Glacier mass balance in the south-eastern swiss alps since 1900 and perspectives for the future

Erdkunde

Volumn 64, Issue 2, 2010, Pages 119-140

  Huss, Matthias ^a   Usselmann, Stephanie ^b   Farinotti, Daniel ^b   Bauder, Andreas ^b  

^a UNIVERSITY OF FRIBOURG   (Switzerland)

^b ETH ZURICH   (Switzerland)

Author keywords

Glacier retreat; Glacier runoff; Ice volume change; Mass balance modelling; Vadret da morteratsch

Indexed keywords

CLIMATE CHANGE; DIGITAL ELEVATION MODEL; GLACIER MASS BALANCE; GLACIER RETREAT; PHOTOGRAMMETRY; RUNOFF; SHUTTLE RADAR TOPOGRAPHY MISSION; TIME SERIES; VOLUME;

ALPS; SWITZERLAND;

EID: 75649083017     PISSN: 00140015     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3112/erdkunde.2010.02.02     Document Type: Article

References (79)

1. Arendt, A. A.; Echelmeyer, K. A.; Harrison, W. D.; Lingle, C. S. and Valentine, V. B. (2002): Rapid wastage of Alaska glaciers and their contribution to rising sea level In: Science 297(5580), 382-386. DOI: 10.1126/science.1072497
2. Bahr, D. B.; Meier, M. F. and Peckham, S. D. (1997): The physical basis of glacier volume-area scaling. In: Journal of Geophysical Research 102 (B9), 20355-20362. DOI: 10.1029/97JB01696
3. Bauder, A.; Funk, M and Huss, M. (2007): Ice volume changes of selected glaciers in the Swiss Alpssince the end of the 19th century. In: Annals of Glaciology 46, 145-149. DOI:10.3189/172756407782871701
4. Begert, M.; Schlegel, T. and Kirchhofer, W. (2005): Homogeneous temperature and precipitation series of Switzerland from 1864 to 2000. In: International Journal of Climatology 25 (1), 65-80. DOI: 10.1002/joc.1118
5. Beniston, M. (1997): Variations of snow depth and duration in the Swiss Alps over the last 50 years: links to changes in large-scale climatic forcings. In: Climatic Change 36, 281-300. DOI:10.1023/A:1005310214361
6. Berthier, E.; Arnaud, Y.; Vincent, C and Rémy, F. (2006): Biases of SRTM in high-mountain areas: implications for the monitoring of glacier volume changes. In: Geophysical Research Letters 33, L08502. DOI:10.1029/2006GL025862
7. Braun, L.; Aellen, M.; Funk, M.; Hock, R; Rohrer, M.; Steinegger, U.; Kappenberger, G. and Mueller-Lemans, H. (1994): Measurement and simulation of high alpine water balance components in the Linth-Limmern head watershed (north-eastern Switzerland). In: Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 30, 161-185.
8. Burga, C. A. (1999): Vegetation development on the glacier forefield Morteratsch (Switzerland). In: Applied Vegetation Science 2 (1), 17-24.
9. Bürki, R.; Elsasser, B. and Abegg, B. (2003): Climate change: impacts on the tourism industry in mountain areas. Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Climate Change and Tourism, Djerba, 9-11 April 2003.
10. Chinn, T. J. (1996): New Zealand glacier responses to climate change of the past century. In: New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics 39 (3), 415-428.
11. Christensen, J. H. and Christensen, O. B. (2007): A summaryof the PRUDENCE model projections of changes in European climate by the end of this century. In: Climatic Change 81, 7-30. DOI:10.1007/s10584-006-9210-7
12. Farinotti, D.; Huss, M.; Bauder, A.; Funk, M. and Truffffer, M. (2009a): A method for estimating the ice volume and ice thickness distribution of alpine glaciers. In: Journal of Glaciology 55 (191), 422-430. DOI: 10.3189/002214309788816759
13. Farinotti, D.; Huss, M.; Bauder, A. and Funk, M. (2009b): An estimate of the glacier ice volume in the Swiss Alps. In: Global and Planetary Change 68 (3), 225-231. DOI:10.1016/j.gloplacha.2009.05.004
14. FIRNBERICHTE (1914-1978): Der Firnzuwachs 1913/14-1976/77 in einigen schweizerischen Firngebieten, no. 1-64 In Vierteljahresschrift der Naturforschenden Gesellschaft in Zürich.
15. Frei, C. (2007): Die Klimazukunft der Schweiz, Klimaänderung und die Schweiz 2050 - Erwartete Auswirkungen auf Umwelt, Gesellschaft und Wirtschaft, Beratendes Organ für Fragen der Klimaänderung (OcCC), 12-16, http://www.occc.ch.
