Glacier changes in southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia and contribution to sea level rise
Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface
By: C.F. Larsen, R.J. Motyka, A.A. Arendt, K.A. Echelmeyer, and P.E. Geissler
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Abstract
The digital elevation model (DEM) from the 2000 Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) was differenced from a composite DEM based on air photos dating from 1948 to 1987 to detennine glacier volume changes in southeast Alaska and adjoining Canada. SRTM accuracy was assessed at ??5 in through comparison with airborne laser altimetry and control locations measured with GPS. Glacier surface elevations lowered over 95% of the 14,580 km2 glacier-covered area analyzed, with some glaciers thinning as much as 640 in. A combination of factors have contributed to this wastage, including calving retreats of tidewater and lacustrine glaciers and climate change. Many glaciers in this region are particularly sensitive to climate change, as they have large areas at low elevations. However, several tidewater glaciers that had historically undergone calving retreats are now expanding and appear to be in the advancing stage of the tidewater glacier cycle. The net average rate of ice loss is estimated at 16.7 ?? 4.4 km3/yr, equivalent to a global sea level rise contribution of 0.04 ?? 0.01 mm/yr. Copyright 2007 by the American Geophysical Union.
Suggested Citation
Larsen, C., Motyka, R., Arendt, A., Echelmeyer, K., Geissler, P., 2007, Glacier changes in southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia and contribution to sea level rise: Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface, v. 112, no. 1, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000586.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Glacier changes in southeast Alaska and northwest British Columbia and contribution to sea level rise |
| Series title | Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface |
| DOI | 10.1029/2006JF000586 |
| Volume | 112 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication Date | February 24, 2007 |
| Year Published | 2007 |
| Language | English |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Geophysical Research F: Earth Surface |