Appendix 8

Available data from the WGMS

The international data basis contains two different kinds of information about glaciers of the 20th century:

-glacier inventory data describing the spatial variability
-glacier fluctuation data documenting changes in time

Written publications

Inventory Data:		World glacier inventory - status 1988
Fluctuations Data:		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1959-1965 (Vol. I)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1965-1970 (Vol. II)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1970-1975 (Vol. III)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1975-1980 (Vol. IV)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1980-1985 (Vol. V)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1985-1990 (Vol. VI)
		Fluctuations of Glaciers 1990-1995 (Vol. VII)*

		Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 1 (1988-1989)
		Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 2 (1990-1991)
		Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 3 (1992-1993)
		Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 4 (1994-1995)

		*to be published by the end of 1997

Digital data

Data quality

The WGMS cannot guarantee for the correctness of the inventory and fluctuation data. The accuracy of the data is the responsibility of the data collectors in the individual countries. All data are subject to plausibility checks while loading them into the database (Haeberli and Hoelzle 1995, Hoelzle and Trindler, 1997). There are some exceptions which are marked with 'unchecked'.

WORLD GLACIER INVENTORY (WGI)

Structure of the database

The WGI database contains glacier data describing the spatial variability of the worlds ice masses (IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO 1989). This database presently consists of three tables (see Fig. 1). The WGI_Gla table contains static information about the glaciers like location (latitude and longitude) and names. A second table WGI_Var stores variable information about the glaciers such as, for example, glacier length, area and the photo-, map- or satellite image year. The third table WGI_Edi contains information about the investigators of the different countries. Appendix A1 gives a detailed list of all items available within the World Glacier Inventory database.

Fig. 1

Database scheme for the World Glacier Inventory data. PK means primary key and FK means foreign key.

Data extent

The following table gives an overview on the countries and mountain ranges from which detailed inventory data exist, the number of loaded glaciers and data quality.

Table 3.1

Countries and mountain ranges / regions from which detailed inventory data exist, the number of loaded glaciers and data quality. 'Y' means that data exist but have not yet been entered into the database; 'complete' that the whole country is covered.

Country (Denotation of Political State) and Mountain Ranges / Regions	Number of Loaded Glaciers	Data Quality / Remarks
Afghanistan (AF) Panjshir Safed Kirs	Y
Argentina (AR) Prov. of Rio Negro (Rio Manso) Prov. of Mendoza Prov. of Neuquen South Patagonia (Arg. part) 47.5°S-51.0°S	2,706	Unchecked
Austria (A) - complete -	925	Checked
Bhutan (BH) - complete -	Y
Bolivia (RB) Cordillera Oriental	1,969	Checked
Canada (CD) Vancover Island Stikine River Yukon Territory Southeast Ellesmere Island Axel Heiberg Island	14,964	Unchecked
Chile (RC) Prov. of Santiago and O'Higgins North Patagonian Icefield (Rio Baker)	1,294	Unchecked
China (CN) Altai Shan Qilian Shan Tian Shan	12,183	Unchecked; Survey year partly missing
CIS (SU) - complete -	20,908	Unchecked; Survey year missing
Columbia (CO) Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta	Y
Ecuador (EC) - complete -	113	Unchecked
France (F) - complete -	1,130	Checked
Germany (D) - complete -	5	Checked
Greenland (GL) West Greenland, 63°-64°N	45	Checked
Iceland (IS) - announced -	Y
India (IN) Baspa River	Y
Indonesia (RI) - complete -	Y
Iran (IR)	-
Italy (I) - complete -	1,379	Checked
Japan (J) - complete -	Y
Kenya (KN) - complete -	Y
Mexico (MX) - complete -	Y
Mongolia (MG)	-
Nepal (NP) Ganges River Drainage Basin	130	Checked
New Zealand (NZ) - complete -	3,153	Checked
Norway (N) - complete -	2,998	Checked
Pakistan (PE) Nanga Parbat Chitral	69 Y	Checked
Peru (PE) Northern Cordilleras (Blanca, Huallanca, Huayhuash, Raura, La Viuda, Huagaruncho, Central, Huaytaballany, Chonta)	1,679	Checked
Spain (E) - complete -	31	Checked
Sweden (S) - complete -	303	Checked
Switzerland (S) - complete -	1,828	Checked
Tanzania (TZ) - complete -	Y
Turkey (TR)	-
Uganda (UG) - complete -	Y
United States (US) Sierra Nevada Front Range Olympic Mountains North Cascade Range Brooks Range, Alaska	2,519	Unchecked
Venezuela (VZ) - complete -	Y
TOTAL	70,055

FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS (FOG)

Structure of the database

The FoG database presently consists of seven tables (see Fig. 2). The data model follows a thematic grouping of the data in order to get a better overview.
The table Glacier contains the basic data of each glacier such as, for example, name and location (latitude and longitude). These data seldom change over time. Further on, the main differentiation is made by yearly and altitudinal changes. For example, the table Mass_Balance_Overview contains yearly variable mass balance information such as values for the accumulation and ablation area or the equilibrium line altitude (ELA). Mass balance data itself can be related to the whole glacier but also to specific altitudinal ranges. Therefore, a new table Mass_Balance was created storing data which depend on time and on altitude.
The same idea is behind the other two tables Glacier_State and Glacier_Section. The table Glacier_State contains yearly information such as, for example, length variation (qualitative and quantitative) or highest, median and lowest elevation. In the table Glacier_Section, altitudinal information such as changes in volume, area and thickness is stored additionally. The table Territory contains information about country names and codes, the table Spec_Events on Special Events like glacier surges, calving instabilities, glacier floods, debris flows, mudflows, large ice avalanches and tectonic impacts (earthquake, volcanic eruption). In Appendix A2 each item and its meaning are given in tabular form.

Fig. 2

Database scheme for the Fluctuations of Glaciers data. PK: means primary key and FK: means foreign key

Data extent

Table 2 gives an overview on the countries from which fluctuation data exist and the number of glaciers with corresponding data. An additional column shows the number of glaciers for each country which entered the last edition of the Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin (MBB 4). This series resumes high quality up-to-date mass balance data. At the present state the database of the FoG contains data from the last four volumes of the IAHS publication series Fluctuations of Glaciers (IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO 1977, 1985, IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO 1988, 1993a, in preparation). The data are stored according to general information on the observed glaciers, variations in front position (glacier length changes), mass balance, mass balance versus altitude, changes in volume, area and thickness. In addition, all mass balance data from the Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin are available in the same database (IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/ UNESCO 1991, 1993b, 1994,1996).

Table 2

Countries and count of glaciers within the Fluctuations of Glaciers (FoG) database and within the Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 4 (MBB 4).

Country	FoG (Count of Glaciers With Data Within the Database)	MBB 4 (Count of Glaciers With Data in the Publication)
Antarctica	39
Argentina	10
Australia	16
Austria	142	8
Bolivia	2	2
Canada	107	4
Chile	36
China	38	1
Colombia	20
France	11	2
Germany	5
Greenland	15
CIS	177	9
Iceland	62	7
India	5
Indonesia	6
Italy	276	2
Japan	2
Kenya	13	1
Mexico	2
Nepal	14
New Zealand	83
Norway	52	14
Pakistan	37
Peru	10
Poland	4
Spain	33	1
Sweden	21	4
Switzerland	118	2
Uganda	1
United Kingdom	33
United States	197	3
Venezuela	1
TOTAL	1,555	60

References

HAEBERLI, W. AND HOELZLE, M. (1995): AppIication of inventory data for estimating characteristics of and regional climate change effects on mountain glaciers - a pilot study with the European Alps. Annals of Glaciology 21, p. 206-212.

HOELZLE, M. AND TRINDLER, M. (in press): Data management and application. In: Into the Second Century of World Glacier Monitoring - Prospects and Strategies (Haeberli W., Hoelzle, M. and Suter, S.; eds.). UNESCO publishing, Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1988): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1980-1985 (Haeberli, W. and Müller, P.; eds.), Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1989): World glacier inventory - status 1988 (Haeberli, W., Bösch, H., Scherler, K, Østrem, G. and Wallén, C. C.; eds.). Nairobi.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1991): Glacier mass balance bulletin no. 1 (Haeberli, W. and Herren, E.; eds.). World Glacier Monitoring Service, ETH Zurich.

