IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Mass balance measurements hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange and glacier wide mass balance on Findelen and Adler Glacier Andreas Linsbauer (slides: modified from H. Machguth) IHCAP – Indian Himalayas Climate Change Adaptation Programme Mass BalanceCapacity Findelenglacier building programme “Cryosphere” Level-2 (Jan A. Linsbauer, 5 – Feb 21.01.2015 13, 2015) 1 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Mass Balance exercise – level 1 4. Derive area of each segment hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 2 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Mass Balance exercise – level 1 5. plot into one figure: • the glacier hypsography, • mass balance vs. altitude for elevation bins of 100 m, Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange • and the point observations. Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 3 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Geographical setting of Findel glacier Adler glacier Zermatt (1650 m a.s.l., 1981‐now) hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Findeln (2500 m a.s.l., 1970‐now, bad data quality) Stockhorn (3400 m a.s.l., Gornergrat (3100 m a.s.l., 2002‐?, no precipitation, 2004‐now, no precipitation) limited data quality) Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 4 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Geographical and climatological setting source: G. Kappenberger Findel glacier characteristics • area 13.4 km2 (roughly #15 in the Alps) • debris free valley‐type glacier hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Climate and glacier • temperate climate, no rainy and dry season • clear seasonal temperature cycle • temperate glacier (ice and firn mostly at 0 °C) • clearly seperable accumulation and ablation seasons Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 5 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Geographical and climatological setting source: G. Kappenberger hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Source of plots: modified after M. Huss Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 6 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Why Findelen galcier? • Initially not a mass balance glacier, only measured for ground truthing in a modelling study • Investigation of a presumed +0.7 m w.e. horizontal ‐ Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange precipitation gradient ‐0.2 m w.e. + modelled mass balance distribution Findel and Adler glacier Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 7 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas How do we measure on Findelen? Annual field surveys are carried out close to the beginning of the hydrological year. […] The duration of the mass‐balance year varies in the floating‐date system. (Cogley et al., 2011) Findel glacier: direct glaciological method, floating date system hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange accumulation area equilibrium line Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 8 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas How do we measure on Findelen? Photo: N. Salzmann hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Photo: S. Bircher Stake drilling / Stake readings Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 9 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas How do we measure on Findelen? Photo: H. Machguth hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Photos: N. Salzmann Snow pits Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 10 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas The usual starting point Some random stake readings hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 11 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Interpolation approaches hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Submitted to WGMS: 0.1±0.5 m w.e. Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 12 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Profile method b = f(h) b=-0.29 m b=-0.18 m w.e. w.e. hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange 47% b=0.83 m w.e. range Example: 2008 - 2009 source: P. Joerg, unpublished Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 13 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Contour line method mass balance (b) 2004/05 b = -0.25 m w.e. -7.2 m w.e. -4.25 m w.e. -1.4 m w.e. hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange -7.6 m w.e. 1.0 m w.e. Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 14 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Mass Balance exercise – level 1 4. Derive area of each segment hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 15 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Calculated mass balance is never final! • Re-analysis using geodetic mass balance • Extrapolation methods are subject to improvements • The way mass balance data are used is changing … hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 16 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Conclusions • Understanding and addressing the relevant processes is the key to good quality mass balance data • Adapt methods to climatological and glacier characteristics • Extrapolation is the key to total mass balance Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange • In most cases it is best to either work manually or use process-based extrapolation (see talks on Friday) • Publish/submit complete meta data and stake readings Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 17 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas The use of computer modelling Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange for mass balance analysis Andreas Linsbauer (slides modified from M. Huss) IHCAP – Indian Himalayas Climate Change Adaptation Programme Mass BalanceCapacity Findelenglacier building programme “Cryosphere” Level-2 (Jan A. Linsbauer, 5 – Feb 21.01.2015 13, 2015) 18 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Three systems to evaluate mass balance: hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 19 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Mass balance model Basic approach: • Extrapolate point mass balance in SPACE and TIME using physical relations • Analyze seasonal to annual mass balance data using a daily mass balance model (temperature, precipitation). Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange – Melt: Distributed temperature-index / energy balance model including potential radiation (Hock, 1999; erlemans, 2001) 3 parameters – Acc.: Extrapolation of precipitation 1 parameter Two steps: • 1. Fit model to winter accumulation data • 2. Fit model to annual data Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 20 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Model adjustment Downscaling of seasonal mass balance observations using daily weather data: • Winter measurements constrain accumulation Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange parameters • Annual balance measurements constrain melt parameters Spatial distribution: • Slope, aspect, shading • Wind drift Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 21 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Model adjustment: Spatial distribution hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 22 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Step 1: Winter accumulation hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 23 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Step 2: Annual mass balance hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 24 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Final correction hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 25 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Inferred daily mass balance series hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 26 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Separation of mass balance components hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 27 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Elevation distribution of mass balance hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 28 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Elevation distribution of mass balance hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 29 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Inferred daily mass balance series hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 30 IHCAP –IHCAP ClimateC Indian Himalayas Conclusion • Evaluation of mass balance using a consistent, automated method • Important advantages compared to traditional evaluation: Extrapolation using physical relations hange Adaptation Programme:Level-2course hange Use information contained in winter snow measurements Daily resolution from seasonal surveys, correct varying periods • BUT: (1) Requires nearby meteorological measurements, (2) does not allow integration of the observers' knowledge Mass Balance Findelenglacier A. Linsbauer, 21.01.2015 31.