Glacier mass balance in the south-eastern Swiss Alps since 1900 and perspectives for the future

Abstract: In this study, we analyzed the 20th century ice volume changes for 20 glaciers in the south-eastern Swiss Alps. Our sample included different glacier geometries, sizes and exposures and allowed us to investigate glacier response to climate change. Using a distributed accumulation and temperature-index melt model, we derived mass balance time series in seasonal resolution from 1900. The model was calibrated using ice volume changes obtained from differentiating digital elevation models based on (i) terrestrial topographic surveys, (ii) the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission (SRTM), and (iii) aerial photogrammetry. In-situ point measurements of annual mass balance and winter accumulation were available for some glaciers, and long-term discharge records were used for model validation. The rate of mass loss between 1900 to 2008 strongly differed between adjacent glaciers. Whereas large valley glaciers (e.g. Vadrec del Forno) showed average mass balances of up to -0.60 m w.e. a-1, smalle.... https://www.erdkunde.uni-bonn.de/article/view/2649

Object Details

• Location: Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Frankfurt am Main
• Extent: Online-Ressource
• Language: Englisch

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Glacier mass balance in the south-eastern Swiss Alps since 1900 and perspectives for the future ; volume:64 ; number:2 ; year:2010 ; Erdkunde ; 64, Heft 2 (2010)

Contributors, Places and Time

• Creator: Huss, Matthias ; Usselmann, Stephanie ; Farinotti, Daniel ; Baude, Andreas

Further information

• DOI: 10.3112/erdkunde.2010.02.02
• URN: urn:nbn:de:101:1-2410281816221.451407647314
• Rights: Open Access; Der Zugriff auf das Objekt ist unbeschränkt möglich.
• Last update: 15.08.2025, 7:25 AM CEST