[Boulder Glacier in 1932 and 1988]
The term Mass Balance Data is often used by glaciologists to describe the difference between all of the ice that is added to a glacier, and all of the ice the glacier loses over a period of time. Ice sheets and glaciers can lose mass due to melting, calving, evaporation, etc. They can gain mass from direct precipitation, avalanching, and windblown snow. The net result of all these outputs and inputs of ice are then the glacier’s mass balance. — source
1 Summary of balance years 2001/2002 and 2002/2003
Continuous mass balance statistics are calculated based on the 30 glaciers in 9 mountain ranges***. Data are now available for the years 1980-2003.
Results of the extreme and mean values for the years 2001/2002 and 2002/2003 have been calculated based on these 30 glaciers:
2001/2002 2002/2003 Mean specific (annual) net balance -690 mm -1238 mm Standard deviation 649 mm 1194 mm Minimum value -2300 mm -3316 mm Maximum value 550 mm 2060 mm Positive balances 13% 10%
The corresponding results of this data set from glaciers in the Americas and Eurasia are visualized in the following two graphs:
Figure 1a and 1b: Mean net balance (top) and cumulative mean net balance (bottom) continuously measured for the period 1980 to 2003 on 30 glaciers in 9 mountain ranges.
For more details on monitoring strategy and long-term trends (including references), see:
For more information on the extraordinary year 2003 two papers will be published this year:
Mountain range Glaciers . Cascade Mtns. Place, South Cascade Svalbard. Austre Broeggerbreen, Midre Lovenbreen Andes Echaurren Norte Alaska Gulkana, Wolverine Scandinavia Engabreen, Alfotbreen, Nigardsbreen, Grasubreen, Storbreen, Hellstugubreen, Hardangerjoekulen, Storglaciaeren Alps Saint Sorlin, Sarennes, Silvretta, Gries, Sonnblickkees, Vernagtferner, Kesselwandferner, Hintereisferner, Careser Altai No. 125 (Vodopadniy), Maliy Aktru, Leviy Aktru Caucasus Djankuat Tien Shan Ts. Tuyuksuyskiy, Urumqihe S.No.1
2 Mass balance data 2001/2002 and 2002/2003
Name b 02 b 03 [mm w.e.] [mm w.e.] Antarctica Bahia del Diablo -510 -150 Argentina Martial -691 n.a. Martial Este -682 -202 Austria Hintereisferner -647 -1814 Jamtal F. -671 -2229 Kesselwandferner 17 -1546 Sonnblickkees -485 -2870 Vernagtferner -266 -2133 Wurten K. -966 -2177 Bolivia Chacaltaya -1827 -507 Charquini sur n.a. -883 Zongo 0 -100 Canada Helm -2544 -1895 Peyto -500 -1370 Place -123 -995 White 32 -106 Chile Echaurren Norte 80 2060 China Urumqihe E-Br. -871 -387 Urumqihe S.No.1 -834 -384 Urumqihe W-Br. -766 -377 Ecuador Antizana 15 Alpha -769 -1362 France Saint Sorlin -1690 -2950 Sarennes -2320 -3140 Iceland Breidamjok. E. B. -976 -900 Bruarjokull 143 -460 Eyabakkajokull -1090 -1095 Hofsjokull E -730 -1310 Hofsjokull N -1000 -980 Hofsjokull SW -640 -1170 Koeldukvislarj. -280 -1120 Langjokull Southern Dome -1656 -1946 Tungnaarjokull -1300 -1300 Italy Careser -1217 -3316 Ciardoney -400 -3000 Fontana Bianca -435 -2950 Pendente -1294 -2074 Kazakhstan Ts. Tuyuksuyskiy -300 360 Norway Aalfotbreen -1530 -2510 Austdalsbreeen -2010 -2340 Austre Broeggerbreen -580 -900 Breidalblikkbrea -2270 -590 Engabreen -600 -2170 Graasubreen -1420 -1390 hansbreen -600 -560 Hansebreen -1930 -2670 Hardangerjoekulen -710 -1360 Hellstugubreen -1410 -1530 Irenebreen -613 -630 Kongsvegen -220 -350 Langfjordjoekul -1540 -1040 Midre Lovenbreen -520 -790 Nigardsbreen -890 -1160 Rundvassbreen -1050 -1070 Storbreen -1780 -1570 Storglombreen -1230 -1100 Waldemarbreen -514 -727 Russia No. 125 -290 -320 Maliy Aktru -410 -370 Leviy Aktru -370 -400 Garabashi 260 160 Garabashi 260 160 Djankuat 430 280 Spain Maladeta -811 -1102 Sweden Marmaglaciaeren -660 -1420 Rabots Glaciaer -880 -1440 Riukojietna -1830 -1780 Storglaciaeren -830 -1040 Switzerland Basodino -356 -2043 Gries -600 -2630 Silvretta -240 -1674 USA Colombia (2057) 600 -1170 Daniels -190 -1520 Easton 180 -980 Emmons n.a. -2822 Foss 100 -1350 Gulkana -1060 -20 Ice Worm 50 -1400 Lower Curtis 130 -1250 Lynch -130 -1200 Nisqually n.a. -2397 Noisy Creek 462 -952 North Klawatti 224 -1367 Rainbow 120 -1080 Sandalee 752 -1155 Silver -147 -1421 South Cascade 550 -2100 Wolverine -690 -340 Yawning 260 -1850
wgms-team 19.02.2005
source: http://www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/mbb/mbb8/sum0203.html 25may2005
Worldwide collection of information about ongoing glacier changes was initiated in 1894 with the foundation of the International Glacier Commission at the 6th International Geological Congress in Zurich, Switzerland. It was hoped that long-term glacier observations would give insight into processes of climatic change such as the formation of ice ages. Since then, the goals of international glacier monitoring have evolved and multiplied.
Since this beginning of internationally coordinated systematic observations on glacier variations in 1894, a valuable and increasingly important data basis on glacier changes has been built up. In 1986 the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) started to maintain and continue the collection of information on ongoing glacier changes, when the two former ICSI services PSFG (Permanent Service on Fluctuations of Glaciers) and TTS/WGI (Temporal Technical Secretary/World Glacier Inventory) were combined.
Today, the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) collects standardised observations on changes in mass, volume, area and length of glaciers with time (glacier fluctuations), as well as statistical information on the distribution of perennial surface ice in space (glacier inventories). Such glacier fluctuation and inventory data are high priority key variables in climate system monitoring; they form a basis for hydrological modelling with respect to possible effects of atmospheric warming, and provide fundamental information in glaciology, glacial geomorphology and quaternary geology. The highest information density is found for the Alps and Scandinavia, where long and uninterrupted records are available.
source: http://www.geo.unizh.ch/wgms/about.html 25may2005
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