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Fluctuations Glaciers 2000–2005

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Fluctuations Glaciers 2000–2005 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 2000–2005 (Vol. IX) 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) ICSU (FAGS) – IUGG (IACS) – UNEP – UNESCO – WMO 2008 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 2000–2005 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/ICSU), the Swiss Academy of Sciences (SCNAT), the Swiss Federal Offi ce for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF; WGMS Bridging Credit), the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), and the University of Zurich, Switzerland (UZH). This publication is the most recent volume in the series: 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 Zurich, IUGG (CCS) – UNEP– UNESCO, 2005 FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS 2000–2005 (Vol. IX) 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) Compiled for the World Glacier Monitoring Service by Wilfried Haeberli, Michael Zemp, Andreas Kääb, Frank Paul and Martin Hoelzle Department of Geography University of Zurich Zurich Switzerland International Council for Science (Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services) and International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (International Association of Cryospheric Sciences) and United Nations Environment Programme and United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation and World Meteorological Organization 2008 Published jointly by the Federation of Astronomical and Geophysical Data Analysis Services of the International Council for Science (FAGS/ICSU) and the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IACS/IUGG) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Educational, Scientifi c and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Printed by Staffel Druck AG 8045 Zurich Switzerland ISSN 1997-910X (printed issues) ISSN 1997-9118 (online issues) 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: WGMS (2008): Fluctuations of Glaciers 2000–2005, Volume IX. Haeberli, W., Zemp, M., Kääb, A., Paul, F. and Hoelzle, M. (eds.), ICSU(FAGS)/IUGG(IACS)/UNEP/UNESCO/ WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. ICSU (FAGS) IUGG (IACS) UNEP UNESCO WMO PREFACE by UNEP Monitoring the changes of glaciers on a year-to-year basis and providing scientifi cally sound, concise and easy-to-understand information is a critical function in today’s world. Consistent trends on glacier changes are one of the most compelling indicators of climate change and its impacts that can be witnessed all around us. The basic data collection on glaciers from all over the world, as undertaken for many decades by the World Glacier Monitoring Service and its predecessor organisations, is of critical impor- tance to United Nations Environment Programme and the efforts to continuously keep the state of the global environment under review and provide the world community with improved ac- cess to meaningful environmental data and information. As a key component of this, the fourth edition of the Global Environment Outlook (GEO-4), published towards the end of 2007, has also benefi ted from such data on glacier fl uctuations – and so have many other reports that are raising awareness on climate change and related environmental issues such as impacts on water availability, land degradation and the health of people and ecosystems. This ninth volume of the “Fluctuations of Glaciers”, the fi rst report of this century and covering the years 2000 to 2005, continues the series of detailed reports on measurements of world-wide glacier fl uctuations. It presents the most up-to-date scientifi c data on individual terrestrial glaciers in many countries of the world, including their length, area, volume and thickness. The report points to a strong acceleration of glacier melting in those years, with a doubling of the rate compared with the two preceding decades. The observations are consistent with recent accelerating global warming and corresponding energy fl ux towards the surface of the earth. The fi ve-yearly comprehensive Fluctuation of Glaciers reports are complemented with the bi- annual Glacier Mass Balance Bulletins, which present the data in a summary form for non-spe- cialists through the use of graphic presentations rather than as purely numerical data. A Global Outlook for Ice and Snow was published by UNEP at the occasion of World Environment Day 2007, while a joint UNEP-WGMS illustrative report on “Global Glacier Changes: facts and fi gures” was released in September 2008. UNEP looks forward to continued cooperation with the WGMS while supporting efforts to strengthen the scientifi c base for environment assessment and early warning – a high-priority issue of global climate change. Peter Gilruth, Dr. Director Division of Early Warning and Assessment, UNEP I II PREFACE by UNESCO Many of our headwater catchments around the world accommodate glaciers and they are most vulnerable towards climate change. They contribute to stream fl ow in terms of quantity, timing and variability. Their role is signifi cant in the light of worldwide increase of freshwater demand and the potential impacts of future climate change. The effect of snow and ice runoff varies between different climatic regions. While in the mid- and high-latitude areas seasonal snow cover exerts a strong control on runoff variations, in low latitudes glaciers provide the most dominant source of water during the dry season. Therefore, the understanding of glacial changes as a response to changing climate is es- sential for integrated water resources management. A broad and worldwide public today recognizes glacier changes as a key indication of regional and global climate and environment change. Observational strategies established by expert groups within international monitoring programmes build on advanced process understanding and new strategies. These strategies ensure rapid development of new tech- nologies and relate them to traditional approaches to apply integrated, multilevel concepts enabling a comprehensive view. Based on important data collected through an international network of glaciologists, the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) of the International Association of Cry- ospheric Sciences with their partners, have been providing quantitative and intelligible information about glacial changes. The current Volume IX (2000–2005) of the “Fluc- tuations of Glaciers” series has been the backbone of the active compilation of glacier fl uctuation data since 1967. It comprises information about changes in glacier length, mass, area, volume and thickness from 723 glaciers of 27 countries/regions, as well as 21 special events and 10 glaciological maps. Volume IX elaborates questions about process understanding, change detection, model validation and environmental impacts in trans- disciplinary knowledge transfer to the scientifi c community and the policymakers. The International Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO, within its 7th Phase “Wa- ter dependences, systems under stress and societal responses”, aims to asses the impact and consequences of global climate change on the biophysical environment and socio- economic conditions of mountain people. Therefore UNESCO IHP, under the theme devoted to mountains, undertakes considerable efforts to improve knowledge of glacial changes in various parts of the world. UNESCO is honored to support this publication and pleased to congratulate the team for their excellent work. Siegfried Demuth, Prof. Dr. Chief Water Sciences Division, UNESCO III IV FOREWORD by IACS (IUGG) Glaciers and ice caps, located in the mountains of the world and in both polar regions, are an important part of the global cryosphere. Indeed, the most recent report by the Intergov- ernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), published in 2007, recognized the particular signifi cance of glaciers and ice caps in contributing to the observed modern sea-level rise of about 3 mm per year. It is likely that
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