Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods
Ice volume estimates are crucial for assessing water reserves stored in glaciers. Due to its large glacier coverage, such estimates are of particular interest for the Himalayan–Karakoram (HK) region. In this study, different existing methodologies are used to estimate the ice reserves: three area–vo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Copernicus Publications
2014-12-01
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| Series: | The Cryosphere |
| Online Access: | http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/2313/2014/tc-8-2313-2014.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818902435019620352 |
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| author | H. Frey H. Machguth M. Huss C. Huggel S. Bajracharya T. Bolch A. Kulkarni A. Linsbauer N. Salzmann M. Stoffel |
| author_facet | H. Frey H. Machguth M. Huss C. Huggel S. Bajracharya T. Bolch A. Kulkarni A. Linsbauer N. Salzmann M. Stoffel |
| author_sort | H. Frey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Ice volume estimates are crucial for assessing water reserves stored in
glaciers. Due to its large glacier coverage, such estimates are of
particular interest for the Himalayan–Karakoram (HK) region. In this study,
different existing methodologies are used to estimate the ice reserves:
three area–volume relations, one slope-dependent volume estimation method,
and two ice-thickness distribution models are applied to a recent, detailed,
and complete glacier inventory of the HK region, spanning over the period
2000–2010 and revealing an ice coverage of 40 775 km<sup>2</sup>. An
uncertainty and sensitivity assessment is performed to investigate the
influence of the observed glacier area and important model parameters on the
resulting total ice volume. Results of the two ice-thickness distribution
models are validated with local ice-thickness measurements at six glaciers.
The resulting ice volumes for the entire HK region range from 2955 to 4737 km<sup>3</sup>, depending on the
approach. This range is lower than most previous estimates. Results from the
ice thickness distribution models and the slope-dependent thickness
estimations agree well with measured local ice thicknesses. However, total
volume estimates from area-related relations are larger than those from
other approaches. The study provides evidence on the significant effect of
the selected method on results and underlines the importance of a careful
and critical evaluation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:35:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39440b14f68740b7b02c11d117605406 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1994-0416 1994-0424 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T20:35:36Z |
| publishDate | 2014-12-01 |
| publisher | Copernicus Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Cryosphere |
| spelling | doaj.art-39440b14f68740b7b02c11d1176054062022-12-21T20:06:32ZengCopernicus PublicationsThe Cryosphere1994-04161994-04242014-12-01862313233310.5194/tc-8-2313-2014Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methodsH. Frey0H. Machguth1M. Huss2C. Huggel3S. Bajracharya4T. Bolch5A. Kulkarni6A. Linsbauer7N. Salzmann8M. Stoffel9Department of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandArctic Technology Center, Technical University of Denmark, Kgs. Lyngby, DenmarkDepartment of Geosciences, University of Fribourg, Fribourg, SwitzerlandDepartment of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandInternational Centre for Integrated Mountain Development, ICIMOD, Kathmandu, NepalDepartment of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDivecha Center for Climate Change, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, IndiaDepartment of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandDepartment of Geography, University of Zurich, Zurich, SwitzerlandClimatic Change and Climate Impacts, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Geneva, SwitzerlandIce volume estimates are crucial for assessing water reserves stored in glaciers. Due to its large glacier coverage, such estimates are of particular interest for the Himalayan–Karakoram (HK) region. In this study, different existing methodologies are used to estimate the ice reserves: three area–volume relations, one slope-dependent volume estimation method, and two ice-thickness distribution models are applied to a recent, detailed, and complete glacier inventory of the HK region, spanning over the period 2000–2010 and revealing an ice coverage of 40 775 km<sup>2</sup>. An uncertainty and sensitivity assessment is performed to investigate the influence of the observed glacier area and important model parameters on the resulting total ice volume. Results of the two ice-thickness distribution models are validated with local ice-thickness measurements at six glaciers. The resulting ice volumes for the entire HK region range from 2955 to 4737 km<sup>3</sup>, depending on the approach. This range is lower than most previous estimates. Results from the ice thickness distribution models and the slope-dependent thickness estimations agree well with measured local ice thicknesses. However, total volume estimates from area-related relations are larger than those from other approaches. The study provides evidence on the significant effect of the selected method on results and underlines the importance of a careful and critical evaluation.http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/2313/2014/tc-8-2313-2014.pdf |
| spellingShingle | H. Frey H. Machguth M. Huss C. Huggel S. Bajracharya T. Bolch A. Kulkarni A. Linsbauer N. Salzmann M. Stoffel Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods The Cryosphere |
| title | Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods |
| title_full | Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods |
| title_fullStr | Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods |
| title_full_unstemmed | Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods |
| title_short | Estimating the volume of glaciers in the Himalayan–Karakoram region using different methods |
| title_sort | estimating the volume of glaciers in the himalayan ndash karakoram region using different methods |
| url | http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/2313/2014/tc-8-2313-2014.pdf |
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