Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling
The direct comparison of modeled glacier mass-balance distribution with field measurements could be problematic, as the methodology of determination and the processes considered at the point or catchment scale could differ strongly. Moreover, direct measurements cover only small parts of a glacier,...
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International Glaciological Society
2009
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ftunivzuerich:oai:www.zora.uzh.ch:28622 2024-06-23T07:45:37+00:00 Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling Paul, F Escher-Vetter, H Machguth, H 2009-03 application/pdf https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/1/Paul_Machguth_Comparison_of_mass_balances_2009.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-28622 https://doi.org/10.3189/172756409787769582 eng eng International Glaciological Society https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/1/Paul_Machguth_Comparison_of_mass_balances_2009.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-28622 doi:10.3189/172756409787769582 urn:issn:0260-3055 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess Paul, F; Escher-Vetter, H; Machguth, H (2009). Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling. Annals of Glaciology, 50(50):169-177. Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Journal Article PeerReviewed info:eu-repo/semantics/article 2009 ftunivzuerich https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-2862210.3189/172756409787769582 2024-06-05T00:20:45Z The direct comparison of modeled glacier mass-balance distribution with field measurements could be problematic, as the methodology of determination and the processes considered at the point or catchment scale could differ strongly. Moreover, direct measurements cover only small parts of a glacier, and model performance is thus difficult to assess outside these regions. Remaining opportunities for model validation include comparison of snowlines, as derived from remote-sensing data, and maps of the mass-balance distribution, as interpreted by observers with local knowledge. This study compares such hand-drawn maps of the Vernagtferner (Oetzal Alps) mass balance with the modeled pattern as obtained from a distributed energy-/mass-balance model of intermediate complexity. The model is driven by measured daily values of temperature, global radiation and precipitation from a nearby climate station and grids of mean daily potential global radiation and climatologic annual precipitation sums. Compared with the direct measurements, the calculated mean mass balance and equilibrium-line altitude agreed very well in both balance years, although the spatial pattern of the mass-balance distribution displayed larger deviations in regions influenced by snowdrift or local topographic undulations. However, compared with the remaining snow as visible on a satellite image from 1999, the modeled snowline pattern for a larger sample of glaciers is in very good agreement. Article in Journal/Newspaper Annals of Glaciology University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive |
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Open Polar |
collection |
University of Zurich (UZH): ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftunivzuerich |
language |
English |
topic |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel |
spellingShingle |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel Paul, F Escher-Vetter, H Machguth, H Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
topic_facet |
Institute of Geography 910 Geography & travel |
description |
The direct comparison of modeled glacier mass-balance distribution with field measurements could be problematic, as the methodology of determination and the processes considered at the point or catchment scale could differ strongly. Moreover, direct measurements cover only small parts of a glacier, and model performance is thus difficult to assess outside these regions. Remaining opportunities for model validation include comparison of snowlines, as derived from remote-sensing data, and maps of the mass-balance distribution, as interpreted by observers with local knowledge. This study compares such hand-drawn maps of the Vernagtferner (Oetzal Alps) mass balance with the modeled pattern as obtained from a distributed energy-/mass-balance model of intermediate complexity. The model is driven by measured daily values of temperature, global radiation and precipitation from a nearby climate station and grids of mean daily potential global radiation and climatologic annual precipitation sums. Compared with the direct measurements, the calculated mean mass balance and equilibrium-line altitude agreed very well in both balance years, although the spatial pattern of the mass-balance distribution displayed larger deviations in regions influenced by snowdrift or local topographic undulations. However, compared with the remaining snow as visible on a satellite image from 1999, the modeled snowline pattern for a larger sample of glaciers is in very good agreement. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Paul, F Escher-Vetter, H Machguth, H |
author_facet |
Paul, F Escher-Vetter, H Machguth, H |
author_sort |
Paul, F |
title |
Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
title_short |
Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
title_full |
Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
title_fullStr |
Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
title_full_unstemmed |
Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
title_sort |
comparison of mass balances for vernagtferner, oetzal alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling |
publisher |
International Glaciological Society |
publishDate |
2009 |
url |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/ https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/1/Paul_Machguth_Comparison_of_mass_balances_2009.pdf https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-28622 https://doi.org/10.3189/172756409787769582 |
genre |
Annals of Glaciology |
genre_facet |
Annals of Glaciology |
op_source |
Paul, F; Escher-Vetter, H; Machguth, H (2009). Comparison of mass balances for Vernagtferner, Oetzal Alps, as obtained from direct measurements and distributed modeling. Annals of Glaciology, 50(50):169-177. |
op_relation |
https://www.zora.uzh.ch/id/eprint/28622/1/Paul_Machguth_Comparison_of_mass_balances_2009.pdf doi:10.5167/uzh-28622 doi:10.3189/172756409787769582 urn:issn:0260-3055 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5167/uzh-2862210.3189/172756409787769582 |
_version_ |
1802641567623675904 |