Reanalysis of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers: Long-term insight into climate forcing of glacier mass balance
Journal of Glaciology
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- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Data Release: USGS data release - Geodetic Data for USGS Benchmark Glaciers: Orthophotos, Digital Elevation Models, Glacier Boundaries and Surveyed Positions
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Abstract
Mountain glaciers integrate climate processes to provide an unmatched signal of regional climate forcing. However, extracting the climate signal via intercomparison of regional glacier mass balance records can be problematic when methods for extrapolating and calibrating direct glaciological measurements are mixed or inconsistent. To address this problem, we reanalyzed and compared long-term mass balance records from the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers. These five glaciers span maritime and continental climate regimes of the western United States and Alaska. Each glacier exhibits cumulative mass loss since the mid-20th century, with average rates ranging from –0.58 to –0.30 m water equivalent (w.e.) a-1. We produced a set of solutions using different extrapolation and calibration methods to inform uncertainty estimates, which range from 0.22–0.44 m w.e. a-1. Mass losses are primarily driven by increasing summer warming. Continentality exerts a stronger control on mass loss than latitude. Similar to elevation, topographic shading, snow redistribution, and glacier surface features often exert first-order control on mass balance. The reanalysis underscores the value of geodetic calibration to resolve mass balance magnitude, as well as the irreplaceable value of direct measurements in contributing to process-based understanding of glacier mass balance.
Suggested Citation
O’Neel, S., McNeil, C., Sass, L., Florentine, C., Baker, E., Peitzsch, E.H., McGrath, D.J., Fountain, A.G., and Fagre, D.B., 2019, Reanalysis of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers: Long-term insight into climate forcing of glacier mass balance: Journal of Glaciology, p. 850-866, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2019.66.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Reanalysis of the U.S. Geological Survey Benchmark Glaciers: Long-term insight into climate forcing of glacier mass balance |
| Series title | Journal of Glaciology |
| DOI | 10.1017/jog.2019.66 |
| Publication Date | September 05, 2019 |
| Year Published | 2019 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| Contributing office(s) | Alaska Science Center Water |
| Description | 17 p. |
| First page | 850 |
| Last page | 866 |