.s -300œoæ -400ro..o

ê -500œ.~

~ -600E::JÜ

-1 00 +--...__"---,___,...___¡1.........t__...___..~-----'--...-~ __ _A...~4

-200Hofsjökull North

-700

-800 ._ ......--...........,..__,,.........---.. --...- -I-

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

E -2000~g -4000roro.o -6000Ci)c~ -8000

.~

~ -10000::Jo

E 1000.s(I,)ucroro.oCi)cœ -500>.~

~ -1000::J

o -1500

2000+- __ ~~~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ "--~___.._+

-12000Helm

o ~~~~~~_~~~~~~~~~~~~~~__+

-14000 +-....------..----.----------""""P"--......--......-- ....---4-

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

2000

Wolverine I

\

\

1500

500

o

-20001945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

7


SPITSBERGEN:

o-1000-2000

ES -3000Cl)o -4000crocu -5000.oCD -6000cCl)

> -7000.~::5 -8000E:::l

Austreu -9000 Brøggerbreen-10000··1100 o -t--..--r---r-----r----r--r"-----------~----+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

525

550+-~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~~~~_+

350

KongsvegenE 500~8 475croro' 450s:â)c 425Q)

>] 400:::J

~ 375u

325+-..--..--..--..-- ~~~~~ __ -- __ ~~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

8

1000+- __ ~~~~~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~

-1000

-Midtre Lovénbreen

O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ES -2000Q)oæ -3000cus:a:; -4000c

~ -5000.~

~ -6000:::J

o -7000

-8000+-_r--__,r----r------r- ----r---.----r--...--~-~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

NORWAY:

7000+- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~ __ ~ __ _+

60005000E

~ 4000OJg 3000co] 2000~ 1000Cl)

.~ O '..,.",...."..~~ ...,~ ..~'~~~~~~~ ..............~.~~ ...............~~_--+

~ -1000~o -2000

Álfotbreen

-3000-4000+-~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ _+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

11000+- __ '_ __ ~ __ L- __ ~~~~~~ __ ~~~

10000E 9000~~ 8000cco-æ 7000.o~ 6000OJ

.~ 5000'SE 4000~ü 3000

Nigardsbreen

20001000+-~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~ -+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

14000+- __ '_ __ ~ __ L- __ ~~~~~~ __ ~~~

12000

110000cug 8000ces(ij.o 6000Ci)c

~ 4000'-æ~ 2000~o

Engabreen

o+-__~~~~ __~~~~ ~-+

-2000+- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ +

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

E -2000£~ -4000crn] -6000Ci)c~ -8000'-æ~ -10000~o

2. Summary data

2000+- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ -+

-12000Storbreen

o~~~~ __ ~~~ __ ~ ~ __ ~

-14000+---~---r----~-~ ~_--r __ --r __ --+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

2000+- ~ __ ~~~~~~ __ ~ __ _+

1000

Gråsubreen

E£ o~~ __ ~~~ __ ~~-+~~~ --+œoc~ -1000.oCi)c -2000OJ.~ro:5 -3000E~o -4000

-5000+- __ ~ __ ~ ~ ~ ~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

9


SWEDEN:

o

-2000

E -4000 Storglaciären

É.Q) -6000ocro -8000ëii.oQ) -10000cQ)

>~ -12000::::I

§ -14000O

-16000

-18000 +-...--.......--...--...--..--..--..--..--..__..__..__...__. .........__............----+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

1000+- __ ~ __ ~~~~~~--~------~---+800

Tarfalag lac iä renE 600É.g 400roëiis» 200Q)c~ O~~~ __ ~~~~~~~------~~~+]E -200::::IO

-400

-600+-..--~--~~~~ ~--~--~---+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

FRANCE:

-2500 4--...__......__L..-..I.___,¡,___.---'------'"----...L----'-__._,_.a_----+

-5000

Sarennes

-7500E.s -10000Q)oæ -12500ëii.DQ) -15000c~ -17500

.~

~ -20000::::I

o -22500

-25000+--__ ..-- __...--_.---------..,.----r-~-+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

10

-500

o+-__~ __~ __~ __~~~~~--------~

-3500+- __ ~ __ ~------~--...~--...-~--~--~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time (Years]

-600

-400+- __ ~ __ ~~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~ __ ~

-1800+-- ~~ __ ~~~ __ ~ ~--~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

Rabots glaciär

-14000+-...--~--...__.__ -------------r----r---t-1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

ES -1000Cl>oc~ -1500.DQ)

~ -2000>.~

~ -2500::::IO

-3000

RiukojietnaE.sCl> -800ocro2 -1000IDc.~ -1200ro3E -1400::::Io

-1600

o

-2000

E -4000.sQ) -6000ocroëii.o -8000Q)cQ)

.z -1000010:; Saint SorlinE::::I -12000o

2. Summary data

SWITZERLAND:

1000 1000

O o ~ _.........._...._..".._

E E.s -1000 .s -1000 Limmern

Cl)Cl) oo -2000 cc ('Ij('Ij

""ffi -2000""ffi ...a...a -3000 å3â) ccCl) -3000Cl)

-4000 .z> ñi.~33 E -4000E -5000

Gries ::J::J oo-6000 -5000

-7000 -60001945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years] Time [Years]

1000 4000

o 3000

E E Silvretta.s -1000

Plattalva .s 2000Cl)

Cl)o -2000 oc cro ro 1000""ffi ""ffi...a -3000 ...aâ) â)c c o ...............Cl)

-4000 Cl).2: >ro .~3 3 -1000E -5000 E::J

::Jo o-6000 -2000

...-7000 -3000

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990 1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years] Time [Years]

ITALY:

2000

O

E.s -2000Q)uc

-4000('Ij

ëij..oâ>

-6000cQ)

.~ro

-8000:5 CareserE::JC)

-10000

-12000+-....-......- __ ......- ....-......- -- ,--...-..-.....--+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

11


AUSTRIA:

o

-2000

E -4000..sCDo -6000ccoro.oêi) -8000cCD>~ -10000:::l

E Hintereisferner:::l -12000o

-14000 -t-__r--_,---...---,r---"'..-----.----r--....----r--------+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

4000.

3000E..s 2000CDocco 1000ro.oêiic OCD>""§'"S -1000E:::lo

Sonnbli·ckkees

-2000

-3000.....-.._..--- _ ___..........................--------------+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

KENYA:

1000O

-1000E -2000..sCD -3000occo -4000ro..cêi) -5000cCD -6000>~ -7000:::l

E Lewis:::l -8000o-9000

-10000+- __ r--_r-- __ ~--..___ ~ __ -----~

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years)

12

3000+- __ ~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~ __ ~ __ ~

2500

o ~.......,.,..".~~~~...".........~......,..,....,~-I •.."",.,.-."......"..,......,..."...,."..,."...~"""'~."..,..."..,.---+

-1500-2000 +----r---~ -----,-.--..,..---.---+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

E 2000É. 1500CDoæ 1000ro~ 500cCD>""§'"S -500E8 -1000

Kesselwandferner

USSR:

600

550

~

E GarabashiS 500Cl)occtIëti 450..oä)cCl) 400>."§'sE 350::Jo

300

2501945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time (Years]

2000+- __ ~~~ __ ~~~ __ ~~~~~ ~

o~~~~~~~~~~_~~~~~~~~+E -2000SCl)

g -4000ctIro~ -6000cCl)

.~ -8000's~ -10000o

-12000Abramov

-14000+- __ ~~~ __ ~~~ __ ~~~ __ ~~ __ ~+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time (Years]

