An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers

Huilin Li; Zhongqin Li; Mingjun Zhang; Wenfeng Li

doi:10.1007/s12583-011-0198-1

Volume 22 Issue 4

Aug 2011

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Journal of Earth Science > 2011 > 22(4): 441-448.

Huilin Li, Zhongqin Li, Mingjun Zhang, Wenfeng Li. An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(4): 441-448. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0198-1

Citation:

Huilin Li, Zhongqin Li, Mingjun Zhang, Wenfeng Li. An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(4): 441-448. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0198-1

Citation:

Huilin Li, Zhongqin Li, Mingjun Zhang, Wenfeng Li. An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers. Journal of Earth Science, 2011, 22(4): 441-448. doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0198-1

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An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers

doi: 10.1007/s12583-011-0198-1

1.
State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tianshan Glaciological Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
2.
College of Geography and Environment Sciences, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China

More Information

Corresponding author: Huilin Li, lihuilin@lzb.ac.cn
Received Date: 17 Jan 2011
Accepted Date: 28 Apr 2011
Publish Date: 01 Aug 2011

Abstract

Abstract

To evaluate the water storage and project the future evolution of glaciers, the ice-thickness of glaciers is an essential input. However, direct measurements of ice thickness are laborious, not feasible everywhere, and necessarily restricted to a small number of glaciers. In this article, we develop a simple method to estimate the ice-thickness along flow-line of mountain glaciers. Different from the traditional method based on shallow ice approximation (SIA), which gives a relationship between ice thickness, surface slope, and yield stress of glaciers, the improved method considers and presents a simple way to calibrate the influence of valley wall on ice discharge. The required inputs are the glacier surface topography and outlines. This shows the potential of the method for estimating the ice-thickness distribution and volume of glaciers without using of direct thickness measurements.
- improved method,
- shallow ice approximation,
- ice thickness calculation,
- glacier volume calculation,
- mountain glacier

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References(40)

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