"Crucial to the survival of a glacier is its mass balance..."
The use of computer models to simulate the behavior of glaciers over time.
Glacier dynamics: The study of how glaciers move and change over time due to factors such as temperature, precipitation, and ice flow.
Glacial hydrology: The study of water movement within glaciers, including the formation of meltwater, subglacial streams, and water channels.
Ice sheet mass balance: The study of the balance between ice accumulation and ice loss on a glacier or ice sheet.
Ice sheet modeling: The use of mathematical models to simulate the behavior of ice sheets and predict their future changes.
Glacier calving: The breaking off of large chunks of ice from the front of a glacier or ice sheet, which can contribute to sea level rise.
Glacier mass balance: The study of how the mass of a glacier changes over time due to factors such as snowfall, temperature, and ice loss.
Glacier retreat: The process by which a glacier or ice sheet shrinks over time due to melting and other factors.
Glacier surges: Periodic and rapid advances of glaciers, which can significantly impact the landscape and local ecosystems.
Climate modeling: The use of computer models to simulate and predict climate patterns, which can impact glaciological processes.
Remote sensing: The use of satellite imagery, aerial photography, and other techniques to study glaciers and ice sheets from a distance.
Ice core analysis: The study of ice cores drilled from glaciers and ice sheets, which can provide information about past climates and environmental conditions.
Glaciological field methods: Techniques for collecting data on glaciers and ice sheets in the field, such as measuring ice thickness and ice flow speed.
Glacier erosion and sediment transport: The study of how glaciers erode and transport sediment, which can impact the landscape and ecosystem.
Ice sheet models: These are mathematical representations of the entire ice sheet, and they simulate the overall behavior of the ice sheet. They take into account the physical properties of ice, snow, and the underlying terrain.
Ice stream models: These models focus on the faster-moving regions within an ice sheet, called ice streams. Ice streams are particularly important because they tend to control the overall behavior of the ice sheet.
Glacier models: These models are used to simulate the behavior of individual glaciers, and they take into account factors such as the slope of the glacier, the shape of the bedrock, and the surface melt.
Iceberg models: These models simulate the behavior of icebergs, which are chunks of ice that break off from the edge of a glacier or ice sheet.
Snow models: These models simulate the accumulation and melting of snow on the surface of glaciers and ice sheets, taking into account factors such as temperature, precipitation, and solar radiation.
Permafrost models: These models are used to simulate the behavior of frozen ground, or permafrost. This is particularly important in areas where permafrost is thawing due to climate change.
Sea ice models: These models simulate the behavior of sea ice, which is ice that forms on the surface of the ocean. Sea ice models take into account factors such as wind, currents, and air temperature.
Ice-ocean models: These models simulate the interaction between the ice sheet or glacier with the ocean, and take into account factors such as ocean currents and the transfer of heat between the water and the ice.
Ice sheet mass balance models: These models are used to estimate the net gain or loss of ice from an ice sheet, taking into account factors such as snowfall, melting, and iceberg calving.
Ice core models: These models simulate the behavior of ice cores, which are samples of ice extracted from glaciers or ice sheets. Ice core models are used to study changes in the Earth's climate over time.
"Climate change may cause variations in both temperature and snowfall..."
"A glacier with a sustained negative balance is out of equilibrium and will retreat..."
"Glacier retreat results in the loss of the low elevation region of the glacier."
"The disappearance of the lowest portion of the glacier reduces overall ablation, thereby increasing mass balance..."
"If the mass balance of a significant portion of the accumulation zone of the glacier is negative, it is in disequilibrium with the local climate."
"The key symptom of a glacier in disequilibrium is thinning along the entire length of the glacier."
"Easton Glacier will likely shrink to half its size, but at a slowing rate of reduction, and stabilize at that size..."
"The upper section of Easton Glacier remains healthy and snow-covered, while even the upper section of the Grinnell Glacier is bare, melting, and has thinned."
"Small glaciers with shallow slopes such as Grinnell Glacier are most likely to fall into disequilibrium if there is a change in the local climate."
"In the case of positive mass balance, the glacier will continue to advance expanding its low elevation area, resulting in more melting."
"If a glacier is near a large body of water, especially an ocean, the glacier may advance until iceberg calving losses bring about equilibrium."
"From 1980 to 2012 the mean cumulative mass loss of glaciers reporting mass balance to the World Glacier Monitoring Service is −16 m. This includes 23 consecutive years of negative mass balances."
"Changes in mass balance control a glacier's long-term behavior and are the most sensitive climate indicators on a glacier."
"Climate change may cause variations in both temperature and snowfall..."
"Such a glacier will melt away with a continuation of this local climate."
"Changes in mass balance control a glacier's long-term behavior and are the most sensitive climate indicators on a glacier."
"Since higher elevations are cooler than lower ones, the disappearance of the lowest portion of the glacier reduces overall ablation, thereby increasing mass balance..."
"If the mass balance of a significant portion of the accumulation zone of the glacier is negative, it is in disequilibrium with the local climate."
"If a glacier is near a large body of water, especially an ocean, the glacier may advance until iceberg calving losses bring about equilibrium."