-700+-~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~ __ ~~~

-750

No. 131E -800SCl)g -850ct!ro..o -900ä)c.~ -950ro~ -1000::Jo

-1050

-1100+- __ ~ ~ __ ~~ __ ~~~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

500"0"

O

-500ES -1000Cl) -1500occtIëij -2000..oä) -2500cCl)

-3000.~ro:; -3500E Djankuat::Jo -4000-4500

2. Summary data

-5000~ __ r- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~~~ __ ~ __ -+1945 1950 .1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time (Years]

2000

O

E -2000SCl) -4000ocœëij -6000..oä)c -8000Cl)

>.~

-10000"SE::J -12000 Karabatkako

-14000

-16000-t-- __ ,-- __ ~--.,..._.--~--.,..._.--~-r_-r_~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time (Years]

13


USSR:

2000 2000

o o ~ ~-~E

E -2000 É.. -2000.s CDuCD

cu -4000

ro -4000c ëBro ...oñj ID...oQ) -6000

c -6000c

CD>

CD.~

>~ -8000 :s -8000:J Tuyuksu EE

:J

:JO Igly Tuyuksu

o -10000 -10000

-12000 +-.....--.....--__ .---....---....---...---------------.---.---+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

2000+- ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~ __ ~ __ ~

-2000E.s -4000Cl)

oæ . -6000(ij...oâ) -8000cCl).~ -10000ro~ -12000:JO

-14000Molodyozhniy

o~~~~~~~~~~~~~--~~~~~

-16000~~~.....-- ----~~~~----------~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

-12000 +--....-....-....-....- __....~....--..---..-----+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years)

0+-__~ __~ __~ __ ~~~~~~--~~_4

-2000

E -4000.s(l)

g -6000rora~ -8000c

.~ -10000ro:sE -12000:JO

-14000 Kbsmodemyanskaya

-16000 -+-- ~..-- __.,...---..---..---.----------_..

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

8000 500

7000O

Partizan -500E 6000 E.s E

Q)

"";-1000o 5000 oc:

c:ro ~ -1500(ij.o 4000 ...oâ) ~ -2000c:CD 3000

Cl)

> .~ -2500.~:s 2000

:sE § -3000::Jo

o1000 -3500

0-+-- --+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

14

Ordzhonikidze

-40004--~ __ ~.....-- ..........-r__-.,..--,...--T

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

USSR:

o~~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~~~ __ _+

Mayakovskiy

-2000

E -4000~Q)oc -6000coro.o

ê -8000Q)

>

~ -10000E:J

o -12000

-14000~....--....--....__....-- "_..,,,_..,,,_..,.-- --..-+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

o-1000

E -2000~ -3000Q)occo -4000ro.oru -5000cQ)

> -6000.~

:sE -7000 Visyachie 1-2:Jo

-8000-9000+- ~~ _.

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

1000~~~~~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~

E~ -1000Q)oæ -2000ro.c~ -3000

Golubin

0~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~_4

Q)

.~m"S -4000E:JÜ -5000

-6000+-..--..--...-------..-------....----r-"""'.....-+1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

2. Summary data

2000~--~--~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~

E¿ -2000occo] -4000

o .~~~~""""~.""""""' ..~'"""".~~__. "k-~~~~_~~_~~_+_

rucQ)

.~ -6000:sEë3 -8000

Mametova

-10000~~_....__ ~~~~ __ ~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

O~~~~~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~ __ ~ __ _+

-100Sary-Tor

E -200~Q) -300occo] -400ru~ -500>

~ -600E:J

o -700-800+- __ ~ __ ~ ~

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

4000

3000

E 2000.sQ) 1000occoro O.oruc -1000Q)

.~m:s -2000E:Jo -3000 Kozelskiy

~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

-4000+-__....____~...._ ~..___....____~..__ --+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

15

Mass Balance Bulletin, No. l, 1991

USSR:

-250+- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~~~~~

-500

E -750E~ -1000o~ -1250ro..Dä) -1500c~ -1750

.~

~ -2000ë3 -2250

Maliy Aktru-2500-2750+- __ ~ __ ~ ~~~~~~--~~~

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

1600+.__ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~--~--~--~14001200

Praviy AktruE.s 1000.~ 800c~ 600..D

ê 400.~ 200~~ O~~~~~~~~~~~~~~+-~~~~ë3 -200

-400-600+- __ ~ __ ~ __ ~ __ ~~~~~~--~~-+

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

CHINA:

500o

-500E -1000É..Q) -1500occt1ro -2000..Da; -2500cQ)

> -3000.~ Urumqihe s. No. 1-sE -3500:::Jo

-4000-4500+- __ ~ __ ~ ~ __ ~~~~~--~

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

16

400200

OE.s -200IDo ·400croro -600..Dä)c -800Cl)

>.~ ·1000::J

E ·1200:::JLeviy Aktruo

-1400·1600+- __ ~ __ ~ ~~~~~~--~---4

1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990Time [Years]

200

O

E -200.sCl)o -400c::ct1ro..D -600ä)cCl) -800>.~""5E ·1000:::Jo

-1200Vodopadniy

-1400+- ~ ..........-_.....,------------r---r---.---~1945 1950 1955 1960 1965 1970 1975 1980 1985 1990

Time [Years]

3. Extensive Information

3. EXTENSIVE INFORMATION

More detailed information about selected glaciers (no more than one glacier per mountain range),with long and complete series of direct glaciological mass balance measurments are presentedhere, in addition to the summary information contained in the previous chapter. In order to facili-tate comparison between the individual glaciers, the material - text, maps, graphs and tables -submitted by the principal investigators was standardized and rearranged. The final version of thedata presentation was then revised by the investigators again.

The text gives general information followed by brief comments on the two reported balance years.General information concerns basic geographic, geometric, climatic and glaciological characteris-tics of the observed glaciers which may help with the interpretation of climate/glacier- relations.An oblique photograph showing as far as possible the entire glacier is given also.

Three maps are presented from each glacier. The first one, a topographic map, shows the stakeand snow pit network. This network is more or less the same from one year to another on mostglaciers. In cases with differences between the two reported years, the second one was chosen,i.e. the network from the year 1988/89. The second and third map are balance maps of the years1987/88 and 1988/89 respectively, illustrating the pattern of ablation and accumulation distribu-tion. The accuracy of such balance maps depends on the density of the observational network, thecomplexity of the mass balance distribution and the experience of the local investigators.

A graph of mass balance versus altitude is given for both reported years. The relation betweenmass balance and altitude or the mass balance gradient is an important parameter in climate/glacierrelationships, representing the climatic sensitivity of a glacier and constituting the main forcingfunction of glacier flow over long time intervals. Therefore, the mass balance gradient near theequilibrium line is often called the activity index of a glacier.

The last two graphs show the relation between the specific net balance and the accumulation arearatio (AAR) and the equilibrium line altitude (ELA) for the whole observation period. The regres-sion equation is given at the top of both diagrams. The AAR regression equation is calculated byinteger values only (in percent). AAR values of Oor 100% as well as corresponding ELA valuesoutside the altitude range of the observed glaciers were excluded in the regression analysis.

17


18


3.1 PLACE (CANADA)

COORDINATES: 50°26' N / 122°36' W

Photo taken by R.M. Krimmel on 5. September 1990.

The valley-type glacier is located in the southern Coast Mountain Range of Western Canada andextends from about 2,602 to roughly 1,870 m a.s.l. Its surface area is 3.70 km2 and the exposureis NE to NW. Estimates of annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier(around 2,310 m a.s.l.) and average annual precipitation are not available so far. The glacier isthought to be temperate. Periglacial permafrost features of unknown activity exist on ridges sur-rounding the glacier but are not widespread.

