FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1995–2000 (Vol. VIII) A contribution to the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) as part of the Global Terrestrial/Climate Observing System (GTOS/GCOS), the Division of Early Warning and Assessment and the Global Environment Outlook as part of the United Nations Environment Programme (DEWA and GEO, UNEP), and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP, UNESCO) Prepared by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) IUGG (CCS) – UNEP – UNESCO 2005 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1995–2000 with addenda from earlier years This publication was made possible by support and funds from the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services (FAGS), the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Educational, Science and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the University of Zurich (UNIZ) This volume continues the earlier works published under the titles FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1959–1965 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNESCO, 1967 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1965–1970 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNESCO, 1973 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1970–1975 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNESCO, 1977 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1975–1980 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNESCO, 1985 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1980–1985 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNEP – UNESCO, 1988 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1985–1990 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNEP – UNESCO, 1993 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1990–1995 Paris, IAHS (ICSI) – UNEP – UNESCO, 1998 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 1995–2000 (Vol. VIII) A contribution to the Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) as part of the Global Terrestrial/Climate Observing System (GTOS/GCOS), the Division of Early Warning and Assessment and the Global Environment Outlook (DEWA and GEO, UNEP), and the International Hydrological Programme (IHP, UNESCO) Compiled for the World Glacier Monitoring Service by Wilfried Haeberli, Michael Zemp, Regula Frauenfelder, Martin Hoelzle and Andreas Kääb Department of Geography University of Zurich Zurich International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (Commission on Cryospheric Sciences) and United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 2005 Published jointly by the Commission on Cryospheric Sciences of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics and the United Nations Environment Programme P.O. Box 30552, Nairobi, Kenya and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation 7 Place de Fontenoy, 75700 Paris, France Printed by FOTOROTAR Egg/ZH, Switzerland The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion what- soever on the part of the publishers concerning the legal status of any country or territory, or of its authorities, or concerning the frontiers of any country or territory. For bibliographic and reference purposes this publication should be referred to as: IUGG (CCS) – UNEP – UNESCO (2005). Fluctuations of Glaciers 1995–2000, Volume VIII. World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich. IUGG UNEP UNESCO PREFACE UNEP Fluctuations of glaciers have been reported and documented in an internationally coordi- nated way for more than a century. They have now become a key indication of global climate and environmental change. The possibility to observe the often dramatic changes in the geometry of perennial surface ice within a lifetime period, combined with the easily understandable principle of ice melting under the influence of high air tempera- tures, makes the retreat of glacier tongues and ice margins a unique climate change demonstration object for the public at large. In fact, future generations will be able to judge what climate scenario will have taken place by looking at the form, size and sheer existence of glaciers around the world. Modern worldwide glacier monitoring as coordinated by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) with its Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G) as part of the Global Climate Observing System/Global Terrestrial Observing System (GCOS/GTOS) aims at the quantification of the changes in terrestrial glaciers. The monitoring system uses a multilevel strategy, which combines a) in-situ measurements for process under- standing and model calibration with b) remote sensing and geo-informatics for large/ representative sampling and c) numerical simulations for extrapolation of measured data in space and time. Through WGMS, scientifically-sound data and information on the state and trends of glaciers are provided, required as a basis for global environmental assessments in support of decision-making processes. As such, this effort also contributes to the strengthening of the scientific basis of UNEP’s assessment activities, requiring that sound assessments must be based on reliable data. As a key component, the Global Environment Outlook reporting process greatly benefits from the continued data collection on changes in glacier mass and volume. UNEP very much welcomes the possibility to use such infor- mation in its reporting activities in support of improved information availability and better informed decision-making. The present volume “Fluctuations of Glaciers 1995–2000” continues the series of reports about in-situ measurements of glacier fluctuations and completes the reports for the 20th century. It mainly presents data measured in the field, but also contains a number of high-precision maps from various regions of the earth. In addition, summary comments and references can be found about results from numerical modelling and satellite-based glacier inventory work. The latter is now being strengthened – in close collaboration with WGMS and GTN-G – by the international “Global Land Ice Measurement from Space” (GLIMS) project led by the US Geological Survey in Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. In view of recent scientific insights and modern technological means, the development of new formats for data collection and presentation is one of the primary challenges for the first years of our century. Marion Cheatle Officer-in-Charge Division of Early Warning and Assessment, UNEP I II PREFACE UNESCO Glaciers contribute significantly to the human needs for good quality water. They are also highly sensitive indicators of global climate change and fresh water reservoirs. Our knowledge of the state of glaciers worldwide remains very incomplete despite considerable publicity to accelerating melting rates in various global climate change scenarios. However, increased melting rates will have disastrous consequences to flood- ing and sea level rise as glaciers react in a complex manner to climatic variations. Their advances leave behind landscape markers as moraines, which serve to help us reconstruct past glacial conditions and past climate. As water reservoirs they are essential to region- al water supply. The understanding of their changes with changing climate is vital for future water policy and water management. To understand and interpret these different aspects it is necessary to study the mass exchange and growth/shrinkage of glaciers. Despite such important contributions there are many parts of the world where either too few glaciers are monitored or where glaciers are not monitored at all. In the last few years UNESCO has initiated a programme of mass balance measurements in both the Hindu Kush Himalayas and the Andes to improve our knowledge of the glaciers. The Inter- national Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO, now in its 6th phase aims to improve our knowledge of the complex scientific processes that govern the interactions within the water cycle. Under the theme devoted to Mountains, activities have been promoted in several regions of the world. Obviously the complex nature of glaciers and their inaccessibility make it a necessity that the global scientific community cooperate in planning and organising activities. The contribution of the WGMS is greatly recognised and appreciated. It is only through the efforts of such scientific bodies that we can mobilise global efforts to improve our scientific knowledge. UNESCO is pleased to support this publication. Wilfried Haeberli and his team are to be congratulated for accomplishing this task. This volume will be a major contribution towards providing information for interpreting the health of glaciers for the period 1995–2000. Lalji Mandalia Programme Specialist in Water Sciences International Hydrological Programme, UNESCO III IV FOREWORD The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has recently pointed out that glaciers and ice caps are one of the key indicators of ongoing climatic change. Glaciers and ice caps are components of the Earth’s Cryosphere and the continual wasting of these ice bodies contributes to global sea level rise. Glaciers are also an integral part of the hydrological cycle in mountainous regions and the discharge from higher rates of melt water production can lead to an increase in the occurrence of natural hazards in glacier-fed basins. Knowledge of the changes in the balance of glacier ice is thus of prime importance in modelling the interactive processes between climate and the Earth’s global dynamic systems, and in the prediction of water availability in more specific re- gions of the Earth’s surface. Fluctuations of glaciers and ice caps in cold mountain areas have been systematically observed for more than a century in various parts of the world. Change in glacier extent is a strongly enhanced and easily measured parameter, which provides an indirect, filtered signal of climate