Degree-Day and Surface Energy Balance Modeling of the Collier Glacier, OR
Abstract
Changes in glacier mass balance reflect an integrated response to fluctuations in precipitation and surface energy balance resulting from climate change and variability. Alpine glaciers are particularly sensitive to such changes in climate, with response times measured from centennial to decadal time scales. Our understanding of the response of alpine glaciers to climate change and their contribution to 21st century sea level rise is limited due to the restricted number of observations. Energy- and mass-balance glacier models provide an opportunity to simulate mass balance on remote glaciers, however questions arise as to the robustness of these models when applied to these remote glaciers. Here we present mass-balance measurements conducted for the 2010 balance year on the Collier Glacier, OR, a small (0.70 km2), valley glacier located in the Oregon Cascade Range (44° 10' N, 121° 47' W). As part of the study, we have installed and maintained automated weather stations to collect the necessary data to apply and validate the OSU surface energy balance model (SEBM). Model comparisons were conducted within the OSU SEBM to compare model performances between more complex and simpler methods. Model comparisons between the OSU SEBM calculating the turbulent heat fluxes using the bulk method showed similar performances with the model calculating turbulent heat fluxes using the transfer coefficient method. Furthermore, the OSU SEBM was also compared to a positive degree-day (PDD) model. Model simulations indicated that the PDD model explained approximately 82% of the variance in summer ablation, while the SEBM explained approximately 78%.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2011
- Bibcode:
- 2011AGUFM.C53D0702B
- Keywords:
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- 0736 CRYOSPHERE / Snow;
- 0738 CRYOSPHERE / Ice;
- 0762 CRYOSPHERE / Mass balance;
- 0764 CRYOSPHERE / Energy balance