Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal
Supraglacial ponds on debris-covered glaciers present a mechanism of atmosphere/glacier energy transfer that is poorly studied, and only conceptually included in mass-balance studies of Debris-covered glaciers. This research advances previous efforts to develop a model of mass and energy balance for...
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International Glaciological Society
2016
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ftunivnorthumb:oai:nrl.northumbria.ac.uk:23898 2023-05-15T13:29:43+02:00 Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal Miles, Evan Pellicciotti, Francesca Willis, Ian Steiner, Jakob Buri, Pascal Arnold, Neil 2016-03 text https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/ https://doi.org/10.3189/2016AoG71A421 https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/1/refined-energy-balance-modelling-of-a-supraglacial-pond-langtang-khola-nepal.pdf en eng International Glaciological Society https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/1/refined-energy-balance-modelling-of-a-supraglacial-pond-langtang-khola-nepal.pdf Miles, Evan, Pellicciotti, Francesca, Willis, Ian, Steiner, Jakob, Buri, Pascal and Arnold, Neil (2016) Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal. Annals of Glaciology, 57 (71). pp. 29-40. ISSN 0260-3055 cc_by_4_0 CC-BY F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences Article PeerReviewed 2016 ftunivnorthumb https://doi.org/10.3189/2016AoG71A421 2022-09-25T06:02:29Z Supraglacial ponds on debris-covered glaciers present a mechanism of atmosphere/glacier energy transfer that is poorly studied, and only conceptually included in mass-balance studies of Debris-covered glaciers. This research advances previous efforts to develop a model of mass and energy balance for supraglacial ponds by applying a free-convection approach to account for energy exchanges at the subaqueous bare-ice surfaces. We develop the model using field data from a pond on Lirung Glacier, Nepal, that was monitored during the 2013 and 2014 monsoon periods. Sensitivity testing is performed for several key parameters, and alternative melt algorithms are compared with the model. The pond acts as a significant recipient of energy for the glacier system, and actively participates in the glacier’s hydrologic system during the monsoon. Melt rates are 2–4 cm d–1 (total of 98.5 m3 over the study period) for bare ice in contact with the pond, and <1 mm d–1 (total of 10.6 m3) for the saturated debris zone. The majority of absorbed atmospheric energy leaves the pond system through englacial conduits, delivering sufficient energy to melt 2612m3 additional ice over the study period (38.4 m3 d–1). Such melting might be expected to lead to subsidence of the glacier surface. Supraglacial ponds efficiently convey atmospheric energy to the glacier’s interior and rapidly promote the downwasting process. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology Northumbria University, Newcastle: Northumbria Research Link (NRL) Annals of Glaciology 57 71 29 40 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Northumbria University, Newcastle: Northumbria Research Link (NRL) |
op_collection_id |
ftunivnorthumb |
language |
English |
topic |
F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences |
spellingShingle |
F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences Miles, Evan Pellicciotti, Francesca Willis, Ian Steiner, Jakob Buri, Pascal Arnold, Neil Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
topic_facet |
F800 Physical and Terrestrial Geographical and Environmental Sciences |
description |
Supraglacial ponds on debris-covered glaciers present a mechanism of atmosphere/glacier energy transfer that is poorly studied, and only conceptually included in mass-balance studies of Debris-covered glaciers. This research advances previous efforts to develop a model of mass and energy balance for supraglacial ponds by applying a free-convection approach to account for energy exchanges at the subaqueous bare-ice surfaces. We develop the model using field data from a pond on Lirung Glacier, Nepal, that was monitored during the 2013 and 2014 monsoon periods. Sensitivity testing is performed for several key parameters, and alternative melt algorithms are compared with the model. The pond acts as a significant recipient of energy for the glacier system, and actively participates in the glacier’s hydrologic system during the monsoon. Melt rates are 2–4 cm d–1 (total of 98.5 m3 over the study period) for bare ice in contact with the pond, and <1 mm d–1 (total of 10.6 m3) for the saturated debris zone. The majority of absorbed atmospheric energy leaves the pond system through englacial conduits, delivering sufficient energy to melt 2612m3 additional ice over the study period (38.4 m3 d–1). Such melting might be expected to lead to subsidence of the glacier surface. Supraglacial ponds efficiently convey atmospheric energy to the glacier’s interior and rapidly promote the downwasting process. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Miles, Evan Pellicciotti, Francesca Willis, Ian Steiner, Jakob Buri, Pascal Arnold, Neil |
author_facet |
Miles, Evan Pellicciotti, Francesca Willis, Ian Steiner, Jakob Buri, Pascal Arnold, Neil |
author_sort |
Miles, Evan |
title |
Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
title_short |
Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
title_full |
Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
title_fullStr |
Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
title_full_unstemmed |
Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal |
title_sort |
refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, langtang khola, nepal |
publisher |
International Glaciological Society |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/ https://doi.org/10.3189/2016AoG71A421 https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/1/refined-energy-balance-modelling-of-a-supraglacial-pond-langtang-khola-nepal.pdf |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology |
op_relation |
https://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/23898/1/refined-energy-balance-modelling-of-a-supraglacial-pond-langtang-khola-nepal.pdf Miles, Evan, Pellicciotti, Francesca, Willis, Ian, Steiner, Jakob, Buri, Pascal and Arnold, Neil (2016) Refined energy-balance modelling of a supraglacial pond, Langtang Khola, Nepal. Annals of Glaciology, 57 (71). pp. 29-40. ISSN 0260-3055 |
op_rights |
cc_by_4_0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3189/2016AoG71A421 |
container_title |
Annals of Glaciology |
container_volume |
57 |
container_issue |
71 |
container_start_page |
29 |
op_container_end_page |
40 |
_version_ |
1766002433203372032 |