Glacier observing “infrastructure”

Michael N. Demuth, P.Eng., P.Geo.Glaciology/Cold Regions Research Scientist

Mountain NCE Planning WorkshopJanuary 11-12, 2016

Canadian National RepresentativeWorld Glacier Monitoring Service

Rockies-Interior

Coast Mountains

seasonal & annualsurface mass balance

5a-10a geodetic

fused surface and geodetic

Reference Glacier Mass BalanceObserving Network – Western Cordillera

KaBBI

CI

HB

An

WIRR

- unless otherwise noted, NRCan/GSC conducts the observations and analysis:WI - Wapta Icefield (includes Peyto Glacier and Yoho Glacier)RR – Ram RiverCI – Columbia Icefield (includes Saskatchewan Glacier and Athabasca Glacier; lower Athabasca observed by Parks Canada)BBI – Brintnell-Bologna IcefieldKa – Kaskawulsh (multiple partners including U.Ottawa)

- full metadata is available describing site infrastructure (instrumentation, research huts, benchmarking) and partnerships

Reference Glacier Mass BalanceObserving Network – Queen Elizabeth Islands

Baffin Is.

QEI

MeWh AgGF

D

PIC

MS

traditional seasonal and annual surface mass balance

fused surface and geodetic

By

- unless otherwise noted, NRCan/GSC conducts the observations and analysis:PIC – Penny Ice Cap (Parks Canada conducts observations only)By – Bylot (Parks Canada conducts observations only; status unknown)D – Devon Ice CapGF – Grise Fiord GlacierAg – Agassiz Ice CapWh - White Glacier (U.Ottawa conducts observations and analysis)Me – Meighen Ice Cap MS – Melville South Ice Cap

- full metadata is available describing site infrastructure (instrumentation, research huts, benchmarking) and partnerships

This map was developed for a workshop on improving weather and water observations in the mountain west (AB, BC, NT & Yukon).It includes legacy GoC (EC-NHRI) and Western Canadian Cryosphere Network (WC2N) era sites, some of which have been discontinued.

Augmented Glacier Mass BalanceObserving Network

- Western Cordillera -

Rockies-Interior

Coast Mountains

- traditional seasonal and annual surface mass balance

- direct geodetic: 1a

- direct geodetic: 5-10a

- fused surface and geodetic

Ka

BI

CI

HB

An

WIRRI

W

BR

Ha

CCKP

Z

N

Co

TLC

Ko

RuMaCe

This map represents the NRCan/GSC reference network for the Canadian mountain west (slide 2) and now includes sites in the USA Alaska Panhandle and sites that are part of several recent efforts towards network enhancement:

Columbia Basin Trust – Snow and Glacier CEOP Network:Z – ZillmerN – NordicCo – ConradKo – Kokanee

UNBC:CC – Castle CreekKP – Kink PeakW – WeartRu-Ma-Ce multiple site cluster on Vancouver IslandUBC:

BR – Bridge RiverU.Calgary:

Ha - Haig

Washington and Montana USA sites not shown

Recently fused application of the “traditional” surface and “direct” geodetic methods are shown (f.ex. using the UNBC airborne laser scanner or U.Sask. terrestrial scanner)

NC

Data and analysis from the noted reference sites are regularly contributed to the World Glacier Monitoring Service and make a contribution to GCOS/GTOS ‘ Specialized Terrestrial Network GTN-Glacier.

Example shows the “Global Glacier Change Bulletin” No.1 - the first issue since the amalgamation of the biennial “Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin” (12 issues) and the pendatal “Fluctuation of Glaciers” (volumes I - IX)

These contributions are considered “Official Communications to the Parties of the Convention”, UNFCCC.

Additional contributions from more recent observations are welcome

Glacier AppIn the lead-up to the Paris Climate Conference

COP21 in December 2015, the WGMS and UNESCO jointly launched a Glacier App for mobile devices.

This new information system aims at bringing scientifically sound facts and figures on worldwide

glacier changes to decision makers at governmental and intergovernmental levels as well as reaching

out to the interested public.

http://wgms.ch/