IAHS(ICSI)IUNEP/UNESCO (1993a): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1985-1990 (Haeberli, W. and Hoelzle, M.; eds.), Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1993b): Glacier mass balance bulletin no. 2 (Haeberli, W., Herren, E. and Hoelzle, M.; eds.). World Glacier Monitoring Service, ETH Zurich.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1994): Glacier mass balance bulletin no. 3 (Haeberli, W., Hoelzle, M. and Bösch, H.; eds.). World Glacier Monitoring Service, ETH Zurich.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (1996): Glacier mass balance bulletin no. 4 (Haeberli, W., Hoelzle, M. and Suter, S.; eds.). World Glacier Monitoring Service, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO (in preparation): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1990-1995 (Haeberli, W., Hoelzle, M., Suter, S. and Frauenfelder, R.; eds.). World Glacier Monitoring Service, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO (1967): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1959-1965 (Kasser, P.; ed.), Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO (1973): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1965-1970 (Kasser, P.; ed.), Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO (1977): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1970-1975 (Müller, F.; ed.), Paris.

IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO (1985): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1975-1980 (Haeberli, W.; ed.), Paris.

The table and item list for the World Glacier Inventory (WGI) database

Table A1.1 WGI_Edi
Ctr_Code	Varchar2(2)	Not Null/PK	Country Code
Edi_Year	Number(4)		Year of the Edition
Edi_Name	Varchar2(20)		Editor names
Edi_Adr	Varchar2(30)		Editor addresses

Table A1.2 WGI_Gla
Political_Unit	Varchar2(2)	Not Null/PK	Political Unit part of the WGI-number (position 1 and 2)
River_Basin	Varchar2(5)	Not Null/PK	Code for the determination of the hydrological catchment areas (Position 3 designates the continent, positions 4 to 7 are for the drainage code)
Free_Position	Varchar2(2)		Free ly chosen number (Position 8 and 9)
Local_Code	Varchar2(3)		local Code helps to make WGI-number clear (Position 10 and 12)
Vaw_Add_Code	Number(3)	Not Null/PK	Additional Code to clear double WGI-numbers
Name	Varchar2(16)		Name
Card_Point_Lat	Varchar2(1)		Cardinal point (N or S)
Degrees_Lat	Number(2)		Latitude in degrees
Minutes_Lat	Number(4,2)		Latitude in minutes and seconds
Card_Point_Lon	Varchar2(1)		Cardinal point (E or W)
Degrees_Lon	Number(3)		Longitude in degrees
Minutes_Lon	Number(4,2)		Longitude in minutes and seconds
Coordinates	Varchar2(15)		Coordinates
Nr_States	Number(1)		Number of independant states
Official_Rem	Varchar2(255)		Official remarks
Internal_Rem	Varchar2(255)		Internal remarks
Fluctu_Key	Number(5)		Reference Key to the FoG

