Annals of Claciology 6 1985 © International Glaciological Society ESTIMATION AND EFFECTS OF INTERNAL ACCUMULATION ON FIVE GLACIERS IN ALASKA
Estimates of internal accumulation for five Alaskan glaciers in different climates suggests that internal accumulation occurs in glaciers throughout Alaska. A method of estimating the quantity of in terna I accumulation is based on the annual mInImum temperature of the snow-firn interface. The consi...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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| Online Access: | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.552.3444 http://ak.water.usgs.gov/glaciology/reports/1985_int_acc/1985 Int Acc on Five Glaciers - Trabant %26 Mayo - Ann of Gl.pdf |
| Summary: | Estimates of internal accumulation for five Alaskan glaciers in different climates suggests that internal accumulation occurs in glaciers throughout Alaska. A method of estimating the quantity of in terna I accumulation is based on the annual mInImum temperature of the snow-firn interface. The consistency of the estimates suggests that valid approximations of internal accumulation can be made over large areas. The estimates have not been confirmed by measurements of mass change, but are believed to be accurate within 10 percent. Point balance quantities of internal accumulation range from 0.65 m a-I, which is 64 % of the annual accumulation on McCall Glacier, to 0.12 m a-I, 7 % of the annual accumulation on Wolverine Glacier. The amount of internal accumulation decreases rapidly from north to south in Alaska; however it should be expected worldwide where sub-freezing, porous firn is invaded by water. Internal accumulation occurs in temperate glaciers in strongly mariti me c1ima tes as well as glaciers in cold continental climates where it delays the onset of runoff, accelerates the process of converting snow into glacier ice, and explains the occurrence of temperate glaciers in permafrost areas. |
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