16. Glaciological Reports (1881-2009): The Swiss glaciers, 1880-2004/05, No. 1-126, Yearbooks of the Cryospheric Commission of the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), Published since 1964 by Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW) of ETH Zürich.
17. Greene, A. M.; Broecker, W. S. and Rind, D. (1999): Swiss glacier recession since the Little Ice Age: reconciliation with climate records. In: Geophysical Research Letters 26, 1909-1912. DOI:10.1029/1999GL900380
18. Haeberli, W. and Hoelzle, M. (1995): Application of inventory data for estimating characteristics of and regional climate-change effects on mountain glaciers: a pilot study with the European Alps. In: Annals of Glaciology 21, 206-212.
19. Hamon, W. R. (1961): Estimating potential evapotranspiration. In: Journal of the Hydraulics Division 87 (HY3), 107-120.
20. Harrison, W. D.; Elsberg, D. H.; Cox L. H. and March, R. S. (2005): Different mass balances for climatic and hydrologic applications. In: Journal of Glaciology 51 (172), 176.
21. Hock, R. (1999): A distributed temperature-index ice- and snowmelt model including potential direct solar radiation. In: Journal of Glaciology, 45 (149), 101-111.
22. Hoelzle, M. and Haeberli, W. (1995): Simulating the effects of mean annual air-temperature changes on permafrost distribution and glacier size: an example from the Upper Engadin, Swiss Alps. In: Annals of Glaciology 21, 399-405.
23. Hoelzle, M.; Haeberli, W.; Dischl, M. and Peschke, W. (2003): Secular glacier mass balances derived from cumulative glacier length changes. In: Global and Planetary Change 36 (4), 295-306. DOI: 10.1016/S0921-8181(02)00223-0
24. Horton, P.; Schaefli, B.; Mezghani, A.; Hingray, B. and Musy, A. (2006): Assessment of climate-change impacts on alpine discharge regimes with climate model uncertainty.In: Hydrological Processes 20 (10), 2091-2109. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.6197
25. Huss, M.; Bauder, A. and Funk, M. (2009a): Homogenization of long-term mass balance time series. In: Annals of Glaciology 50 (50), 198-206. DOI:10.3189/172756409787769627
26. Huss, M.; Funk, M. and Ohmura, A. (2009b): Strong Alpine glacier melt in the 1940s due to enhanced solar radiation. In: Geophysical Research Letters 36, L23501, DOI:0.1029/2009GL040789
27. Huss, M.; Bauder, A.; Funk, M. and Hock, R. (2008a): Determination of the seasonal mass balance of four Alpine glaciers since 1865. In: Journal of Geophysical Research 113, F01015. DOI: 10.1029/2007JF000803
28. Huss, M.; Farinotti, D.; Bauder, A. and Funk, M. (2008b): Modelling runoff from highly glacierized alpine drainagebasins in a changing climate. In: Hydrological Processes 22 (19), 3888-3902. DOI: 10.1002/hyp.7055
29. Huss, M.; Jouvet, G.; Farinotti, D. and Bauder, A. (2010): Future high-mountain hydrology: a new parameterization of glacier retreat. In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 14, 815-829. DOI:10.5194/hess-14-815-2010
30. IPCC (2007): Climate change 2007. The scientific basis. Contributions of Working Group I to the Forth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, WMO/UNEP.
31. Jarvis, J.; Reuter, H. I.; Nelson, A. and Guevara, E. (2008): Hole-filled SRTM for the globe Version 4, available from the CGIAR-CSI SRTM 90 m Database.
32. Jóhannesson, T.; Raymond, C. and Waddddington, E. (1989): Time-scale for adjustment of glaciers to changes in mass balance. In: Journal of Glaciology 35 (121), 355-369.
33. Jouvet, G.; Huss, M.; Blatter, H.; Picasso, M. and Rappaz, J. (2009): Numerical simulation of Rhonegletscher from 1874 to 2100. In: Journal of Computational Physics 228 (17), DOI: 10.1016/j.jcp.2009.05.033
34. Kaser, G.; Cogley, J. G.; Dyurgerov, M. B.; Meier, M. F. and Ohmura, A. (2006): Mass balance of glaciers and ice caps: consensus estimates for 1961-2004. In: Geophysical Research Letters 33 (19), L19501. DOI: 10.1029/2006GL027511
35. Kayastha, R. B.; Takeuchi, Y.; Nakawo, M. and Ageta, Y. (2000): Practical prediction of ice melting beneath various thickness of debris cover on Khumbu Glacier, Nepal, using a positive degree-day factor, Debris-Covered Glaciers. IAHS 264, 71-82.