The two reported balance years were nearly identical with net mass losses of 0.97 m water equiva-lent in 1987/88 and 1.01 m in 1988/89. Both years showed slightly below average winteraccumulation and near average summer ablation.

19

o o o oo

I 2000D

AJ o o oo o

I o

o o

o

oo

oo

o oo oL.()

o o oC\J o o ~o

~ O ~ ol> ~~ ~ oo o oo o 0

0 o o

O o

o

O 600 mI I I

,


3.1.1 Topography and observational network

o ablation stakes

D snow pits

Place (CANADA)

20

3., Extensive Information

3.1.2 Net balance maps 1987/88 and 1988/89

• , II ••.............. . .

\/???H:<~[:[/:~~~:~:~>f;~~~~~:U>~/.:'.:.:.:.:.:.:.' ':'.:::

:::::::::::::::::::::~~·.5·.:::::::::..

1987/88

I~I

II ••••

:':':', :.:.:.. :::::: :.:::::::::::::::::.: ..:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.' ::: .. :-:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:.:........................... ", ..~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~.::~::::.:.:.::::~:~:::~:;:;::~!;~::::::~:::::~:

.::::~~~:~:::~:~:::~::~~:::~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~[~~~[[ [~[[~~~~[~[~[~[[[ ~[[[~[[ [:::::::.:.::::::::::::::::::::::::.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

O, 600m,•••••••••••••••••••••••••••• II ••------_ _.._ ~..~ :.;_:-:-:-:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

__ r.s-rnet balance isolines [m]

__0-- equilibrium line

[]) ablation area

.:::~~~:~::[:::::[:~:~:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ..::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.: .

.:~::::[:[:[ :[:[:~~[:~~::[:::::::[ :[:::~~: :::~:~:::[:[:[ :[:[:[ :~::::................................................... ... ... .

600m

....... .

1988/89

I~

/

.:::::::::::~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~::...... ............................................................. .

..................... . ..: ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::~~.~:::::::::::::::::::::::::

~; ~iir:; :~¡~.¡¡¡iiiiiiii\iiiiiii;;:';:::<::~:::)i..ililiiiiililililiilillllllllllllllllllllillilllllllllllllilliillillilli::::::·:·:~9·5::.::::::::::::

........................................... .......... .

../:"!iiilililililililililililililililililililililililililililililililililililililili:.,::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.

....................................................... .. .

.......... ... . .. ... . . , .... . ' ... . .. .

............ , ... . , ... . ... '" .. . .

.b~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~::::~<:::~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:::.:::0':::::::::::::: :::::::::::.:.:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

O,... . .. ,.. . .. . .. . .... . . ... . .

. ,............ , ... .. .... .'" .

21


3.1.3 Net balance versus altitude (1987/88 and 1988/89)

2600

2500Place

2400 1987/88__,

encci 2300 1988/89

~Q) 2200'"O:J...-

"+=ï 2100<l::

20001988/89

1900 1987/88

1800-5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 O 1000 2000

Net balance [mm]

y = .03x + 50.048, r2 = .853 )' :.: -.213x + 2078.522, r2 = .825

100 2600

90 D

PlaceO 2500

80 O70 2400

D60 ~ 2300

~ cciD O

~ 50 E O Ocr: O~ 40

:z 2200D O

_J

00 O w30 2100

O CeS> [§1 :20 O DIDo o O 2000 Place O10 I D

O O 1900-2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000

Net balance [mm] Net balance [mm]

3.1.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude(ELA) versus specific net balance for the whole observationperiod

22


3.2 STORGLACIÄREN (SWEDEN)

COORDINATES: 67° 54' N/18° 34' E

Photo taken by P. Holmlund in August 1987.

Storglaciären in the Kebnekaise Mountains, Northern Sweden, is a small valley-type glacier witha divided accumulation area and a smooth longitudinal profile. It is exposed to the E, maximumand minimum elevations are 1,750 and 1,130 m a.s.l. and its surface area is 3.12 km2 . Annualmean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around 1,500 m a.s.l.) is about -6° C.The glacier is mainly temperate with a cold surface layer in its lower parts and ends in disconti-nuous permafrost. Average annual precipitation is about l,()()ü mm at the nearby Tarfala ResearchStation.

The balance year 1987/88 was strongly negative with a net mass loss of 0.84 m water equivalentwhich was mainly caused by high rates of melting during summer, accumulation having been afew percent higher than average. The balance year 1988/89 was the opposite with the largest netmass gain ever recorded since the beginning of the measurements in 1946 (1.24 m water equiva-lent); the winter balance was roughly 100% higher than normal while the summer balance wasclose to average.

23



o ablation stakes

O snow pits

1:.: :.:1 debris cover

,"\~--, ,,

o "

//"",oo;e o

tN

I

oo o o o o

o o o

o D o o o goo

o o o o o o o~o o

o o oÇ)0 o o o

~o[:20

o o o

......:..~.~:.~):~..>.:..:.:.~:-.":" : .:.:."~~.: :::: .: =:.

,,o lkm

Storglaciären (SWEDEN)

24



"'\ t 1987/88\,\\'\

"" N' ...." I"1

,'"

o 1 km

--5- net balance isolines [m]

--0-- equilibrium line

1:::::::::::::1 ablation area

"'\\,\\ t

N

I

1988/89

""(""5 4 3

~:,'"

o lkm

25



1100~~~~~~~--------------------~-3000 -2000 -1000 O 1000 2000 3000 4000 5000

Net balance [mm]

1800

1700

1600r----,

-encci 1500~ 1987/88Q)"'C 1400::J...-~« 1300

1200

1988/89

Storglaciä~en

oCflcjJ

o


y = .016x + 45.702, r2 = .872100 +----"~ _ __.___~,____._ __ -+-_..___....----'--...--+

90

8070

~ 60LCI: 50~~ 40

30

20

10

Storglaciären

o· oo

oo (90

O~~ __ ~ ~~~--------~-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000 1500

Net balance [mm]

26

y = -.085x + 1457.692, r2 = .836

1600 o Lb16S0..¡--.t----'"-----'---'----'-..___._----4--~,----.---.--....¿

13S0~__.,._~--....----.,.....-..,..-----t---....----.,.....-..,..~-4.-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000 1500

Net balance [mm]

Storglaciären

r-;"'15S0encri_s1S00~....Jw

1450

1400

o olo

oo [Il] o

CèJ


3.3 HINTEREISFERNER (AUSTRIA)

COORDINATES 460 48' N / 100 46' E

Photo taken by G. Kaser in September 1981.

The valley-type glacier is located at the southern end of the Oetztal within the relatively dry interiorzone of the Alps and extends from 3,720 to 2,450 m a.sJ. Its surface area is 9.70 km2 and theexposure is E to NE. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around3,100 m a.s.l. in the two years reported) is -5 to -60 C. The glacier is temperate in the accumula-tion area and has a cold surface layer in the upper parts of the ablation area. Periglacial permafrostis assumed to be discontinuous and probably occurs mainly on the orographic right slopes of theglacier. Average annual precipitation as measured at 2,970 m a.s.l. is about 1,450 mm. A1:10,000 topographic map of the glacier in 1979 can be found in Vol. 4 of the Fluctuations ofGlaciers.

The two reported (fixed-date) balance years were both strongly negati ve. 1987/88 with a net massloss ofO.95 m water equivalent had average winter precipitation but was too dry (lOo/Q)and toowarm (0.80 C) in summer. A pronounced Sahara dust fallon 7 May lowered the albedo and, inaddition, summer snowfalls were lacking. 1988/89 had average climate values. The negative ba-lance of 0.64 m water equivalent can be explained by continuing ablation in October 1988, threedust falls in spring 1989 and again lacking summer snowfalls.

