A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance
Based on a close exponential relationship between mean ablation-season temperature and winter precipitation at the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) of 10 Norwegian glaciers, three equations are derived. The first equation enables calculation of the minimum altitude of areas climatically suited for gl...
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Online Access: | https://hdl.handle.net/1956/374 https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp |
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ftunivbergen:oai:bora.uib.no:1956/374 2023-05-15T16:21:57+02:00 A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance Lie, Øyvind Dahl, Svein Olaf Nesje, Atle 2003-05-01 45393 bytes 137 bytes 536149 bytes text/plain application/pdf https://hdl.handle.net/1956/374 https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp eng eng Arnold urn:issn:0959-6836 urn:issn:1477-0911 https://hdl.handle.net/1956/374 https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp Copyright Arnold 2003 The Holocene 13 3 365-372 Peer reviewed Journal article 2003 ftunivbergen https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp 2023-03-14T17:43:51Z Based on a close exponential relationship between mean ablation-season temperature and winter precipitation at the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) of 10 Norwegian glaciers, three equations are derived. The first equation enables calculation of the minimum altitude of areas climatically suited for glacier formation, and is termed the altitude of instantaneous glacierization (AIG). Equation (2) is derived based on the ‘principle of terrain adaptation’, enabling quantification of the glacial buildup sensitivity (GBS) in presently non-glaciated areas. The theoretical climatic temperature-precipitation ELA (CTP-ELA) in presently non-glaciated areas is calculated in equation three by combining GBS with terrain altitude. Mass-balance records from four modern glaciers (Ålfotbreen, Nigardsbreen, Storbreen and Gråsubreen) situated in maritime to continental climate regimes in southern Norway are used to test these equations. Correlation between AIG and net balance measurements (bn) yielded correlation coefficients of r = –0.80 to r = –0.84. Calculated AIGs correspond well with observed ELAs on Ålfotbreen, Nigardsbreen and Gråsubreen, while it deviates from the observed ELA on Storbreen; the latter is probably due to leeward accumulation of wind-blown snow on this cirque glacier. Based on this approach, regional representative climatic ELAs can be calculated for non-glaciated areas with instrumental records of ablation-season temperature and winter precipitation. publishedVersion Article in Journal/Newspaper glacier University of Bergen: Bergen Open Research Archive (BORA-UiB) Ela ENVELOPE(9.642,9.642,63.170,63.170) Norway Storbreen ENVELOPE(8.269,8.269,62.521,62.521) The Holocene 13 3 365 372 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of Bergen: Bergen Open Research Archive (BORA-UiB) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivbergen |
language |
English |
description |
Based on a close exponential relationship between mean ablation-season temperature and winter precipitation at the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) of 10 Norwegian glaciers, three equations are derived. The first equation enables calculation of the minimum altitude of areas climatically suited for glacier formation, and is termed the altitude of instantaneous glacierization (AIG). Equation (2) is derived based on the ‘principle of terrain adaptation’, enabling quantification of the glacial buildup sensitivity (GBS) in presently non-glaciated areas. The theoretical climatic temperature-precipitation ELA (CTP-ELA) in presently non-glaciated areas is calculated in equation three by combining GBS with terrain altitude. Mass-balance records from four modern glaciers (Ålfotbreen, Nigardsbreen, Storbreen and Gråsubreen) situated in maritime to continental climate regimes in southern Norway are used to test these equations. Correlation between AIG and net balance measurements (bn) yielded correlation coefficients of r = –0.80 to r = –0.84. Calculated AIGs correspond well with observed ELAs on Ålfotbreen, Nigardsbreen and Gråsubreen, while it deviates from the observed ELA on Storbreen; the latter is probably due to leeward accumulation of wind-blown snow on this cirque glacier. Based on this approach, regional representative climatic ELAs can be calculated for non-glaciated areas with instrumental records of ablation-season temperature and winter precipitation. publishedVersion |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Lie, Øyvind Dahl, Svein Olaf Nesje, Atle |
spellingShingle |
Lie, Øyvind Dahl, Svein Olaf Nesje, Atle A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
author_facet |
Lie, Øyvind Dahl, Svein Olaf Nesje, Atle |
author_sort |
Lie, Øyvind |
title |
A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
title_short |
A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
title_full |
A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
title_fullStr |
A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
title_full_unstemmed |
A theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
title_sort |
theoretical approach to glacier equilibrium-line altitudes using meteorological data and glacier massbalance |
publisher |
Arnold |
publishDate |
2003 |
url |
https://hdl.handle.net/1956/374 https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(9.642,9.642,63.170,63.170) ENVELOPE(8.269,8.269,62.521,62.521) |
geographic |
Ela Norway Storbreen |
geographic_facet |
Ela Norway Storbreen |
genre |
glacier |
genre_facet |
glacier |
op_source |
The Holocene 13 3 365-372 |
op_relation |
urn:issn:0959-6836 urn:issn:1477-0911 https://hdl.handle.net/1956/374 https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp |
op_rights |
Copyright Arnold 2003 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1191/0959683603hl629rp |
container_title |
The Holocene |
container_volume |
13 |
container_issue |
3 |
container_start_page |
365 |
op_container_end_page |
372 |
_version_ |
1766009912576442368 |