 |
| Titel |
Processes governing the mass balance of Chhota Shigri Glacier (western Himalaya, India) assessed by point-scale surface energy balance measurements |
| VerfasserIn |
M. F. Azam, P. Wagnon, C. Vincent, Al. Ramanathan, V. Favier, A. Mandal, J. G. Pottakkal |
| Medientyp |
Artikel
|
| Sprache |
Englisch
|
| ISSN |
1994-0416
|
| Digitales Dokument |
URL |
| Erschienen |
In: The Cryosphere ; 8, no. 6 ; Nr. 8, no. 6 (2014-11-27), S.2195-2217 |
| Datensatznummer |
250116384
|
| Publikation (Nr.) |
 copernicus.org/tc-8-2195-2014.pdf |
|
|
|
|
|
| Zusammenfassung |
| Some recent studies revealed that Himalayan glaciers were shrinking at
an accelerated rate since the beginning of the 21st century. However,
the climatic causes for this shrinkage remain unclear given that surface
energy balance studies are almost nonexistent in this region. In
this study, a point-scale surface energy balance analysis was performed
using in situ meteorological data from the ablation zone of Chhota Shigri
Glacier over two separate periods (August 2012 to February 2013 and July to
October 2013) in order to understand the response of mass balance to
climatic variables. Energy balance numerical modelling provides
quantification of the surface energy fluxes and identification of the
factors affecting glacier mass balance. The model was validated by comparing
the computed and observed ablation and surface temperature data. During the
summer-monsoon period, net radiation was the primary component of the
surface energy balance accounting for 80 % of the total heat flux followed
by turbulent sensible (13%), latent (5%) and conductive (2%) heat
fluxes. A striking feature of the energy balance is the positive turbulent
latent heat flux, suggesting re-sublimation of moist air at the glacier
surface, during the summer-monsoon characterized by relatively high air
temperature, high relative humidity and a continual melting surface. The
impact of the Indian Summer Monsoon on Chhota Shigri Glacier mass balance
has also been assessed. This analysis demonstrates that the intensity of
snowfall events during the summer-monsoon plays a key role on surface albedo
(melting is reduced in the case of strong snowfalls covering the glacier area),
and thus is among the most important drivers controlling the annual mass
balance of the glacier. The summer-monsoon air temperature, controlling the
precipitation phase (rain versus snow and thus albedo), counts, indirectly,
also among the most important drivers. |
| |
|
| Teil von |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|