27



o ablation stakes

D snow pits

o 1 km

ooe.oCf)

3700

36003l.()()

D

~~()o

3200I I

";>.2,<J<J°0

~<J\::>a Da D ,.,'"

f\J $:J<J~$:J<J

,,<:j

,,'"D o

oo o oo(Y) o

o o fo ry o

o~ $:J<J(t) ,,<::5

29()()

2800o

o oo o ) o o

o o is oo <60 a o co~ R o N o

o o o o' o ry o o o oo

o o

//

Hintereisferner (AUSTRIA)

28



1987/88

//

<::::::::>.... '\ ./- <,

// I O) -.... / ' I ,/ ,

\ / . : I / / \ O.05 - }

\\~¿~Ui!ö)

0.05/ ,/ \

// ./

{,,_-

o 1 km

-0.1- net balance isolines [m]

--0- equilibrium line

1:::::::.::::1 ablation area

;¿,//

1988/89

o 1 km

29



3800+-~~~--~~~~~--~~~~~--~~-+

2400+-~~~--~~~~~--~~~~~--~~-+-7000 -6000 -5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 o 1000

Net balance [mm]

3600

1987/88

Hintereisferner3400

~ 3200~~ 3000:::J.......,.~« 2800

2600 1988/89


y = .031 x + 65.696, r2 = .8811OO...._...__.__.....__,,_...._...........---..I--.,j"'----+---.....-"""--......__--+

90

80

70

~ 60a;cr: 50«« 40

30

20

Hintereisferner o oo o

o

oo

10

0~ __ ~ __ ~~~ __ 4-~------~-1500-1250-1000 -750 -500 -250 O 250 500 750 1000

Net balance [mm]

30

§

y = -.21 x + 2919.918, r2 = .9093300...._...--L-.-.L__'___'__--'--.,j1.......l--+---""'-..L-..I-"""__--+

2700-+-- __ ~--~,....,__............-..-----+-__,..-....--.---,.-.....--+-1500-1250-1000 -750 -500 -250 O 250 500 750 1000

Net balance [mm]

cñ~ 3000S«üJ 2900

D

DD D

3200

D

3100 D

2800 Hintereisferner


3.4 LEWIS (KENY A)

COORDINATES: eo- 09' S/37° 18' E

Photo taken in the mid-1980s; courtesy of Photomap CK) Ltd.

This largest glacier on Mount Kenya is located less than 20 km to the south of the Equator at ele-vations between 4,600 and 5,000 In a.s.l. It has a surface area of 0.25 km2 and is exposed to theSW. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around 4,700 to 4,800 ma.s.l.) is ° to -1° C. The glacier is assumed to be temperate, and periglacial areas to be free of per-mafrost. Average annual precipitation measured on a rock ridge ("Austrian Hut") next to theglacier was about 700 mm during the 12 past years of predominantly negative balances. However,years of zero balance are characterized by annual precipitation of about 1,000 mm. Ablation issubstantial throughout the year and the seasons of minimum precipitation are January/Februaryand July/August. The applicability of mid-latitude glaciological terminology to this tropical glacieris limited: for instance, the balance year starts in March rather than boreal autumn. For various ofthe years monitored since 1978, the entire glacier acted as "ablation area". A 1:5,000 topographicmap of the glacier and its forefield in 1983 can be found in Vol. 5 of the Fluctuations of Glaciers.

March 1987 to March 1988 was a dry year with a strong mass loss of 2.03 m water equivalent onthe glacier. The balance year March 1988 to March 1989 featured abundant snowfall, resulting ina remarkably large mass gain of 0.77 ill water equivalent.

31


3.4.1 Topography and observational network .

o ablation stakes

snow pits

o

oo

o

ooco~o

oo C)

O)ao ~ o~

~ o

I1

1fto 200 m

Lewis (KEN'yA)

32



1987/88

I/ o 200m

--1.5- net balance isalines [ml


[I ablation area

1988/89 .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. ' ........................... , .9Ul

r'I \I \I \I II I\ l.s-\ I\,_-' ,/ ....

,/ \/ I

// II l.s-I /\.__,.//

.: ::::::::\:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ,.............. \ .

....::::;::::::::::::::::UJ::::::::::::::::::j):::.:::·:::::::::~ \.. : : : : ~~~~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~t .~ : : j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~. ,

..:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::'0'\:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ,::::~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:\:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~:~;~:~:~:~:~: \.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: \-. :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::\::::::::::::::::::::::::::::-::..:..;::~. __ .......-..........

. . j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~j ~~ ~~~~~~~: : :.: : : . : .: ......................................... .......... . .

I/

o, 200 mI

33



5000;-~--~~--~~~~--~~--~~--~~

4950

4900

uj 485Gcri~ 4800(1.)-o.a 4750+=i

«4700

4650

Lewis

1987/88

4600~~--~--~~--~~--~--~~--~~~~-4000 -3000 -2000 -1000

1988/89

o 1000Net balance [mm]

2000


100-t----_..__........__..._ _.___.__,____ +---__._....___._ __ ..........._..._---+

90

10

o

Lewis80

70

........60~a; 50o:«« 40

30

20

o

o ln

o

o

200 400 600 800 1000-1000 -800 -600 -400 -200 oNet balance [mm]

34

DI4 700 -t---r--,------r __ ~,_.,...-+_I_,._.._~...___,_--D_r__""'__+

-1000 -800 -600 -400 -200 o 200 400 600 800 1000

Net balance [mm]

5050

5000 D

4950

~ 4900 D.§..« 4850--'w

4800 D

4750

Lewis


3.5 DJANKUA T (USSR)


Photo taken by YeoA. Zolotaryov and V. V. Popovnin in September 1985.

The valley-type glacier is located on the northern slope of the central section of the main CaucasusRidge and extends from 3,990 to 2,650 m a.s.l. Its surface area is 3.13 km2 and the exposure isNW. Mean annual air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier at about 3,200 m a.s.l. is -3to -4.5° C and the glacier is temperate. Periglacial permafrost is assumed to be highly disconti-nuous. Average annual precipitation as measured near the snout is about 1,100 to 1,200 mm butroughly three times that amount at the equilibrium line. Three 1:10,000 topographic maps depic-ting the glacier in 1968, 1974 and 1984 exist at the Moscow State University but are not yet pub-lished. The peculiarity of the glacier is the migration of the ice divide on the firn plateau of thecrest zone, redistributing mass flux between adjacent slopes of the Main Caucasus Ridge.

Winter accumulation was 16% above average in 1987/88 and 11% in 1988/89. The summer sea-son was cool in 1987/88 but rather warm in 1988/89. As a result, the glacier had a mass gain of0.52 m water equivalent in 1987/88 and, with a small mass gain of 0.04 m water equivalent, itwas near a state of zero balance in 1988/89.

35

,Mass Balance Bulletin, No.1, 1991


o o c

ooo Oc d)

o o ~o o

o o

o ablation stakes

C snow pits

oo

o C)oQ)C)

0.i

oo

oo

o o

o o )...........o o

C)C)

r,C1/

o o ooC)

(Ja~t>\

r:,'"C o

oo

o

o Co o

o o3000

o

,e--/ieOI O.if?

tNI

3200oC

o oo

o o(J(J

r>.:>t>\e"· Co

3300 o

o 3'60~

__ e

o ,.--."._,,_._""..---.".,./.

/./.

/.,..~ ..;.-"

"/..~ ..,..,-

e~ ...... ..,.

C)\:5

~\oo

o 1 km....._ ....:.

Djankuat (USSR)

36



1987/88

2 ~._.,.___ ._,-.,.

./.I /.

