Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier
Debris-covered glaciers account for almost one-fifth of the total glacier ice volume in High Mountain Asia; however, their contribution to the total glacier melt remains uncertain, and the drivers controlling this melt are still largely unknown. Debris influences the properties (e.g. albedo, thermal...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:77502c1ad17e40b78035ac234e304205 2023-05-15T18:32:29+02:00 Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier P. N. J. Bonekamp C. C. van Heerwaarden J. F. Steiner W. W. Immerzeel 2020-05-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 https://doaj.org/article/77502c1ad17e40b78035ac234e304205 EN eng Copernicus Publications https://www.the-cryosphere.net/14/1611/2020/tc-14-1611-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/77502c1ad17e40b78035ac234e304205 The Cryosphere, Vol 14, Pp 1611-1632 (2020) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2020 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 2022-12-31T00:12:39Z Debris-covered glaciers account for almost one-fifth of the total glacier ice volume in High Mountain Asia; however, their contribution to the total glacier melt remains uncertain, and the drivers controlling this melt are still largely unknown. Debris influences the properties (e.g. albedo, thermal conductivity, roughness) of the glacier surface and thus the surface energy balance and glacier melt. In this study we have used sensitivity tests to assess the effect of surface properties of debris on the spatial distribution of micrometeorological variables such as wind fields, moisture and temperature. Subsequently we investigated how those surface properties drive the turbulent fluxes and eventually the conductive heat flux of a debris-covered glacier. We simulated a debris-covered glacier (Lirung Glacier, Nepal) at a 1 m resolution with the MicroHH model, with boundary conditions retrieved from an automatic weather station (temperature, wind and specific humidity) and unmanned aerial vehicle flights (digital elevation map and surface temperature). The model was validated using eddy covariance data. A sensitivity analysis was then performed to provide insight into how heterogeneous surface variables control the glacier microclimate. Additionally, we show that ice cliffs are local melt hot spots and that turbulent fluxes and local heat advection amplify spatial heterogeneity on the surface. The high spatial variability of small-scale meteorological variables suggests that point-based station observations cannot be simply extrapolated to an entire glacier. These outcomes should be considered in future studies for a better estimation of glacier melt in High Mountain Asia. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles The Cryosphere 14 5 1611 1632 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
spellingShingle |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 P. N. J. Bonekamp C. C. van Heerwaarden J. F. Steiner W. W. Immerzeel Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
Debris-covered glaciers account for almost one-fifth of the total glacier ice volume in High Mountain Asia; however, their contribution to the total glacier melt remains uncertain, and the drivers controlling this melt are still largely unknown. Debris influences the properties (e.g. albedo, thermal conductivity, roughness) of the glacier surface and thus the surface energy balance and glacier melt. In this study we have used sensitivity tests to assess the effect of surface properties of debris on the spatial distribution of micrometeorological variables such as wind fields, moisture and temperature. Subsequently we investigated how those surface properties drive the turbulent fluxes and eventually the conductive heat flux of a debris-covered glacier. We simulated a debris-covered glacier (Lirung Glacier, Nepal) at a 1 m resolution with the MicroHH model, with boundary conditions retrieved from an automatic weather station (temperature, wind and specific humidity) and unmanned aerial vehicle flights (digital elevation map and surface temperature). The model was validated using eddy covariance data. A sensitivity analysis was then performed to provide insight into how heterogeneous surface variables control the glacier microclimate. Additionally, we show that ice cliffs are local melt hot spots and that turbulent fluxes and local heat advection amplify spatial heterogeneity on the surface. The high spatial variability of small-scale meteorological variables suggests that point-based station observations cannot be simply extrapolated to an entire glacier. These outcomes should be considered in future studies for a better estimation of glacier melt in High Mountain Asia. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
P. N. J. Bonekamp C. C. van Heerwaarden J. F. Steiner W. W. Immerzeel |
author_facet |
P. N. J. Bonekamp C. C. van Heerwaarden J. F. Steiner W. W. Immerzeel |
author_sort |
P. N. J. Bonekamp |
title |
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
title_short |
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
title_full |
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
title_fullStr |
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
title_full_unstemmed |
Using 3D turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
title_sort |
using 3d turbulence-resolving simulations to understand the impact of surface properties on the energy balance of a debris-covered glacier |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2020 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 https://doaj.org/article/77502c1ad17e40b78035ac234e304205 |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 14, Pp 1611-1632 (2020) |
op_relation |
https://www.the-cryosphere.net/14/1611/2020/tc-14-1611-2020.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 doi:10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/77502c1ad17e40b78035ac234e304205 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-1611-2020 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
14 |
container_issue |
5 |
container_start_page |
1611 |
op_container_end_page |
1632 |
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1766216595699400704 |