Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers: an introduction to the internationally coordinated glacier monitoring

Transcription

1 Indus Forum Workshop, Zurich, 12 October 2016 Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers: an introduction to the internationally coordinated glacier monitoring Samuel U. Nussbaumer, R. Armstrong, F. Fetterer, M. Fischer, I. Gärtner-Roer, M. Hoelzle, J. Huber, J. S. Kargel, H. Machguth, N. Mölg, F. Paul, B. H. Raup, & M. Zemp

2 Introduction

3 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Glaciers as early warning system for climatic changes ~ Photo comparison: S.U. Nussbaumer

4 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Haeberli, 2014 MASS BALANCE CLIMATE direct, immediate signal indirect, delayed, filtered and enhanced signal ICE THICKNESS, ICE TEMPERATURE ADVANCE/RETREAT 4

5 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Melting glaciers so what? Past, current and possible future landscape at Trift glacier (Bernese Oberland, Switzerland). Photos and montage: Kraftwerke Oberhasli, grimselstrom.ch Irrigation ditches on slopes of Huascarán, Cordillera Blanca, Peru. Photo by M. Hambrey, swisseduc.ch

6 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Melting glaciers so what? Ice avalanche from hanging glacier, Mönch (Swiss Alps). Photo: J. Alean, swisseduc.ch Glacier collapse 17 July 2016, western Tibet Source: Sentinel 2, resolution 10 m (Images: F. Paul, UZH) Glacier lake near Grindelwald (Swiss Alps). Photo: gletschersee.ch

7 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Melting glaciers so what? Photo of the Thames Barrier from BBC webpage IPCC (2007)

8 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Free and unrestricted international share of highquality, long-term and standardized data and information products is one of the basic requirements for advances in research. Data: WGMS

9 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions GCOS (2010)

10 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Glacier observations: from the very beginning... Lower Grindelwald glacier, Swiss Alps (Edwards 1860s/ Nussbaumer 2015) 122 years of internationally coordinated glacier monitoring compilation and dissemination of standardized data about glacier distribution and changes GTN-G is today s organizational framework for the glacier data centres and services 1894 François-Alphonse Forel today

11 Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G)

12 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions GTN-G

13 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions WGMS General Assembly of National Correspondents 2010 Find our summary report, as published in the NASA Earth Observer, Vol. 23(4): 28 31, on our website:

14 WGMS National Correspondents for: Antarctica, Argentina, Austria, Bolivia, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Ecuador, France, Georgia, Germany, Greenland, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Tanzania, Uganda, USA, Uzbekistan intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions to a worldwide scientific collaboration network Regular sessions on «Glacier monitoring from in situ and remotely sensed observations»:... AGU Fall Meeting, San Francisco, Dec 2016 EGU General Assembly, Vienna, Apr 2017

15 Monitoring Strategy

16 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G): Objectives a) combining in situ observations with remotely sensed data b) combining process understanding with global coverage c) combining traditional measurements with new technologies by using an integrated and multi-level strategy

17 intro gtn-glaciers strategy products conclusions Global Terrestrial Network for Glaciers (GTN-G): strategy main goals of long-term observations: process understanding model validation change detection impact assessments change detection: Haeberli et al. (2000) rate of change acceleration trends pre-industrial variability change patterns integrated / tiered observing strategy Tier 1: multi-component obs. system across environmental gradients Tier 2: process understanding and model calibration => extensive energy/mass balance, flow Tier 3: regional indicators => mass change (index stakes, photogrammetry, LIDAR) Tier 4: regional representativeness => cumulative length change; DEM differencing Tier 5: global coverage => inventories (remote sensing/geoinformatics)

18 Datasets and Products

19 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions WGMS datasets Annual calls-for-data Sent out early October to National Correspondents (& Principal Investigators & CRYOLIST) One-year retention period (exception: near-time reporting for reference glaciers) First (mass balance) results published online by end of the year Glacier changes in: Mass Length Thickness/volume Area Addition glacier data and information: Special events (avalanche, GLOF, surge, ) Glacier maps FoG WGMS Index datasets (e.g., end-of-summer snow lines, point mass balance, ice thickness)