~

·2 .1·."".;

· C2._ ..,/I'·'" 0...... ...' km

__3-- net balance isalines [m]

__.o~ equilibrium line

Eill ablation area

tNI .~.

......~

37

1988/89


.-:-:·!-~2~~~. ~.~.:-1--,·...-,·"'"'-~

..___3--- net balance isolines [ml...... 0........ equilibrium line

F%\] ablation area

.:rr ':::':~~J ::él

::.JJO

tNI

@)å

1.~.~ CJ

cÇr~;.~._.;.2 ~v.¡:¿,......,. / .

•/ 1 / •

.' .o!1 {-;:7'I ~ 3 ,

i o l "~2 ~ ~.~.V·

._(:7/~·---._.

2 ~:\ ~ 1

~

1 1··:-:::\)···.

'.........,.

o 1 km

38

-----~~~~~----



370036003500 Djankuat3400........,

-CI) 3300cci~ 3200Q)"'C 3100::::J+-'""¡::;

<x: 3000 1988/892900 1987/8828002700

-4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 O 1000 2000 3000Net balance [mm]


y = .016x + 59.69, r2 = .749 Y = -.122x + 3188.895, r2 = .812100 3350

O90 D330080 O O OBJ70 000 3250 O

,......,60 ~ 3200~ O Oocri D~ 50 O Æ E 8:fê

~ 40 :; 3150_.J Dw30 3100

D D20 Djankuat3050 Djankuat D10

DO 3000-1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000 1500 2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O .500 1000 1500 2000Net balance [mm] Net balance [mm]

39


3.6 ABRAMOV (USSR)


Photo taken by G.M. Kamnyanskiy in 1978.

The valley-type glacier of the Amudarya river basin is located in the Southern Alai Range and ex-tends from 4,960 to 3,625 ffi a.s.l. Its surface area is 26.21 km2 and the exposure is N. Annualmean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around 4,200 m a.s.l.) is -6.5 to -8° C.The glacier has a temperate accumulation zone but cold ice near the surface of the ablation area.Periglacial permafrost is probably discontinuous. Average annual precipitation as measured at3,840 m a.s.l. is about 750 mm. A 1:25,000 topographic map of the glacier is still unpublished.

In 1987/88 with a zero mass balance, the glacier received about 400/0 above average precipitationand underwent strong melting during the warm summer. In 1988/89, precipitation was normaland the summer relatively cool, leading to a smallnet mass loss of 0.22 m water equivalent.

40



o ablation. stakes

[] snow pits

.,ii

tN

Ioo

o o

o oo o

o o

oo

Co oo

o oo o

o oo o

+'- o C)C)W bo.~o oo

o

o[]

o

o 4300o

4400

o o oo oo o o o

o~f>.\oooo ()\)~ ...... 'vc\;

oC

4200o o

o o

o o

o oo

oI

2km

~ 4300~ o o o

q,°b ° ° : ° °o o o

o~ \ [] °

6·-·...·

Abramov (USSR)

41

[I ablation area

.....................::::::::.:::::::::::::.

-:-:-:-:-::-:-:-:-:-:-:-......................::j~:::~j~j~j :.::~~~ ::::

.::::::: :::::::::::::::.

:)(.:))?/



1987/88

__1-- net balance isolines [m]

....-0-- equilibrium line

\,\

tN

I

j ~j~j~¡~:.::j::~~:: ~~.-:-:.:-:-:-:-:-:-:.:-: ..:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:.:-:-:-:.

':::::::::::::::::::::j:::.>:.:.:::::::::::::::::::::.::::- ..:::::::::::::::::::-

.-:.:-:-:-.:-:-:-:.:-:-:-:-:-:.:::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::.:-:-:-:-:-:.:-:-.:-:.:-:-:-:.:-:-:-

.,.

o, 2 kmI

»">

42


1988/89

__1-- net balance isalines [m]

.,ii

./iiiill/?iili//i/illlli!/::::::::::::::';3::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

t .:::111111111111111111111111\... . .

N

I

___ o_,.",.. equilibrium line

mi ablation area

.'".'::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:':::::::::::::::::::::::::~1·:·:::::::::::·.::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::"

':!!illlllilliiiilliiliiiiiliiiliiiililiiiliililliiiiii;ii}i~!I¡¡lliiiiiiiiill¡I¡¡i¡¡lllliliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiliiliiiiliiiililiilliiii!illililllll:::::({(:::::::/<>:::/:::::::;::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::0:':::.:.:::::::::::::::::::::::::.:::::::::::::::::::::::::- .., -::-:- -:-:::::- :-:-:-:':-:-:-:-:-'.'····-:·0·:-··· . . ....

oI

2 km 1)_.,.

43



4700+-~~~~~~~~~--~~~--~~~--·460045004400

Abramov 1 88/89

en 4300

ccl 4200£Q) 4100"O:::J:E 4000~ 3900

38003700

1987/88

1987/88

1988/893600+-~~~~~--~~~--~~--~~~--~-+

-5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000Net balance [mm]

o 1000 2000


y = .026x + 58.951, r2 = .941 y = -.14x + 4151.43, r2 = .940

100 4400

90 4350

80 Abramov 430070

~ 60 O~ 4250en

~ 50rd

O oS 4200-c

40 00aD~¡jj 4150

30 41002010 00 4050

O4000

-2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O 500 1000 -2000Net balance [mm]

DO

DDOIJl

DO~

D"

Abramov

-1500 -1000 -500 oNet balance [mm]

44

500 1000


3. 7 TUYUKSU (USSR)

COORDINAtES: 43° 00' N/77° 06' E

Photo taken by K.G. Makarevich in August 1970.

The valley-type glacier in the Zailiyskiy Alatau Range of the USSR Tien Shan is also called Tsen-tralniy Tuyuksu Glacier. It extends from 4,220 to 3,400 m a.s.I and has a surface area of 3.02km

2with the exposure being to the N. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the

glacier (around 3,800 m a.s.l.) is -6 to -7° C. The predominantly cold glacier is surrounded bycontinuous permafrost and reaches melting temperatures over parts of the bed. Average annualprecipitation as measured with a great number of precipitation gauges is about 1,000 mm in theglacier belt. Ablation processes play the key role for the mass balance of this continental-typeglacier with considerable winter accumulation (roughly 50% of annual precipitation).

The two reported mass balances were both clearly negative. 1987/88 with a net mass loss of 0.61m water equivalent had high precipitation but also wann summer temperatures. Winter accumula-tion and summer ablation were both weaker in 1988/89 than the year before, resulting in a netmass loss of 0.46 m water equivalent.

45

o ablation stakes

o snow pits



o;2«;;J- o o

yoo

o o oo oo<r o o o o o

o 00 o o oo oco o 00 oen o o o o o

o oo o

o o oo o oo o oO) o0') o o

o o o

o oo

00 o o

R~o 0J~

00 oo '0 o

o oo

o oo o oo o

o o og o o oo o 000

o o to oo o co o o o o o o

00 o l.{) oo o o o 0')

o o o o o o

o o 00 o o oo o oo o

o o oo o o o

oo

o o 00

o o oo ooo o o

o oo oo o

00 -z~6'~

00V_>

o 00l'.> o 1 km

, I •

Tuyuksu (USSR)

46



1987/88-2~

o 1 km

-- 0.2- net balance isolines [m]

---0-- equilibrium line

Iill21 ablation area

1988/89

r .....I \I \I \I lt 0.31 \.l ,\ \\ I\ I\ I

\ ',.1........