36. Kellerer-Pirklbauer, A.; Lieb, G. K.; Avian, M. and Gspurnin, J. (2008): The response of partially
37. Debris-covered valley glaciers to climate change: The example of the Pasterze glacier (Austria) in the period 1964 to 2006. In: Geografiska Annaler 90, 269-285. DOI:10.1111/j.1468459.2008.00345.x
38. Kendall, M. G. (1975): Rank correlation methods. London.
39. Klok, E. J. and Oerlemans, J. (2002): Model study of the spatial distribution of the energy and mass balance of Morteratschgletscher, Switzerland. In: Journal of Glaciology 48 (163), 505-518.
40. Klok, E. J. and Oerlemans, J. (2004): Modelled climate sensitivity of the mass balance of Morteratschgletscher and its dependence on albedo parameterization. In: International Journal of Climatology 23, 231-245. DOI: 10.1002/joc.994
41. Kuhn, M.; Markel, G.; Kaser, G.; Nickus, U.; Obleitner, F. and Schneider, H. (1985): Fluctuations of climate and mass balances: different responses of two adjacent glaciers. In: Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 21 (1), 409-416.
42. Lehning, M.; Loewe, H; Ryser, M. and Raderschall, N. (2008): Inhomogeneous precipitation distribution and snow transport in steep terrain. In: Water Resources Research 44 W07404. DOI: 10.1029/2007WR006545
43. Machguth, H.; Purves, R. S.; Oerlemans, J.; Hoelzle, M. and Paul, F. (2008): Exploring uncertainty in glacier mass balance modelling with Monte Carlo simulation. In: The Cryosphere 2, 191-204. DOI:10.5194/tc-2-191-2008
44. Maisch, M. (2000): The long-term signal of climate change in the Swiss Alps: glacier retreat since the end of the Little Ice Age and future ice decay scenarios. In: Geogr. Fis. Dinam. Quat. 23, 139-151.
45. Mann, H. B. (1945): Nonparametric tests against trend. In: Econometrika 13, 245-259.
46. Nakawo, M. and Rana, B. (1999): Estimate of ablation rate of glacier ice under a supraglacial debris layer. In: Geografiska Annaler 81 (4), 695-701. DOI: 10.1111/j.0435-3676.1999.00097.x
47. Nash, J. E. and Sutcliffffe, J. V. (1970): River flow forecasting through conceptual models. In:
48. Journal of Hydrology 10 (3), 282-290. DOI: 10.1016/0022-1694(70)90255-6
49. Nemec, J.; Huybrechts, P.; Rybak, O. and Oerlemans, J. (2009): Reconstruction of the annual balance of Vadret da Morteratsch, Switzerland, since 1865. In: Annals of Glaciology 50 (50), 126-134. DOI: 10.3189/172756409787769609
50. Nye, J. F. (1960): The response of glaciers and ice-sheets to seasonal and climatic changes. In:
51. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, Ser. A 256 (1287), 559-584.
52. Oerlemans, J. (1994): Quantifying global warming from the retreat of glaciers. In: Science 264,
53. DOI: 10.1126/science.264.5156.243
54. Oerlemans, J. (2000): Analyis of a three-year meteorological record from the ablation zone of the Morteratschgletscher, Switzerland: energy and mass balance. In: Journal of Glaciology 46 (155), 571-579. DOI: 10.3189/172756500781832657
55. Oerlemans, J. (2007): Estimating response times of Vadret da Morteratsch, Vadret da Palü, Briksdalsbreen and Nigardsbreen from their length records. In: Journal of Glaciology 53 (182), 357-362. DOI: 10.3189/002214307783258387
56. Oerlemans, J. and Klok, E. J. (2002): Energy Balance of a Glacier Surface: Analysis of Automatic
57. Weather Station Data from the Morteratschgletscher, Switzerland. In: Arctic, Antarctic and AlpineResearch 34 (4), 477-485.
58. Oerlemans, J.; Giessen, R. H. and van den Broeke, M. R. (2009): Retreating alpine glaciers: increased melt rates due to accumulation of dust (Vadret da Morteratsch, Switzerland). In: Journal of Glaciology 55 (192), 729-736. DOI: 10.3189/002214309789470969
59. Ohmura, A.; Bauder, A.; Müller, H. and Kappenberger, G. (2007): Long-term change of mass balance and the role of radiation. In: Annals of Glaciology 46, 367-374. DOI:10.3189/172756407782871297
60. Palmer, A. S.; Schwikowski, M. and Gaeggeler, H. W. (2003): A subseasonal trace chemical ice core record from Piz Zupo, Swiss Alps. In: Geophysical Research Abstracts 5 (01331).
