Distributed Global Debris Thickness Estimates Reveal Debris Significantly Impacts Glacier Mass Balance.
Geophys Res Lett
; 48(8): e2020GL091311, 2021 Apr 28.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34219840
ABSTRACT
Supraglacial debris affects glacier mass balance as a thin layer enhances surface melting, while a thick layer reduces it. While many glaciers are debris-covered, global glacier models do not account for debris because its thickness is unknown. We provide the first globally distributed debris thickness estimates using a novel approach combining sub-debris melt and surface temperature inversion methods. Results are evaluated against observations from 22 glaciers. We find the median global debris thickness is â¼0.15 ± 0.06 m. In all regions, the net effect of accounting for debris is a reduction in sub-debris melt, on average, by 37%, which can impact regional mass balance by up to 0.40 m water equivalent (w.e.) yr-1. We also find recent observations of similar thinning rates over debris-covered and clean ice glacier tongues is primarily due to differences in ice dynamics. Our results demonstrate the importance of accounting for debris in glacier modeling efforts.
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MEDLINE
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Ano de publicação:
2021
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Article