-2~

o 1 km

47



4200

4100

4000.---.- 3900ujcrS~ 3800Q)-o 3700::J.......,.+=i

<! 3600

3500

3400+-~--~~----~~--~~----~~--~~~-2500 -2000 -1500 -1000 -500 O

Net balance [mm]

Tuyuksu

1987/88

1988/89

1987/88

500 1000


y = .032x + 52.856,' r2 = .859

100

90

80 Tuyuksu70

00o

r-"'I 60~occ 50<l:<l: 40 o o

o o30 o20

t§>

10

O~ --------~----~~~--~-1750 -1500 -1250 -1000 -750 -500 -250 o 250 500 750

Net balance [mm]

48

y = -.21x + 3741.645, r2 = .800

D

4200 D

4300 +--"__,__....Aoo-..___.......&-....___...-_.__........__¡_--,.__...~_.__....~-+

3500".__,._---~-------....,---....-.,..---r-.....---.--+-1750-1500-1250-1000 -750 -500 -250 o 250 500 750

Net balance [mm)

4100

Tuyuksu

D=f 4000enrd.s 3900

<l:uj 3800

D

3700

3600

.....__~D

D


3.8 MALlY AKTRU (USSR)

COORDINATES: 50° OS' N/87° 45' E

Photo taken by Yu. K. Narozhniy in July 1989.

The valley-type glacier is located on the northern slope of the North Chuyskiy Range of the USSRAltai Mountains. It extends from 3,714 to 2,224 m a.s.l. Its surface area is 2.86 km2 and the ex-posure is E to N. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around 3,130m a.s.l.) is -10 to -12° C. The glacier is poly thermal and surrounded by continuous to disconti-nuous permafrost. Average annual precipitation as measured at 2,130 m a.s.l. is about 520 mm.Mass balances of four glaciers within the same basin are being determined.

The growth tendency observed since 1982/83 continued with the two reported balance years. In1987/88, summer mean air temperature was 1.3° C lower and annual precipitation roughly 25%higher than average, leading to a mass gain of 0.47 ffi water equivalent. The resulting total accu-mulation was 30% above normal and is without precedent for the entire investigation period. Inaddition, numerous snowfalls reduced melt rates during summer. 1988/89 had average precipita-tion values. The summer temperatures, however, were slightly below average causing a net massgain of 0.22 ffi water equivalent. Since 1982/83, the glacier practically compensated for the masslosses in the years from 1978 - 1982.

49

o 1 km


3.8.1 Topography and observational network'

o ablation stakes

[] snow pits

• (>

.

o

o o

oo

o o

oo

U> o o~ooo

~//

o

o v.:>~ o

Maliy Aktru (USSR)

50

3. Extensive l nformation


.~.

1,,//

1987/88 oL 1km,

__1.5-- net balance ¡solines [m]

-- o -- equilibrium line

.~. •ablation area

~//

1988/89 o 1 km

51

3800

3600

3400Maliy Aktru 988/89

r-:'

en 3200asE 3000~Q)-c::J 2800+-".~~

2600

2400 1988/89

1987/88

2200-5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 o 1000 2000

Net balance [mm]



3.8.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude(ELA) versus specific net balance for the whole observation

period

y = .038x + 71.132, r2 = .839

Y = -.249x + 3124.582, r2 = .823

1003400

-~

D

90O

3300 D

80 Maliy Aktru70 <Ib 3200

60 Q(f)

eJ. 50~ 3100

D

cr:~ 40

<tD O

00.....I

30O

w 3000

Maliy AktruO

20 O 2900 O

10

O

O2800

_1750-1500-1250-1000 -750 -500 -250 O 250 500 750 -1750-1500 -1250-1000 -750 -500 -250 O 250 500 750

Net balance [mm]Net balance [mm]

52


3.9 KOZELSKIY (USSR)

COORDINATES: 53° 14' N/158° 49' E

Photo taken by Ya. D. Muravyov in September 1984.

The valley-type glacier is located on the eastern slope of Avachinskiy Volcano in the VostochnyRange of Kamchatka Peninsula and extends from 2,030 to 870 m a.s.l. Its surface area is 1.78km

2and the exposure is S. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier

(around 1,590 m a.s.l.) is -5 to -6° C. The glacier is thought to be temperate, perhaps with a coldsurface layer in the upper parts of the ablation area. Average annual precipitation as measured at1,850 m a.s.l. is about 2,100 mm. A 1:25,000 topographic map of the glacier in 1975 is not yetpublished. The main peculiarities of the glacier are the sub-lengthwise orientation of the equilib-rium line and a zone covered by volcanic ash in the upper reaches of the glacier, where mass ba-lance remains zero.

The two reported balance years were both strongly negative. 1987/88 with a net mass loss of 1.95m water equivalent was extremely unfavourable for the glacier with winter precipitation remainingabout 25% below average and summer temperatures being among the highest during the 17 yearsof observation. In 1988/89, winter precipitation was 40% above average but summer temperatureswere again very high. The resulting mass loss was 0.76 m water equivalent.

53

o ablation stakes

C snow pits



[/1debris cover

.:\~~.~.>~.~~::.~.~\::::~{:~~~....::~~.:':.~~.:~.~:..~.:...:::.::; -z~

oI

lkmJ

...:·:·...0

~:;.:~~~:.)!);;... .Y"._;;:-

Kozelskiy (USSR)

54

3. Extensive l mormauo»


1987/88

o 1km

-2.-....•:ii:: i:fi;';;:;it~:ir:;¡i¡!;iiiiiiiiiiiiiii;ii;;-.;;'::::~; .

.. ····;.:..:::::::::·:::::::::::C}\?}!\i>·:; -:::..

./"",.,.,.~.

...;.;..

__1- net balance isolines [m]

__0-- equilibrium line

1988/89 Lr:¡:¡J ablation area

1km

-2-...

",.,.,..~.o.•;'.0;.

55



2000~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1800

800+-~~~ __ ~~~~~--~~~~~--P-~-+-7000 -6000 -5000 -4000 -3000 -2000 -1000 o 1000

Net balance [mm]

Koze.lskiy

~ul 1600asE~ 1400-o::J.........~<!: 1200

1987/881000

3.9.4 Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude(ELA) versus specific net balance for the whole observation

period

y = .021x + 50.931, r2 = .840

100

90

80 Kozelskiy o 0070

.-. 60~2.....cr: 50-c< 40

30O

20O

10Q

oo~ ------~~--------~~-2500 -2000-1500 -1000 -500 o 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Net balance [mm]

56

y = -.047x + 1250.96, r2 = .650

1400

1350 DD

1300 D D

'01250D g¡

~ cl-c Dill 1200

D

1150

1100Kozelskiy

1050 I-2500 -2000 -1500-1000 -500 o 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Net balance [mm)


3.10 URUMQIHE S. NO.1 (CHINA)


Author and date of Photo not reported.

The so-called Glacier NO.1in the headwaters of Urumqi River in the Chinese Tian Shan is asmall valley-type glacier with a total surface area of 1.84 km2 and consisting of two branches,both exposed to the NE. The highest and lowest points of the glacier are at 4,486 and 3,745 ma.s.l. Annual mean air temperature at the equilibrium line of the glacier (around 4,000 m a.s.l.) is-7 to -8° C. The predominantly cold glacier is surrounded by continuous permafrost but reachesmelting temperatures over wide areas of the bed. Average annual precipitation measured at thenearby meteorological station is 400 to 500 mm at 3539 m a.sJ. and 600 to 700 mm at the glacier.Mass gain and ablation both predominantly take place during the warm season and the formationof superimposed ice on this continental-type glacier is important. A 1:5,000 topographic map ofthe glacier and its forefield in 1980 can be found in Vol. 5 of the Fluctuations of Glaciers.

