Abstract Due to remoteness and high altitude, only a few ground-based glacier change studies are available in high-mountain areas the Himalaya. However, digital elevation models based on remotely sensed data (RS-DEMs) provide feasible opportunities evaluate how fast Himalayan glaciers changing. Here we compute changes surface (total area 183.3 km 2 ) Khumbu region, Nepal Himalaya, for period 1992-2008 using multitemporal RS-DEMs map-derived DEM calibrated with differential GPS survey 2007....

Changes in the area and bathymetry of Imja Glacial Lake elevation its damming moraine, Khumbu region, Nepal Himalaya are investigated. Previously reported changes lake have been updated by multi-temporal ASTER images, which revealed a decreased expansion rate after 2000. A provisional observed 2004, from some studies concluded an accelerated due to global warming, has, 2005, subsided glacier surface. Bathymetric for period 1992–2002 that were first obtained Himalayan glacial lakes suggest...

• Premise of the study: Looming petroleum shortages and projected negative impacts human-induced climate change may be partly alleviated by development use bioenergy feedstock crops. Miscanthus ×giganteus, a highly productive sterile triploid hybrid grass that was discovered in Japan several decades ago, has considerable potential as an alternative source energy. Given risks, however, involved reliance upon production one clone this hybrid, which is natural cross between sacchariflorus...

Abstract. Data of liquid water flow around a capillary barrier in snow are still limited. To gain insight into this process, we carried out observations dyed infiltration layered at 0 °C during cold laboratory experiments. We considered three different finer-over-coarser textures and input rates. By means visual inspection, horizontal sectioning, measurements content (LWC), barriers associated preferential were characterized. The dynamics each sample also simulated solving the Richards...

Abstract The water retention curve (WRC), which shows the relationship between volumetric liquid content, θ v , and suction, h is a fundamental part of characterization hydraulic properties. Therefore, formulation WRC as function snow characteristics essential for establishing model movement through cover. In this study, we measured several samples, had different (grain size, bulk dry density grain type), using gravity drainage column experiment then analysed these data Van Genuchten soil...

Abstract To study the glaciological processes controlling mass budget of Greenland’s peripheral glaciers and ice caps, field measurements were carried out on Qaanaaq cap, a 20 km long cap in northwestern Greenland. In summer 2012, we measured surface melt rate, flow velocity thickness along survey route spanning margin (200m a.s.l.) to ice-cap summit (1110m a.s.l.). Melt rates ablation area clearly influenced by dark materials covering surface, where degree-day factors varied from 5.44 mm...

Light-absorbing snow impurities of elemental carbon (EC), organic (OC), and mineral dust have been measured at three locations elevations from 1,469 to 1,992 m on August 1, 2011, the site SIGMA-A (78°N, 68°W, elevation 1,490 m) northwest Greenland ice sheet (GrIS) during period June 28 July 12, 2012. At SIGMA-A, a remarkable surface lowering together with melting was observed observation in 2012, when record event occurred over GrIS. The concentrations were 0.9, 3.8, 107 ppbw for EC, OC,...

Abstract. The heterogeneous movement of liquid water through the snowpack during precipitation and snowmelt leads to complex distributions that are important for avalanche runoff forecasting. We reproduced formation capillary barriers development preferential flow snow using a three-dimensional transport model, which was then validated laboratory experiments infiltration into layered, initially dry snow. Three-dimensional simulations assumed same column shape size, grain density, input rate...

Abstract. To improve surface mass balance (SMB) estimates for the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS), we developed a 5 km resolution regional climate model combining Japan Meteorological Agency Non-Hydrostatic atmospheric Model and Snow Metamorphism Albedo Process (NHM–SMAP) with an output interval of 1 h, forced by Japanese 55-year reanalysis (JRA-55). We used in situ data to evaluate NHM–SMAP GrIS during 2011–2014 years. investigated two options lower boundary conditions atmosphere: offline...

Abstract. Coseismic avalanches and rockfalls, as well their simultaneous air blast muddy flow, which were induced by the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in Nepal, destroyed village of Langtang. In order to reveal volume structure deposit covering village, sequence multiple events, we conducted an intensive situ observation October 2015. Multitemporal digital elevation models created from photographs taken helicopter unmanned aerial vehicles that volumes primary succeeding events 6.81 ± 1.54 × 106...

Sizes and shapes of snow particles were determined from X-ray computed microtomography (micro-CT) images, their single-scattering properties calculated at visible near-infrared wavelengths using a Geometrical Optics Method (GOM). We analyzed seven samples including fresh aged artificial natural obtained field samples. Individual numerically extracted, the shape each particle was defined by applying rendering method. The size distribution specific surface area estimated geometrical particles,...

Abstract Using 12 seasons of data from a multicompartment snow lysimeter and statistical learning algorithm (Random Forest), we investigated to what extent preferential flow snowpack runoff can be predicted concurrent weather conditions, as well the relative importance factors affecting this process. We found that development partially based on conditions. In case study where is generally wet coarse, most important predictors standard maximum deviation mean spatial are related inputs their...

Abstarct Meteorological data from mountainous areas of Japan have been collected by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) almost 20 years. The long-period indicate that neither a notable increase in mean winter temperature nor reduction snow depth has occurred these areas. maximum depth, SD max , water equivalent, SWE show similar fluctuation trends, although with large year-to-year variations value larger range than . This result suggests...

During spring 2014, we drilled an ice core on the northwestern Greenland Ice Sheet, recovering a of total length 225m. We also conducted stratigraphic observations, measurements density core, near-infrared photography preparation liquid samples for chemical analysis, and borehole temperature. The pore close-off depth was 60m, temperature in −25.6°C at 10m. In addition, snow-pit ice-velocity surface-elevation using global positioning system (GPS), meteorological installation automated weather...

Abstract. Trustworthy estimates of snow water equivalent and depth are essential for resource management in snow-dominated regions. While ensemble-based data assimilation techniques, such as the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF), commonly used this context to combine model predictions with observations therefore improve performance, these ensemble methods computationally demanding thus face significant challenges when integrated into time-sensitive operational workflows. To address challenge, we...

In situ meteorological data are essential for a better understanding of the ongoing environmental changes in Arctic. order to increase scientific value discussions on actual state change given area, it is necessary appropriately remove anomalous values recorded due external factors resulting from low temperature and icing. Here we present methods quality control (QC) observation datasets two automatic weather stations northwest Greenland, where drastic glaciological have occurred. The were...

Japan features a wide variety of snow environments, with significant differences in distribution based on region and elevation. The effects ongoing climate change are expected to alter conditions significantly, highlighting the need for comprehensive understanding these changes their implications.Meteorological observation sites managed by Meteorological Agency predominantly concentrated low-altitude areas, only limited number high-altitude regions. Consequently, lack long-term spatially...

In snow-dominated regions, today’s snow is tomorrow’s water, making reliable estimates of water equivalent (SWE) and depth crucial for resource management. this context, data assimilation a powerful tool to optimally combine models measurements, enhancing accuracy reliability. Ensemble-based techniques like the Ensemble Kalman Filter (EnKF) Particle (PF) are often used but their deployment in real-time applications can make it challenging ensure timely accurate results....