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Glacier modeling in support of field observations of mass balance at South Cascade Glacier, Washington, USA

January 1, 2010

The long-term USGS measurement and reporting of mass balance at South Cascade Glacier was assisted in balance years 2006 and 2007 by a new mass balance model. The model incorporates a temperature-index melt computation and accumulation is modeled from glacier air temperature and gaged precipitation at a remote site. Mass balance modeling was used with glaciological measurements to estimate dates and magnitudes of critical mass balance phenomena. In support of the modeling, a detailed analysis was made of the "glacier cooling effect" that reduces summer air temperature near the ice surface as compared to that predicted on the basis of a spatially uniform temperature lapse rate. The analysis was based on several years of data from measurements of near-surface air temperature on the glacier. The 2006 and 2007 winter balances of South Cascade Glacier, computed with this new, model-augmented methodology, were 2.61 and 3.41 mWE, respectively. The 2006 and 2007 summer balances were -4.20 and -3.63 mWE, respectively, and the 2006 and 2007 net balances were -1.59 and -0.22 mWE. PDF version of a presentation on the mass balance of South Cascade Glacier in Washington state. Presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Meeting 2010.

Publication Year 2010
Title Glacier modeling in support of field observations of mass balance at South Cascade Glacier, Washington, USA
DOI 10.3133/70039772
Authors Edward G. Josberger, William R. Bidlake
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Unnumbered Series
Series Title Monograph
Index ID 70039772
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Washington Water Science Center