Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions
ABSTRACT In this study we analyse a 15-year long time series of surface mass-balance (SMB) measurements performed between 2001 and 2016 in the ablation zone of the Morteratsch glacier complex (Engadine, Switzerland). For a better understanding of the SMB variability and its causes, multiple linear r...
Published in: | Journal of Glaciology |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
2018
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.18 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000187 |
id |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jog.2018.18 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
crcambridgeupr:10.1017/jog.2018.18 2024-03-03T08:46:03+00:00 Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions ZEKOLLARI, HARRY HUYBRECHTS, PHILIPPE 2018 http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.18 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000187 en eng Cambridge University Press (CUP) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Journal of Glaciology volume 64, issue 244, page 275-288 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 Earth-Surface Processes journal-article 2018 crcambridgeupr https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.18 2024-02-08T08:48:43Z ABSTRACT In this study we analyse a 15-year long time series of surface mass-balance (SMB) measurements performed between 2001 and 2016 in the ablation zone of the Morteratsch glacier complex (Engadine, Switzerland). For a better understanding of the SMB variability and its causes, multiple linear regressions analyses are performed with temperature and precipitation series from nearby meteorological stations. Up to 85% of the observed SMB variance can be explained by the mean May–June–July temperature and the total precipitation from October to March. A new method is presented where the contribution of each month's individual temperature and precipitation to the SMB can be examined in a total sample of 2 24 (16.8 million) combinations. More than 90% of the observed SMB can be explained with particular combinations, in which the May–June–July temperature is the most recurrent, followed by October temperature. The role of precipitation is less pronounced, but autumn, winter and spring precipitation are always more important than summer precipitation. Our results indicate that the length of the ice ablation season is of larger importance than its intensity to explain year-to-year variations. The widely used June–July–August temperature index may not always be the best option to describe SMB variability through statistical correlation. Article in Journal/Newspaper Journal of Glaciology Cambridge University Press Journal of Glaciology 64 244 275 288 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Cambridge University Press |
op_collection_id |
crcambridgeupr |
language |
English |
topic |
Earth-Surface Processes |
spellingShingle |
Earth-Surface Processes ZEKOLLARI, HARRY HUYBRECHTS, PHILIPPE Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
topic_facet |
Earth-Surface Processes |
description |
ABSTRACT In this study we analyse a 15-year long time series of surface mass-balance (SMB) measurements performed between 2001 and 2016 in the ablation zone of the Morteratsch glacier complex (Engadine, Switzerland). For a better understanding of the SMB variability and its causes, multiple linear regressions analyses are performed with temperature and precipitation series from nearby meteorological stations. Up to 85% of the observed SMB variance can be explained by the mean May–June–July temperature and the total precipitation from October to March. A new method is presented where the contribution of each month's individual temperature and precipitation to the SMB can be examined in a total sample of 2 24 (16.8 million) combinations. More than 90% of the observed SMB can be explained with particular combinations, in which the May–June–July temperature is the most recurrent, followed by October temperature. The role of precipitation is less pronounced, but autumn, winter and spring precipitation are always more important than summer precipitation. Our results indicate that the length of the ice ablation season is of larger importance than its intensity to explain year-to-year variations. The widely used June–July–August temperature index may not always be the best option to describe SMB variability through statistical correlation. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
ZEKOLLARI, HARRY HUYBRECHTS, PHILIPPE |
author_facet |
ZEKOLLARI, HARRY HUYBRECHTS, PHILIPPE |
author_sort |
ZEKOLLARI, HARRY |
title |
Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
title_short |
Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
title_full |
Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
title_fullStr |
Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
title_full_unstemmed |
Statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the Morteratsch glacier, Switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
title_sort |
statistical modelling of the surface mass-balance variability of the morteratsch glacier, switzerland: strong control of early melting season meteorological conditions |
publisher |
Cambridge University Press (CUP) |
publishDate |
2018 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.18 https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143018000187 |
genre |
Journal of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Journal of Glaciology |
op_source |
Journal of Glaciology volume 64, issue 244, page 275-288 ISSN 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
op_rights |
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.18 |
container_title |
Journal of Glaciology |
container_volume |
64 |
container_issue |
244 |
container_start_page |
275 |
op_container_end_page |
288 |
_version_ |
1792501885666590720 |