Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska
The Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) project has developed tools and methods that can be employed by analysts to create accurate glacier outlines. To illustrate the importance of accurate glacier outlines and the effectiveness of GLIMS standards we conducted a case study on Bering Gla...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:ce0f194c2ece4b10a41448c530b1d4ef 2023-05-15T16:20:22+02:00 Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska M. J. Beedle M. Dyurgerov W. Tangborn S. J. S. Khalsa C. Helm B. Raup R. Armstrong R. G. Barry 2008-04-01T00:00:00Z https://doaj.org/article/ce0f194c2ece4b10a41448c530b1d4ef EN eng Copernicus Publications http://www.the-cryosphere.net/2/33/2008/tc-2-33-2008.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/ce0f194c2ece4b10a41448c530b1d4ef The Cryosphere, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp 33-51 (2008) Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 article 2008 ftdoajarticles 2022-12-30T22:06:51Z The Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) project has developed tools and methods that can be employed by analysts to create accurate glacier outlines. To illustrate the importance of accurate glacier outlines and the effectiveness of GLIMS standards we conducted a case study on Bering Glacier System (BGS), Alaska. BGS is a complex glacier system aggregated from multiple drainage basins, numerous tributaries, and many accumulation areas. Published measurements of BGS surface area vary from 1740 to 6200 km 2 , depending on how the boundaries of this system have been defined. Utilizing GLIMS tools and standards we have completed a new outline (3630 km 2 ) and analysis of the area-altitude distribution (hypsometry) of BGS using Landsat images from 2000 and 2001 and a US Geological Survey 15-min digital elevation model. We compared this new hypsometry with three different hypsometries to illustrate the errors that result from the widely varying estimates of BGS extent. The use of different BGS hypsometries results in highly variable measures of volume change and net balance ( b n ). Applying a simple hypsometry-dependent mass-balance model to different hypsometries results in a b n rate range of −1.0 to −3.1 m a −1 water equivalent (W.E.), a volume change range of −3.8 to −6.7 km 3 a −1 W.E., and a near doubling in contributions to sea level equivalent, 0.011 mm a −1 to 0.019 mm a −1 . Current inaccuracies in glacier outlines hinder our ability to correctly quantify glacier change. Understanding of glacier extents can become comprehensive and accurate. Such accuracy is possible with the increasing volume of satellite imagery of glacierized regions, recent advances in tools and standards, and dedication to this important task. Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier The Cryosphere Alaska Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
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 M. J. Beedle M. Dyurgerov W. Tangborn S. J. S. Khalsa C. Helm B. Raup R. Armstrong R. G. Barry Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
topic_facet |
Environmental sciences GE1-350 Geology QE1-996.5 |
description |
The Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) project has developed tools and methods that can be employed by analysts to create accurate glacier outlines. To illustrate the importance of accurate glacier outlines and the effectiveness of GLIMS standards we conducted a case study on Bering Glacier System (BGS), Alaska. BGS is a complex glacier system aggregated from multiple drainage basins, numerous tributaries, and many accumulation areas. Published measurements of BGS surface area vary from 1740 to 6200 km 2 , depending on how the boundaries of this system have been defined. Utilizing GLIMS tools and standards we have completed a new outline (3630 km 2 ) and analysis of the area-altitude distribution (hypsometry) of BGS using Landsat images from 2000 and 2001 and a US Geological Survey 15-min digital elevation model. We compared this new hypsometry with three different hypsometries to illustrate the errors that result from the widely varying estimates of BGS extent. The use of different BGS hypsometries results in highly variable measures of volume change and net balance ( b n ). Applying a simple hypsometry-dependent mass-balance model to different hypsometries results in a b n rate range of −1.0 to −3.1 m a −1 water equivalent (W.E.), a volume change range of −3.8 to −6.7 km 3 a −1 W.E., and a near doubling in contributions to sea level equivalent, 0.011 mm a −1 to 0.019 mm a −1 . Current inaccuracies in glacier outlines hinder our ability to correctly quantify glacier change. Understanding of glacier extents can become comprehensive and accurate. Such accuracy is possible with the increasing volume of satellite imagery of glacierized regions, recent advances in tools and standards, and dedication to this important task. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
M. J. Beedle M. Dyurgerov W. Tangborn S. J. S. Khalsa C. Helm B. Raup R. Armstrong R. G. Barry |
author_facet |
M. J. Beedle M. Dyurgerov W. Tangborn S. J. S. Khalsa C. Helm B. Raup R. Armstrong R. G. Barry |
author_sort |
M. J. Beedle |
title |
Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
title_short |
Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
title_full |
Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
title_fullStr |
Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
title_full_unstemmed |
Improving estimation of glacier volume change: a GLIMS case study of Bering Glacier System, Alaska |
title_sort |
improving estimation of glacier volume change: a glims case study of bering glacier system, alaska |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2008 |
url |
https://doaj.org/article/ce0f194c2ece4b10a41448c530b1d4ef |
genre |
glacier The Cryosphere Alaska |
genre_facet |
glacier The Cryosphere Alaska |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp 33-51 (2008) |
op_relation |
http://www.the-cryosphere.net/2/33/2008/tc-2-33-2008.pdf https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0416 https://doaj.org/toc/1994-0424 1994-0416 1994-0424 https://doaj.org/article/ce0f194c2ece4b10a41448c530b1d4ef |
_version_ |
1766008287115870208 |