20 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Other datasets within GTN-G: glacier distribution World Glacier Inventory: mainly aerial photographs and maps around 1970s GLIMS Inventory: mainly satellite images after 2000 Randolph Glacier Inventory: almost global coverage, few time stamps/attributes

21 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier fluctuations (FoG) data at WGMS < 2005 obs. cover Front variation data, glaciological and geodetic balances Zemp et al. 2015

22 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier changes: available data & direct glaciological method green: all available glacier data red: in situ mass balance since 2011/12 orange: reference glaciers (> 30 yrs. of obs.) Data: WGMS

23 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier changes in mass: glaciological and geodetic method 427 glaciers 6,195 observ. 1,830 glaciers 2,616 observ.

24 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier changes in mass: glaciological and geodetic method

25 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Great potential of geodetic methods Floricioiu, Jaber and Rott (2012) Opportunities: o High spatial resolution o Covering entire mountain ranges Challenges: o Mountain topography o How bridging the last mile?

26 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier changes in length 2,521 glaciers 45,965 observations Reconstr. series: 36 glaciers

27 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Capacity building and twinning activities mass balance monitoring in Central Asia and Latin America SMD4GC

28 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Summer school on mass balance measurements and analysis Date: JULY 2016 Venue: La Paz & Zongo Glacier, Bolivia Local Organizer: A. Soruco, IGEMA, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, La Paz Participants: 18 from Andean countries Teachers: 8 from CH and FR Training in and discussion of best practices Direct contact to observers of ongoing glacier monitoring programmes Strengthening of the regional glacier monitoring network 2000 Summer School in Zermatt, Switzerland in 2013 Photos by M. Zemp

29 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier monitoring in the HKH region: present state Tier 1: mainly regional or national scientific studies Tier 2: lack of detailed long-term observations for process understanding and model validation; only potential site are Ts. Tuyuksu (KZ Tien Shan) Urumqihe South No.1 (CN Tien Shan) Tier 3: lack of ongoing mass balance studies Tier 4: many discontinued front variation series, lack of ongoing observations, few recent programmes in India Tier 5: national glacier inventories available from former SU (WGI) as well as from China and Nepal (GLIMS)

30 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Glacier monitoring in the HKH region: future needs Tier 1: Cover spatial diversity and elevation belts, include available (disc.) measurements, overcome national boundaries, planning of monitoring network must be based on feasibility and relevance; remote sensing & in-situ Tier 2: establish at least one detailed process-oriented observation programme for long-term studies in each country of HKH Tier 3: establish additional 3-10 mass balance programmes with reduced stake networks in each country of HKH to cover glacier change variations of different regions Tier 4: reconstruct and continue front variation series; use global and national digital elevation models (e.g. SRTM3) for large scale volume change studies Tier 5: complete national inventories, plan repeat inventories for changes assessments (LIA, 1970s, 2000, 2020) Special issues to be addressed: monsoon, debris cover, surges, hazards,... Make all data and related meta-information freely available through GTN-G

31 GTN-G Strategy Concluding remarks

32 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Current glacier research paradigm SCIENCE modelling Too much focused on innovation-driven science. Lack of funding for long-term monitoring. In situ observations remote sensing Limited scientific reproducibility due to non-availability of basic data. MONITORING

33 intro gtn-glaciers strategy datasets, products, services conclusions Fluctuations of Glaciers database, browser, app

34 Recommendations and Outlook Provide stewardship over products valuable within and beyond glaciology Foster a community that is willing to contribute data Help secure long-term funding for data access Provide a highly visible and user-friendly one-stop portal for data GTN-G Global Glacier Browser: Glacier observations are a fundamental requirement for assessing climate change impacts on glacier hazards, freshwater resources/runoff, and global sea-level rise. Growing number of remote-sensing data have a great potential for boosting glacier monitoring but requires joint efforts of research and monitoring to fully tap the potential of these data and to truly link traditional methods with new technologies.