Precipitation in 1987/88 was average but temperature was too warm in summer. This resulted in apronounced mass loss of 0.64 ffi water equivalent. The mass gain in 1988/89 is mainly a conse-quence of low summer temperatures and correspondingly weak ablation.

57


3.10.1 Topography and observational network·

o 500 m

oo

o 3900o o

oo

o oo o o

lé;o o 0

00 o

o oo o oo o 3800

o oo o

o o o</100

o o</200

o o

oo

4300 o3900

o

</</00

t oo

o o

NI o

oo

o ablation stakes oAGGGo

D snow pits o

oC)C)

I>:~

Urumqihe S. No. 1 (CHINA)

58



1987/88

tN

I

_ 0.3-- net balance isolines [m]


Bill ablation area

o 500 m

59

0.6---~ o 500 m


1988/89

0.4r: .:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:'::~~~~}~~~~~~~.~~~~~~~~~~~~::;.1:.~~~~~~~~~~:~~.?:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~::::'.:':~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:::.

.::~{:::::lliilll:::ill¡!:i!IIIII!!!::;ill!III!I!:I!¡1lillli:;::!!l!!III!I!!!llii:I!:!!!!lll!llli:ii:;!!:!il11!:;~¡1:·¡22:!;¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡X

~:f:::!:l!:·l!l·I!¡!I::·::·:··li¡·¡·I·i¡i::~:··ilii¡iii·:·:·I::¡I¡lj¡¡i¡I¡i¡i!j!i!!!!¡¡~~:!!!!::¡¡i:¡¡¡::!!!!;i:···::¡¡!:¡:!!!:!r):

i¡·!::·:¡.!ilj·.!:!:·.¡:::!::::~~:::::::¡:··!·::l¡¡·¡· ...·:¡i¡j¡;~¡~î:·¡·:·¡¡¡¡:¡¡¡¡¡::::¡¡¡¡i¡·:;:j¡::::·::::::.;:::!::: ....

:~¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡~~¡¡~;;;;¡;::B:~:!~!~(!!!!¡!;!;!;¡;;;;;;~;~~¡;¡¡¡¡~¡~)~:~:::::::::::::::::

·::::::¡¡:·····j:¡j -,i¡.i.·¡!·:·:·!!!¡·!!!¡·:!:::::::·¡:::::::::::::::::::::::::.: .

\~{{t?}t~~:~'6'

tNI

~ ~~__1-- net balance isalines [m]


[EJ ablation area

60



46004500

4400r----,

CI) 4300crS

~ 4200Q)-o 4100:::J+-'".;::;<l:: 4000

3900

3800

Urumqihe S. No. 1

1987/88

1988/893700+-~~~~~~~~~~~~+-~~~~~

-3500-3000-2500-2000-1500-1 000 -500 o 500 1000 1500Net balance [mm]

3.10.4 .Accumulation area ratio (AAR) and equilibrium line altitude(ELA) versus specific net balance for the whole observationperiod

y = .041x + 54.501, r2 = .867 Y = -.149x + 4026.86, r2 = .791100 417590 4150

D80 Urumqihe S. No.1 O 4125

D70 4100 D

DO00~ 60

O~ 4075 D DO~ <d %0o .s 4050~ 50

O<X: O « D« 40 uj 4025 DO 0030 O 4000 D

20 3975 Urumqihe S. No.1 D10 3950 DO 3925-800 -600 -400 -200 O 200 400 -800 -600 -400 -200 O 200 400

Net balance [mm] Net balance [mm]

61


62

4. Final remarks and acknowledgements

4. FINAL REMARKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

For 50 glaciers out of 54, mass balance values are available of both years 1987/88 and 1988/89.The corresponding results of this sample of 50 glaciers can be summarized as follows:

1987/88 1988/89

mean specific net balance: - 602mm - 57mmstandard deviation: ± 652mm ± 1138 mmminimum value: - 2480mm - 2590 mmmaximum value: + 520mm + 3470mmrange: 3000mm 6060mmpositive balances: 16 % 38 %

These values give a rough indication of northern hemisphere mass balances of mountain glaciers.Taking the two years together, the mean mass balance was negative by a few decimeters; this re-sult resembles the secular average quite closely and shows a continuation of the long-term trend.

The wide range of reported balance values and the curves of cumulative mass balances (Chapter 2)indicate a remarkable variability in the state of health of mountain glaciers, with mass gains prefe-rentially occurring in some humid coastal ranges (e.g. Norway). Such variability is, in fact, cha-racteristic for the time period since about the middle of the 20th century and has replaced the al-most uniform shrinking tendency of earlier decades. It not only reflects regional climatic variabilitybut also marked differences in the sensitivity of the observed glaciers. This sensitivity has a localtopographic component - the hypsographic distribution of glacier area with altitude - which canlead to pronounced differences in mass balance trends even within one and the same catchment(Hintereis- and Kesselwandferner in the Oetztal, the glaciers around Tsentralniy Tuyuksu in theAlmatinka Basin, and the Aktru glaciers in the Altai Mountains). The climatic component of thesensitivity is the mass balance gradient or the relation between changes in balance and equilibriumline altitude, which leads to stronger reactions of maritime than of continental glaciers. Over longtime intervals, however, local and regional differences tend to diminish or even to disappear. Thephotos of the 10 glaciers with extensive information show glaciers far within the moraines fromthe Little Ice Age. This phenomenon, which is characteristic for mountain glaciers all around theworld, clearly illustrates that - at a secular time scale - the reported observations are just a shortepisode within a general trend of strong ice melt.

63

Completion of the present first Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin was made possible through the co-operation of the national correspondents to WGMS and the principal investigators on the variousglaciers, as listed in the final chapter, 5. Thanks are also due to the other staff members of WGMSfor their help and assistance, especially to Martin Hoelzle for management and statistical analysisof the data, to Werner Nobs for drawing the maps and, to Susan Braun for editing the English.

Mass Balance Bulletin, No. 1,1991

Funding was mainly through GEMS / UNEP and FAGS / ICSU. The contributors are prepared tohelp publishing forthcoming bulletins no later than one year after the termination of the second re-ported balance year. Drawing on the experience from the first issue, we hope to issue the secondGlacier Mass Balance Bulletin in winter 1992/93. Suggestions for further improvement of thecontent and presentation of this new publication series are very welcome.

64

Addresses

5. PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS AND NATIONALCORRESPONDENTS

5.1 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS

CANADA: PlaceHelm

USA: South Cascade

Wolverine

ICELAND: Hofsjökull NorthHofsjökull East

NORWAY: ÁlfotbreenNigardsbreenStorbreenGråsubreenEngabreenLangfjordjøkulen

Austre BrøggerbreenMidtre LovénbreenKongsvegen

Hansbreen

M. BrugmanHydrological Sciences DivisionNational Hydrology Research Institute11, Innovation BoulevardCANADA - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3U5

R.M. KrimmelUS Geological SurveyIce and Climate ProjectUniversity of Puget SoundUSA - Tacoma, W A 98416

D. TrabantUS Geological SurveyWater Resources Division800 Yukon Drive'USA - Fairbanks, Alaska 99775-5170

O. SigurdssonNational Energy AuthorityHydrological SurveyOrkustofnunGrensasvegi 9ICELAND - 108 Reykjavik

B. WoldNorwegian Water Resources and Energy AdministrationGlacier DivisionP.O. Box 5091, Maj.N - 0301 Oslo 3

J.O. HagenNorwegian Polar Research InstitutePostboks 158N - 1330 Oslo lufthavn

J. JaniaSilesian UniversityFaculty of Earth SciencesDepartment of Karst Geomorphologyul. Mielczarskiego 60POLAND - 41-200 Sosnowiec