Table A1.3 WGI_Var
Political_Unit	Varchar2(2)	Not Null/PK	Political Unit part of the WGI-number (position 1 and 2)
River_Basin	Varchar2(5)	Not Null/PK	Code for the determination of the hydrological catchment areas (Position 3 designates the continent, positions 4 to 7 are for the drainage code)
Free_Position	Varchar2(2)		Free ly chosen number (Position 8 and 9)
Local_Code	Varchar2(3)		Local Code helps to make WGI-number clear (Position 10 and 12)
VAW_Add_Code	Number(3)	Not Null/PK	Additional Code to clear double WGI-numbers
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Year of the map or photo year
Nr_Drainage_B	Number(1)		Number of drainage basins
Map_Scale	Number(4)		Map scale
Photo_Type	Varchar2(1)		Photo type
Photo_Year	Number(4)		Photo year
Total_Area	Number(8,3)		Total surface area
Area_Currancy	Varchar2(1)		Accuracy rating of the area
State_Area	Number(8,3)		Total area in the state concerned
Exposed_Area	Number(8,3)		Total exposed surface area
Ablation_Area	Number(8,3)		Ablation area
Mean_Width	Number(4,1)		Mean width
Mean_Length	Number(4,1)		Mean length
Max_Len_Tot	Number(4,1)		Maximum length total
Max_Len_Expo	Number(4,1)		Maximum length exposed
Max_Len_Abla	Number(4,1)		Maximum length ablation area
Expos_Acc_Area	Varchar2(2)		Exposition accumulation area
Expos_Abl_Area	Varchar2(2)		Exposition ablation area
Highest_Elev	Number(4)		Highest Elevation
Median_Elev	Number(4)		Median Elevation
Lowest_Elev_Tot	Number(4)		Lowest elevation total
Lowest_Elev_Exp	Number(4)		Lowest elevation exposed
Mean_Elev_Acc	Number(4)		Mean elevation accumulation area
Mean_Elev_Abl	Number(4)		Mean elevation ablation area
Prim_Classific	Varchar2(1)		Primary classification
Form	Varchar2(1)		Form
Frontal_Chars	Varchar2(1)		Frontal characteristics
Longi_Prof	Varchar2(1)		Longitudinal profile
Source_Nouri	Varchar2(1)		Major source of nourishment
Acti_Tongue	Varchar2(1)		Activity of the tongue
Acti_From	Number(4)		Beginning of the period for which the tongue activity was assessed
Acti_To	Number(4)		End of the period for which the tongue activity was assessed
Moracl1	Varchar2(1)		Moraine classification
Moracl2	Varchar2(2)		Moraine classification
Snow_Line_Elev	Number(4)		Snow-line elevation
Snow_Line_Accr	Varchar2(1)		Snow-line elevation accuracy rating
Snow_Line_Date	Varchar2(8)		Snow-line elevation date
Mean _Depth	Number(4)		Mean depth
Depth_Accuracy	Varchar2(1)		Mean depth accuracy rating
Loading_Date	Date		Date of loading into database

The table and item list for the Fluctuations of Glaciers (FoG) database

Table A2.1 Glacier
Internal_Key	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Internal Key
Political _Unit	Varchar2(2)	Not Null/PK	Political Unit part of the WGI-number (Position 1 and 2)
River_Basin	Varchar2(5)		Code for the determination of the hydrological catchment areas (Position 3 designates the continent, positions 4 to 7 are for the drainage code)
Free_Position	Varchar2(2)		Free ly chosen number (Position 8 and 9)
Local_Code	Varchar2(3)		Local Code helps to make WGI-number clear (Position 10 and 12)
Local_PSFG	Varchar2(5)		This glacier number should be unique for each country
Name	Varchar2(15)		Name of the glacier
Gen_Location	Varchar2(15)		Geographical location (general)
Spec_Location	Varchar2(15)		Geographical location (more specific)
Latitude	Number(4,2)		Latitude in degrees and minutes
Card_Point_Lat	Varchar2(1)		Cardinal point (N or S)
Longitude	Number(5,2)		Longitude in degrees and minutes
Card_Point_Lon	Varchar2(1)		Cardinal point (E or W)
Prim_Classific	Varchar2(1)		Primary classification
Form	Varchar2(1)		Form
Frontal_Chars	Varchar2(1)		Frontal characteristics
First_Survey_FR	Date		Year of the first quantitative survey
First_Mass_Bal	Date		Year of the first mass balance survey
Expos_Acc_Area	Varchar2(2)		Exposition of accumulation area
Expos_Abl_Area	Varchar2(2)		Exposition of ablation area
To_Be_Published	Number(4)		Publication number (Vol. I to VI)
MBB	Varchar2(1)		Mass Balance Bulletin Key
Remarks	Varchar2(500)		Remarks
Authors	Varchar2(100)		Names of the principal investigators

