Sensitivity of mountain glacier mass balance to changes in bare-ice albedo

• DOI: 10.1017/aog.2017.25
• Publication Date: 2017-10-10T11:04:31Z
• Authors: Kathrin Naegeli; Matthias Huss
• Keywords: Albedo (alchemy); Glacier mass balance; Ice-albedo feedback; Ablation zone; Accumulation zone

ABSTRACT Albedo is an important parameter in the energy balance of bare-ice surfaces and modulates glacier melt rates. The prolongation ablation period enforces albedo feedback highlights need for profound knowledge on impacts mass balance. In this study, we assess sensitivity 12 Swiss glaciers with abundant long-term in-situ data changes albedo. We use pixel-based derived from Landsat 8. A distributed mass-balance model applied to 1997–2016 experiments are performed impact Our results indicate that glacier-wide sensitivities correlate strongly mean annual balances ( r 2 = 0.81). Large alpine react more sensitively due their areas being situated at lower elevations. find average −0.14 m w.e. a −1 per 0.1 decrease. Although value considerably smaller than air temperature change, stress importance enhanced will be amplified atmospheric warming suspected darkening surface near future.