Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

TROPICAL GLACIERS

Georg KaserInstitut für GeographieUniversität Innsbruck

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Tropical glaciers

1. Radiation geometry: sun in zenith 2(1) times annualy

Kas

er,

Ha

sten

rath

an

d A

mes

, Z

GG

(19

96)

3. ITCZ: hygric seasonality with 2(1) wet / dry seasons

2. ΔTa ≤ ΔTd: thermally homogenous in space and time

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Annual variation of air temperature (monthly means) against geographical latitudestations > 3000 m a.s.l. O = Querococha

Kaser & Osmaston (2002)

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Total area: < 2.500 km2

Thickness: ~ 25 m Kaser and Osmaston (2002)

Estimated volume: 50 to 60 109 m3

SLE: 0.11 to 0.13 mm

Tropical Glaciers Km2 %

Rwenzori 1.5 0.06 Mt. Kenya 0.3 0.01 Kilimanjaro 2.6 0.10Afrika < 4.4 0.18Irian Jaya 2.3 0.09 Colombia 87 3.48 Venezuela 1.8 0.07 Equador 90 3.60 Peru 1,780 71.21 Bolivia 534 21.36S America 2,492.8 99.73Total 2,499 100

Cordillera Blanca, Peru

LIA: 875 ± 25 km2

1920s: 825 ± 25 km2

1970: 670 ± 10 km2

1990: 620 ± 10 km2

Today: < 600 km2

LIA to today: - 30% Georges, AAAR (2004)

SLR: ~ 0.04 mm

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Tropical glacier area changes (100% = appr. around 1900)

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Hadley cell and ITCZ along the tropical Andes

wet season

dry season

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Precipitation Runoff

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Gla

ciar

Art

eso

nra

ju,

Ap

ril

04 –

Mar

ch 0

5

Wag

non

et

al.

GP

Ch

(19

98)

WET

DRY

Glaciar Zongo

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Seasonality and Runoff

Kas

er e

t al

., J

H (

200

3)

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

ITGG - model

Ablation (Ta,P,F)

Ta air temperatureP precipitationF QL/QL + QM Kaser, JGlac (2001)

Parameterisation of moisture impact on energy fluxes

determined via an internal calibrationprocedure

LWin, F, SWin, albedo: as functions of P

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Runoff from Llanganuco catchment (34 % glaciated) - Projections

Juen

et

a.,

G&

PC

h,

2005

Glacier mass balancefromhydrological balance 1953 - 1994mean over 5 basins•Pachacoto (9.7% glac.)•Quillcay (17.4%)•Chancos (24.1%)•Llanganuco (33.5%)•Parón (40.9%)

length variations:•Yanamarey•Uruashraju•Broggi

Kas

er e

t al

., J

.Hy

dr.

(20

03)

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

me

an

cu

. sp

ec.

ma

ss b

ala

nce

[m

we

]m

ea

n c

u.

spe

c. m

ass

ba

lan

ce [

m w

e]

1960 1970 1980 1990

-20

-15

-10

-50

Cordillera Blanca - cummulative mass balance

hydrological model

ITGG model + NCEP/NCAR-RA

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University

Precipitation - mean of 5 stations in Cordillera Blanca 1953 - 1994

W E T

D R Y

Tropical Glaciology Group

Innsbruck University