Table A2.2 Glacier_State
Glacier	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Glacier Internal_Key
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Year is togethor with 'Glacier" the Primary Key
Highest_elev	Number(4)		Highest Elevation
Median_elev	Number(4)		Median Elevation
Lowest_elev	Number(4)		Lowest Elevation
Snout_point_alt	Number(4)		Altitude of the snout
Error_Altitude	Number(4,1)		Estimated maximum error in altitude
Length	Number(5,2)		Length of the glacier
Variation_horiz	Number(6,1)		Quantitative variation between previous and present survey
Qualitative_var	Varchar2(2)		Qualitative variation between previous and present survey
Error_variation	Number(4,1)		Estimated maximum error in variation
Date_Survey	Date		Date of the survey
Method_Survey	Char (1)		Method of the survey
Reference_date	Date		Date of last survey
Published	Number(4)		Last year of publication series
Frontal_invest	Varchar2(50)		Information on the investigator
Frontal_spons	Varchar2(100)		Information on the Sponsoring Agency
Frontal_remarks	Varchar2(500)		Remarks to the measurements

Table A2.3 Glacier_Section
Glacier	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Glacier_State
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Glacier_State
Lower_Bound	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Lower value of altitude interval
Upper_Bound	Number(4)		Upper value of altitude interval
Area	Number(8,3)		Area for each altitude interval
Area_Change	Number(6)		Are change for each altitude interval
Thickness_Chg	Number(6)		Thickness change for each altitude interval
Volume_Change	Number(12)		Volume change for each altitude interval
Reference_date	Date		Date of last survey
Published	Number(4)		Last year of publication series

Table A2.4 Mass_Balance_Overview
Glacier	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Glacier
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Year is togethor with 'glacier' the Primary Key
Time_System	Varchar2(3)		Time System
Beginn_Period	Date		Begin of survey period
End_Winter	Date		End of winter season
End_Period	Date		End of survey period
Equilibr_Ln_Alt	Number(4)		Equilibrium line altitude
Min_Sites_Acc	Number(3)		Number of minimum measurement sites in the accumulation area
Max_Sites_Acc	Number(3)		Number of maximum measurement sites in the accumulation area
Min_Sites_Abl	Number(3)		Number of minimum measurement sites in the ablation area
Max_Sites_Abl	Number(3)		Number of maximum measurement sites in the ablation area
Acc_Area	Number(8,3)		Accumulation area
Abl_Area	Number(8,3)		Ablation area
AAR	Number(4,1)		Accumulation area ratio
Rating_ELA	Varchar2(1)		Rating of the ELA
Rating_AAR	Varchar2(1)		Rating of the AAR

Table A2.5 Mass_Balance
Glacier	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Mass_Balance_Overview
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Reference to the table Mass_Balance_Overview
Lower_Bound	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Lower value of altitude interval
Upper_Bound	Number(4)		Upper value of altitude interval
Area	Number(8,3)		Area for each altitude interval
Winter_Balance	Number(5)		Winter Balance
Summer_Balance	Number(5)		Summer Balance
Net_Acc	Number(5)		Net Accumulation
Net_Abl	Number(5)		Net Ablation
Net_Balance	Number(5)		Net Balance
Published	Number(4)		Last year of publication series
Mass_Bal_Invest	Varchar2(50)		Information on the investigator
Mass_Bal_Spons	Varchar2(100)		Information on the Sponsoring Agency
Mass_Bal_Remarks	Varchar2(500)		Remarks to the measurements

Table A2.6 Territory
Code	Varchar2(2)	Not Null/PK	Country Code
Name	Varchar2(20)		Name of the country
Report_Position	Number(2)		Position in the FoG report

Table A2.7 Spec_Events
Glacier	Number(5)	Not Null/PK	Reference to table Glacier
Year	Number(4)	Not Null/PK	Year is together with 'Glacier' the Primary Key
Type_Event	Number(4)		Code describing the type of event
Description	Varchar2(2000)		Description of the event
Data_Source	Varchar2(500)		Source of the data
Spec_Remarks	Varchar2(500)		Remarks to the event
Published	Number(4)		Last year of publication series

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