Local- and Regional-Scale Forcing of Glacier Mass Balance Changes in the Swiss Alps

Saeideh Gharehchahi; Thomas J. Ballinger; Jennifer L. R. Jensen; Anshuman Bhardwaj; Lydia Sam; Russell C Weaver; David R. Butler

doi:10.3390/rs13101949

Local- and Regional-Scale Forcing of Glacier Mass Balance Changes in the Swiss Alps

Saeideh Gharehchahi^*, Thomas J. Ballinger, Jennifer L. R. Jensen, Anshuman Bhardwaj, Lydia Sam, Russell C Weaver, David R. Butler

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

Glacier mass variations are climate indicators. Therefore, it is essential to examine both winter and summer mass balance variability over a long period of time to address climate-related ice mass fluctuations. In this study we analyze glacier mass balance components and hypsometric characteristics with respect to their interactions with local meteorological variables and remote large-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns. The results show that all selected glaciers have lost their equilibrium condition in recent decades, with persistent negative annual mass balance trends and decreasing accumulation area ratios (AARs), accompanied by increasing air temperatures of ≥+0.45 °C decade−1. The controlling factor of annual mass balance is mainly attributed to summer mass losses, which are correlated with (warming) June to September air temperatures. In addition, the interannual variability of summer and winter mass balances is primarily associated to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Greenland Blocking Index (GBI), and East Atlantic (EA) teleconnections. Although climate parameters are playing a significant role in determining the glacier mass balance in the region, the observed correlations and mass balance trends are in agreement with the hypsometric distribution and morphology of the glaciers. The analysis of decadal frontal retreat using Landsat images from 1984 to 2014 also supports the findings of this research, highlighting the impact of lake formation at terminus areas on rapid glacier retreat and mass loss in the Swiss Alps.

Original language	English
Article number	e1949
Number of pages	29
Journal	Remote Sensing
Volume	13
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3390/rs13101949
Publication status	Published - 17 May 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding
This research was funded by Texas State University through the Doctoral Research Support Fellowship. Support for T.J.B. was provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Experimental Arctic Prediction Initiative.

Data Availability Statement
The monthly CPC teleconnections (NAO, EA, SCA) are available at the CPC website. The NAO (Cropper daily version) can be obtained from Thomas Cropper, the NAO (Hurrell version) from Climate Data Guide, and the daily GBI [53] from NOAA. The AMO monthly data is also available at NOAA.

Acknowledgments
Weather data were purchased from MeteoSwiss and delivered by Gergely Rigo. We thank Huss for sharing annual and seasonal mass balance datasets, and Klimeš for revising the earlier manuscript draft.

Keywords

glacier mass balance
climate change
regional atmospheric circulations
remote sensing
hypsometric index
hypsometric integral
frontal retreat rate
swiss alps

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Cite this

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title = "Local- and Regional-Scale Forcing of Glacier Mass Balance Changes in the Swiss Alps",

abstract = "Glacier mass variations are climate indicators. Therefore, it is essential to examine both winter and summer mass balance variability over a long period of time to address climate-related ice mass fluctuations. In this study we analyze glacier mass balance components and hypsometric characteristics with respect to their interactions with local meteorological variables and remote large-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns. The results show that all selected glaciers have lost their equilibrium condition in recent decades, with persistent negative annual mass balance trends and decreasing accumulation area ratios (AARs), accompanied by increasing air temperatures of ≥+0.45 °C decade−1. The controlling factor of annual mass balance is mainly attributed to summer mass losses, which are correlated with (warming) June to September air temperatures. In addition, the interannual variability of summer and winter mass balances is primarily associated to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Greenland Blocking Index (GBI), and East Atlantic (EA) teleconnections. Although climate parameters are playing a significant role in determining the glacier mass balance in the region, the observed correlations and mass balance trends are in agreement with the hypsometric distribution and morphology of the glaciers. The analysis of decadal frontal retreat using Landsat images from 1984 to 2014 also supports the findings of this research, highlighting the impact of lake formation at terminus areas on rapid glacier retreat and mass loss in the Swiss Alps.",

keywords = "glacier mass balance, climate change, regional atmospheric circulations, remote sensing, hypsometric index, hypsometric integral, frontal retreat rate, swiss alps",

author = "Saeideh Gharehchahi and Ballinger, {Thomas J.} and Jensen, {Jennifer L. R.} and Anshuman Bhardwaj and Lydia Sam and Weaver, {Russell C} and Butler, {David R.}",

note = "Funding This research was funded by Texas State University through the Doctoral Research Support Fellowship. Support for T.J.B. was provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Experimental Arctic Prediction Initiative. Data Availability Statement The monthly CPC teleconnections (NAO, EA, SCA) are available at the CPC website. The NAO (Cropper daily version) can be obtained from Thomas Cropper, the NAO (Hurrell version) from Climate Data Guide, and the daily GBI [53] from NOAA. The AMO monthly data is also available at NOAA. Acknowledgments Weather data were purchased from MeteoSwiss and delivered by Gergely Rigo. We thank Huss for sharing annual and seasonal mass balance datasets, and Klime{\v s} for revising the earlier manuscript draft.",

