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...
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Online Access: | https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 |
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ftunstandrewcris:oai:research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk:publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 2024-09-30T14:44:53+00:00 Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery Bolch, T. Pieczonka, T. Benn, Doug I 2011 https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 eng eng https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess Bolch , T , Pieczonka , T & Benn , D I 2011 , ' Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery ' , The Cryosphere , vol. 5 , no. 2 , pp. 349-358 . https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 LAKES BALANCE MULTITEMPORAL AERIAL IMAGES SWEDEN 1959-99 HIMACHAL-PRADESH MOUNT EVEREST WESTERN HIMALAYA STORGLACIAREN REANALYSIS SATELLITE IMAGERY article 2011 ftunstandrewcris https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 2024-09-04T23:45:35Z 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 km(2) 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 University of St Andrews: Research Portal Glacial Lake ENVELOPE(-129.463,-129.463,58.259,58.259) The Cryosphere 5 2 349 358 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
University of St Andrews: Research Portal |
op_collection_id |
ftunstandrewcris |
language |
English |
topic |
LAKES BALANCE MULTITEMPORAL AERIAL IMAGES SWEDEN 1959-99 HIMACHAL-PRADESH MOUNT EVEREST WESTERN HIMALAYA STORGLACIAREN REANALYSIS SATELLITE IMAGERY |
spellingShingle |
LAKES BALANCE MULTITEMPORAL AERIAL IMAGES SWEDEN 1959-99 HIMACHAL-PRADESH MOUNT EVEREST WESTERN HIMALAYA STORGLACIAREN REANALYSIS SATELLITE IMAGERY Bolch, T. Pieczonka, T. Benn, Doug I Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery |
topic_facet |
LAKES BALANCE MULTITEMPORAL AERIAL IMAGES SWEDEN 1959-99 HIMACHAL-PRADESH MOUNT EVEREST WESTERN HIMALAYA STORGLACIAREN REANALYSIS SATELLITE IMAGERY |
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 km(2) 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 |
Bolch, T. Pieczonka, T. Benn, Doug I |
author_facet |
Bolch, T. Pieczonka, T. Benn, Doug I |
author_sort |
Bolch, T. |
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 |
publishDate |
2011 |
url |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 |
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 |
Bolch , T , Pieczonka , T & Benn , D I 2011 , ' Multi-decadal mass loss of glaciers in the Everest area (Nepal Himalaya) derived from stereo imagery ' , The Cryosphere , vol. 5 , no. 2 , pp. 349-358 . https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-349-2011 |
op_relation |
https://research-portal.st-andrews.ac.uk/en/publications/8fcf65ac-da3a-4c4e-a2f3-8367113f7ea7 |
op_rights |
info:eu-repo/semantics/restrictedAccess |
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 |
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1811645897589653504 |