Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery
Mass loss of Himalayan glaciers has wide-ranging consequences such as changing runoff distribution, sea level rise and an increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The assessment of the regional and global impact of glacier changes in the Himalaya is, however, hampered by a lack of ma...
Published in: | The Cryosphere |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2011
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/349/2011/tc-5-349-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 |
id |
fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
fttriple:oai:gotriple.eu:oai:doaj.org/article:42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 2023-05-15T18:32:22+02:00 Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery T. Bolch T. Pieczonka D. I. Benn 2011-04-01 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/349/2011/tc-5-349-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 en eng Copernicus Publications doi:10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/349/2011/tc-5-349-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 undefined The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 349-358 (2011) geo envir Journal Article https://vocabularies.coar-repositories.org/resource_types/c_6501/ 2011 fttriple https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 2023-01-22T19:11:24Z Mass loss of Himalayan glaciers has wide-ranging consequences such as changing runoff distribution, sea level rise and an increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The assessment of the regional and global impact of glacier changes in the Himalaya is, however, hampered by a lack of mass balance data for most of the range. Multi-temporal digital terrain models (DTMs) allow glacier mass balance to be calculated. Here, we present a time series of mass changes for ten glaciers covering an area of about 50 km2 south and west of Mt. Everest, Nepal, using stereo Corona spy imagery (years 1962 and 1970), aerial images and recent high resolution satellite data (Cartosat-1). This is the longest time series of mass changes in the Himalaya. We reveal that the glaciers have been significantly losing mass since at least 1970, despite thick debris cover. The specific mass loss for 1970–2007 is 0.32 ± 0.08 m w.e. a−1, however, not higher than the global average. Comparisons of the recent DTMs with earlier time periods indicate an accelerated mass loss. This is, however, hardly statistically significant due to high uncertainty, especially of the lower resolution ASTER DTM. The characteristics of surface lowering can be explained by spatial variations of glacier velocity, the thickness of the debris-cover, and ice melt due to exposed ice cliffs and ponds. Article in Journal/Newspaper The Cryosphere Unknown Glacial Lake ENVELOPE(-129.463,-129.463,58.259,58.259) The Cryosphere 5 2 349 358 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Unknown |
op_collection_id |
fttriple |
language |
English |
topic |
geo envir |
spellingShingle |
geo envir T. Bolch T. Pieczonka D. I. Benn Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
topic_facet |
geo envir |
description |
Mass loss of Himalayan glaciers has wide-ranging consequences such as changing runoff distribution, sea level rise and an increasing risk of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs). The assessment of the regional and global impact of glacier changes in the Himalaya is, however, hampered by a lack of mass balance data for most of the range. Multi-temporal digital terrain models (DTMs) allow glacier mass balance to be calculated. Here, we present a time series of mass changes for ten glaciers covering an area of about 50 km2 south and west of Mt. Everest, Nepal, using stereo Corona spy imagery (years 1962 and 1970), aerial images and recent high resolution satellite data (Cartosat-1). This is the longest time series of mass changes in the Himalaya. We reveal that the glaciers have been significantly losing mass since at least 1970, despite thick debris cover. The specific mass loss for 1970–2007 is 0.32 ± 0.08 m w.e. a−1, however, not higher than the global average. Comparisons of the recent DTMs with earlier time periods indicate an accelerated mass loss. This is, however, hardly statistically significant due to high uncertainty, especially of the lower resolution ASTER DTM. The characteristics of surface lowering can be explained by spatial variations of glacier velocity, the thickness of the debris-cover, and ice melt due to exposed ice cliffs and ponds. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
T. Bolch T. Pieczonka D. I. Benn |
author_facet |
T. Bolch T. Pieczonka D. I. Benn |
author_sort |
T. Bolch |
title |
Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
title_short |
Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
title_full |
Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
title_fullStr |
Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
title_full_unstemmed |
Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
title_sort |
multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the everest area (nepal himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
publisher |
Copernicus Publications |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/349/2011/tc-5-349-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-129.463,-129.463,58.259,58.259) |
geographic |
Glacial Lake |
geographic_facet |
Glacial Lake |
genre |
The Cryosphere |
genre_facet |
The Cryosphere |
op_source |
The Cryosphere, Vol 5, Iss 2, Pp 349-358 (2011) |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 1994-0416 1994-0424 http://www.the-cryosphere.net/5/349/2011/tc-5-349-2011.pdf https://doaj.org/article/42cc378e2e8043a889abf407cd2e8a49 |
op_rights |
undefined |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
container_volume |
5 |
container_issue |
2 |
container_start_page |
349 |
op_container_end_page |
358 |
_version_ |
1766216476187951104 |