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doi = "10.3390/rs13101949",

language = "English",

volume = "13",

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T1 - Local- and Regional-Scale Forcing of Glacier Mass Balance Changes in the Swiss Alps

AU - Gharehchahi, Saeideh

AU - Ballinger, Thomas J.

AU - Jensen, Jennifer L. R.

AU - Bhardwaj, Anshuman

AU - Sam, Lydia

AU - Weaver, Russell C

AU - Butler, David R.

N1 - Funding This research was funded by Texas State University through the Doctoral Research Support Fellowship. Support for T.J.B. was provided by the University of Alaska Fairbanks Experimental Arctic Prediction Initiative. Data Availability Statement The monthly CPC teleconnections (NAO, EA, SCA) are available at the CPC website. The NAO (Cropper daily version) can be obtained from Thomas Cropper, the NAO (Hurrell version) from Climate Data Guide, and the daily GBI [53] from NOAA. The AMO monthly data is also available at NOAA. Acknowledgments Weather data were purchased from MeteoSwiss and delivered by Gergely Rigo. We thank Huss for sharing annual and seasonal mass balance datasets, and Klimeš for revising the earlier manuscript draft.

PY - 2021/5/17

Y1 - 2021/5/17

N2 - Glacier mass variations are climate indicators. Therefore, it is essential to examine both winter and summer mass balance variability over a long period of time to address climate-related ice mass fluctuations. In this study we analyze glacier mass balance components and hypsometric characteristics with respect to their interactions with local meteorological variables and remote large-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns. The results show that all selected glaciers have lost their equilibrium condition in recent decades, with persistent negative annual mass balance trends and decreasing accumulation area ratios (AARs), accompanied by increasing air temperatures of ≥+0.45 °C decade−1. The controlling factor of annual mass balance is mainly attributed to summer mass losses, which are correlated with (warming) June to September air temperatures. In addition, the interannual variability of summer and winter mass balances is primarily associated to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Greenland Blocking Index (GBI), and East Atlantic (EA) teleconnections. Although climate parameters are playing a significant role in determining the glacier mass balance in the region, the observed correlations and mass balance trends are in agreement with the hypsometric distribution and morphology of the glaciers. The analysis of decadal frontal retreat using Landsat images from 1984 to 2014 also supports the findings of this research, highlighting the impact of lake formation at terminus areas on rapid glacier retreat and mass loss in the Swiss Alps.

AB - Glacier mass variations are climate indicators. Therefore, it is essential to examine both winter and summer mass balance variability over a long period of time to address climate-related ice mass fluctuations. In this study we analyze glacier mass balance components and hypsometric characteristics with respect to their interactions with local meteorological variables and remote large-scale atmospheric and oceanic patterns. The results show that all selected glaciers have lost their equilibrium condition in recent decades, with persistent negative annual mass balance trends and decreasing accumulation area ratios (AARs), accompanied by increasing air temperatures of ≥+0.45 °C decade−1. The controlling factor of annual mass balance is mainly attributed to summer mass losses, which are correlated with (warming) June to September air temperatures. In addition, the interannual variability of summer and winter mass balances is primarily associated to the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (AMO), Greenland Blocking Index (GBI), and East Atlantic (EA) teleconnections. Although climate parameters are playing a significant role in determining the glacier mass balance in the region, the observed correlations and mass balance trends are in agreement with the hypsometric distribution and morphology of the glaciers. The analysis of decadal frontal retreat using Landsat images from 1984 to 2014 also supports the findings of this research, highlighting the impact of lake formation at terminus areas on rapid glacier retreat and mass loss in the Swiss Alps.

KW - glacier mass balance

KW - climate change

KW - regional atmospheric circulations

KW - remote sensing

KW - hypsometric index

KW - hypsometric integral

KW - frontal retreat rate

KW - swiss alps

U2 - 10.3390/rs13101949

DO - 10.3390/rs13101949

M3 - Article

SN - 2072-4292

VL - 13

JO - Remote Sensing

JF - Remote Sensing

IS - 10

M1 - e1949

ER -

Local- and Regional-Scale Forcing of Glacier Mass Balance Changes in the Swiss Alps

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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