A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers
Volume-area power law scaling, one of a set of analytical scaling techniques based on principals of dimensional analysis, has become an increasingly important and widely used method for estimating the future response of the world’s glaciers and ice caps to environmental change. Over 60 papers since...
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ftregisuniv:oai:epublications.regis.edu:facultypubs-1561 2023-05-15T16:38:17+02:00 A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers Bahr, David B. Pfeffer, W. Tad Kaser, Georg 2015-02-24T08:00:00Z https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/560 unknown ePublications at Regis University https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/560 Regis University Faculty Publications (comprehensive list) text 2015 ftregisuniv 2022-12-14T08:35:35Z Volume-area power law scaling, one of a set of analytical scaling techniques based on principals of dimensional analysis, has become an increasingly important and widely used method for estimating the future response of the world’s glaciers and ice caps to environmental change. Over 60 papers since 1988 have been published in the glaciological and environmental change literature containing applications of volume-area scaling, mostly for the purpose of estimating total global glacier and ice cap volume and modeling future contributions to sea level rise from glaciers and ice caps. The application of the theory is not entirely straightforward, however, and many of the recently published results contain analyses that are in conflict with the theory as originally described by Bahr et al. (1997). In this review we describe the general theory of scaling for glaciers in full three-dimensional detail without simplifications, including an improved derivation of both the volume-area scaling exponent γ and a new derivation of the multiplicative scaling parameter c. We discuss some common misconceptions of the theory, presenting examples of both appropriate and inappropriate applications. We also discuss potential future developments in power law scaling beyond its present uses, the relationship between power law scaling and other modeling approaches, and some of the advantages and limitations of scaling techniques. Text Ice cap Regis University Digital Repository (RUDR) |
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Regis University Digital Repository (RUDR) |
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Volume-area power law scaling, one of a set of analytical scaling techniques based on principals of dimensional analysis, has become an increasingly important and widely used method for estimating the future response of the world’s glaciers and ice caps to environmental change. Over 60 papers since 1988 have been published in the glaciological and environmental change literature containing applications of volume-area scaling, mostly for the purpose of estimating total global glacier and ice cap volume and modeling future contributions to sea level rise from glaciers and ice caps. The application of the theory is not entirely straightforward, however, and many of the recently published results contain analyses that are in conflict with the theory as originally described by Bahr et al. (1997). In this review we describe the general theory of scaling for glaciers in full three-dimensional detail without simplifications, including an improved derivation of both the volume-area scaling exponent γ and a new derivation of the multiplicative scaling parameter c. We discuss some common misconceptions of the theory, presenting examples of both appropriate and inappropriate applications. We also discuss potential future developments in power law scaling beyond its present uses, the relationship between power law scaling and other modeling approaches, and some of the advantages and limitations of scaling techniques. |
format |
Text |
author |
Bahr, David B. Pfeffer, W. Tad Kaser, Georg |
spellingShingle |
Bahr, David B. Pfeffer, W. Tad Kaser, Georg A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
author_facet |
Bahr, David B. Pfeffer, W. Tad Kaser, Georg |
author_sort |
Bahr, David B. |
title |
A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
title_short |
A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
title_full |
A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
title_fullStr |
A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
title_full_unstemmed |
A review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
title_sort |
review of volume-area scaling of glaciers |
publisher |
ePublications at Regis University |
publishDate |
2015 |
url |
https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/560 |
genre |
Ice cap |
genre_facet |
Ice cap |
op_source |
Regis University Faculty Publications (comprehensive list) |
op_relation |
https://epublications.regis.edu/facultypubs/560 |
_version_ |
1766028560113336320 |