65


SWEDEN: StorglaciärenRabots glaciärTarfalaglaciärenRiukojietna

FRANCE: SarennesSaint Sorlin

SWITZERLAND: GriesLimmernPlattalvaSilvretta

ITALY: Careser

AUSTRIA: HintereisfernerKesselwandferner

Sonnblickkees

KENYA: Lewis

USSR: Garabashi

Djankuat

66

P. Holmlund and W. Karlén'Department of Physical GeographyUniversity of StockholmS - 106 91 Stockholm

L. ReynaudLaboratory of Glaciology and Environmental (CNRS) GeophysicsDomaine UniversitaireCase Postale 96F - 38402 St-Martin-d 'Héres, Cedex

M. Aellen and M. FunkLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW)

Federal Institute of TechnologyETH-ZentrumCH - ~8092 Zurich

G. ZanonUniversity of PaduaDepartment of GegraphyVia del Santo, 26I - 35123 Padua

G. MarkI and M. KuhnInstitute of Meteorology and GeophysicsUniversity of InnsbruckInnrain 52A - 6020 Innsbruck

H. SlupetzkyGeographical InstituteUniversity of SalzburgHellbrunnerstrasse 34 / IIIA - 5020 Salzburg

S. HastenrathDepartment of MeteorologyUniversity of Wisconsin- Madison1225 West Dayton StreetUSA - Madison, Wisconsin 53706

A.B. Bazhev, O.V. Rototayeva, LF. KhmelevskoyInstitute of GeographyAcademy of Sciences of the USSRStaromonetniy,29USSR - 109017 Moscow

V.V. PopovninMoscow State UniversityFaculty of GeographyLeninskiye GoryUSSR - 117899 Moscow

Abramov

KarabatkakNo. 131West. Suyok

TuyuksuIgly TuyuksuMolodyozhniyKosmodemyanskayaPartizanOrdzhonikidzeMayakovskiyMametovaVisyachie 1-2

Sary-Tor

Golubin

Maliy AktruLeviy AktruPraviy AktruVodopadniy

Kozelskiy

CHINA: Urumqihe S. No.1

Addresses

G.M. KamnyanskiyMidasian Hydrometeorological Research Institute SANIGMIObservatorskaya Str., 72USSR - 700052 Tashkent-52

A.N. Dikikh and E.K. BakovTien-Shan Physical Geography Research StationKirghiz SSR Academy of SciencesPionerskaya, 7USSR - Pokrovka, Issyk Kul Region

K.G. MakarevichInstitute of GeographyKazakh Academy of SciencesPushkin Str., 99USSR - 480100 Alma Ata

S.N. UshnurtsevInstitute of GeographyAcademy of Sciences of the USSRStaromonetniy,29USSR - 109017 Moscow

A.A. ErmolovKirgiz SSR Hydrometeorological CommitteeKarasuyskaya, 1USSR -720403 Frunze

Yu. K. NarozhniyTomsk State UniversityLenin Str., 36USSR - 634010 Tomsk-l0

Ya. D. MuravyovInstitute of VolcanologyAcademy of Sciences of the USSRFar East Research CenterPiyp Boulevard, 9USSR - 683006 Petropavlovsk Kamchatskiy

Chaohai LiuLanzhou Institute of Glaciology and GeocryologyChinese Academy of SciencesCHINA - Lanzhou

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5.2 NATIONAL CORRESPONDENTS OF WGMS:

ARGENTINA: L. EspizuaIstituto Argentino de NivologiaIANIGLA/CONICETCasilla de Correo, 330ARGENTINA - 5500 Mendoza

AUSTRALIA: I. AllisonUniversity of MelbourneAntarctic DivisionGlaciology SectionEarth Science BuildingAUSTRALIA - Parkville Vic. 3052

AUSTRIA: G. PatzeltInstitute for High Mountain ResearchUniversity of InnsbruckUniversitätsstrasse 4A - 6020 Innsbruck

BOLIVIA: E. lardanPhysical GeographyUniversität VechtaDriverstrasse 22D - 2848 VechtaGERMANY

CANADA: C.S.OmmanneyHydrological Sciences DivisionNational Hydrology Research Institute11, Innovation BoulevardCANADA - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 3H5

CHINA: Yang HuyanLanzhou Institute of Glaciology and CryopedologyAcademia Sinica .CHINA - Lanzhou

FRANCE: L. ReynaudLaboratory of Glaciology and Environmental Geophysics (CNRS)Domaine UniversitaireCase Postale 96F - 38402 St-Martin-d'Hères Cedex

GERMANY: O. ReinwarthCommission for GlaciologyBayerische Akademie der WissenschaftenMarstallplatz 8D - 8000 München 22

GREENLAND: A. WeidickGeological Survey of GreenlandØster Voldgade lûDENMARK - 1350 København K

68

ICELAND:

INDIA:

IrrALY:

JAP~t\N:

KJ:i:NYA:

MEXICO:

NEW ZEALAND:

NORWAY:

PAKIsrrAN:

PERU:

A ddresses

O. SigurdssonNational Energy AuthorityHydrological SurveyOrkustofnunGrensasvegi 9ICELAND - lOS Reykjavik

v.K. RainaGeological Survey of India27, Jawaharlal Nehru RoadINDIA - Calcutta - 700 016

G. ZanonUniversity of PaduaDepartment of GeographyVia del Santo, 26I - 35100 Padua

K. HiguchiWater Research InstituteNagoya UniversityChikusa-KuJAPAN - Nagoya 464

S. HastenrathDepartment of MeteorologyUniversity of Wisconsin1225 West Dayton StreetUSA - Madison, Wisconsin 53706

H. Delgado-GranadosInstituto de GeofísicaUniversidad Nacional Autonoma de MexicoCircuito CientíficoCiudadU ni versi tariaMX - Coyoacan 04510 D.F.

TJ. ChinnMinistry of Works and DevelopmentP.O. Box 1479NZ - Christchurch

B. WoldNorwegian Water Resources and Energy AdministrationGlacier DivisionP.O. Box 5091, Maj.N - 030 l Oslo 3

W. KickM.acheinerweg 35D - S40() RegensburgGERMANY

M. Zamora C.Section of Glaciology and Lake SafetyElectraperuJr. Huaylas No. 143PERU - Huaraz / Ancash

69

POLAND: M. KlapaDepartment of Hydrology and Meteorology of Tatra Mountains.ul. Sienkewicza 26cPL - 34500 Zakopane


SPAIN: E. Martinez de PisanDepartment of Physical GeographyUniversidad Autonomaanta BlancoE - Madrid 34 -

SWEDEN: P. HolmlundDepartement of Physical GeographyUniversity of StockholmS - 106 91 Stockholm

SWITZERLAND: M. AellenLaboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW)Federal Institute of TechnologyETH-ZentrumCH - 8092 Zurich

UNI1'ED KINGDOM: D. CollinsDepartment of GeographyUniversity of ManchesterUK - Manchester M13 9PL

USSR: D.G. TsvetkovAcademy of Sciences of the USSRSoviet Geophysical CommitteeDepartment of GlaciologyStaromonetny, 29USSR - 109017 Moscow

USA: A. FountainUS Geological SurveyP.O. Box 25046 / M.S. 412Denver Federal CenterUSA - Denver, Colorado 80225

VENEZUELA: C. SchubertDepartamento de EcologíaInstituto Venezolano de Investigaciones CientificasAp.21827VENEZUELA - Caracas 1020A

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Documents

GLACIER MASS BALANCE BULLETIN. · Mass Balance Bulletin, No.1, 1991 collection ofdigital data including themore numerous observations of glacier length variation can be found. It