61. Paterson, W. S. B. (1994): The physics of glaciers. New York.
62. Paul, F. (2008): Calculation of glacier elevation changes with SRTM: is there an elevation-dependentbias? In: Journal of Glaciology 54 (188), 945-946. DOI:10.3189/002214308787779960
63. Paul, F. and Haeberli, W. (2008): Spatial variability of glacier elevation changes in the Swiss Alps obtained from two digital elevation models. In: Geophysical Research Letters 35, L21502. DOI: 10.1029/2008GL034718
64. Pellicciotti, F.; Brock, B.; Strasser, U.; Burlando, P.; Funk, M. and Corripio, J. (2005): An enhanced temperature-incex glacier melt model including the shortwave radiation balance: development and testing for Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland. In: Journal of Glaciology 51 (175), 573-587. DOI: 10.3189/172756505781829124
65. Raper, S. C. B. and Braithwaite, R. J. (2006): Low sea levelrise projections from mountain glaciers and icecaps under global warming. In: Nature 439, 311-313. DOI:10.1038/nature04448
66. Richardson, S. D. and Reynolds, J. M. (2000): An overview of glacial hazards in the Himalayas. In: Quaternary International 65-66, 31-47. DOI: 10.1016/S1040-6182(99)00035-X
67. Sapiano, J.; Harrison, W. D. and Echelmeyer, K. A. (1998): Elevation, volume and terminus changes of nine glaciers in North America. In: Journal of Glaciology 44 (146), 119-135.
68. Schaefli, B.; Hingray, B. and Musy, A. (2007): Climate change and hydropower production in the Swiss Alps: quantification of potential impacts and related modelling uncertainties. In: Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 11 (3), 1191-1205. DOI: 10.5194/hess-11-1191-2007
69. Schwarb, M.; Daly, C.; Frei C. and Schaer C. (2001): Mean annual and seasonal precipitation throughout the European Alps 1971-1990. Hydrological Atlas of Switzerland, plates 2.6, 2.7.
70. Stahl, K.; Moore, R. D.; Shea, J. M.; Hutchinson, D. and Cannon, A. J. (2008): Coupled modelling of glacier and streamflow response to future climate scenarios. In: Water Resources Research 44, W02422. DOI: 10.1029/2007WR005956
71. Steiner, D.; Pauling, A.; Nussbaumer, S. U.; Nesje, A.; Luterbacher, J.; Wanner, H. and Zumbühl, H. J. (2008): Sensitivity of European glaciers to precipitation and temperature - two case studies. In: Climatic Change 90 (4), 413-441. DOI: 10.1007/s10584-008-9393-1
72. Theurillat, J.-P. and Guisan, A. (2001): Potential impact of climate change on vegetation in the european alps: a review. In: Climatic Change 50, 77-109. DOI: 10.1023/A:1010632015572
73. Thibert, E.; Blanc, R.; Vincent, C. and Eckert, N. (2008): Glaciological and volumetric mass balance measurementserror analysis over 51 years for Glacier de Sarennes, French Alps. In: Journal of Glaciology 54 (186), 522-532. DOI: 10.3189/002214308785837093
74. VAW (1962): Hydrologisch-glaziologische Untersuchungen in den Einzugsgebieten des Albigna- und Fornogletschers. Report no.70.2 (P. Kasser, unpublished), Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie der ETH Zürich.
75. Vincent, C. (2002): Influence of climate change over the 20th Century on four French glacier mass alances. In: Journal of Geophysical Research 107 (4375), D19. DOI:10.1029/2001JD000832
76. Vincent, C.; Kappenberger, G.; Valla, F.; Bauder, A.; Funk, M. and Le Meur, E. (2004): Ice ablation as evidence of climate change in the Alps over the 20th century. In: Journal of Geophysical Research 109 (D10), D10104. DOI: 10.1029/2003JD003857
77. Zemp, M.; Hoelzle, M. and Haeberli, W. (2009): Six decades of glacier mass-balance observations: a review of the worldwide monitoring network. In: Annals of Glaciology 50 (50), 101-111. DOI: 10.3189/172756409787769591
78. Zemp, M.; Haeberli, W.; Hoelzle, M. and Paul, F. (2006): Alpine glaciers to disappear within decades? In: Geophysical Research Letters 33 (13), L13504. DOI: 10.1029/2006GL026319
79. Zierl, B. and Bugmann, H. (2005): Global change impacts on hydrological processes in Alpine catchments. In: Water Resources Research 41, W02028. DOI: 10.1029/2004WR003447