preliminary glacier mass balance data 2009/2010

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1   Summary of the balance year 2009/10

Preliminary mass balance values for the observation period 2009/10 have been reported now from more than 100 glaciers worldwide. The mass balance statistics (Table 1) are calculated based on all reported values as well as on the data from the 37 reference glaciers in 10 mountain ranges (Table 2) with continuous observation series back to 1980.

The average mass balance of the glaciers with available long-term observation series around the world continues to be negative, with tentative figures indicating a further thickness reduction of 0.85 metres water equivalent (m w.e.) during the hydrological year 2010. The new data continues the global trend in strong ice loss over the past few decades and brings the cumulative average thickness loss of the reference glaciers since 1980 at about 15 m w.e. (see Figures 1 and 2). All so far reported mass balance values for the observation period, given in Table 3, are tentative.

Table 1: Overview on mass balance data 2009/10. Statistics are given for all reported glaciers (ALL) and for the available 'reference' glaciers with continuous long-term observation series (REF).

.	2009/10
.	ALL	REF
Mean annual mass balance (mm w.e.)	-776	-850
Minimum value (mm w.e.)	-3800	-1840
Maximum value (mm w.e.)	+1020	+30
Standard deviation (mm w.e.)	975	535
Number of positive/reported balances	19/108	1/30

Table 2: Reference glaciers with continuous long-term observation series.

Mountain range Glaciers Alaska Gulkana, Wolverine Pacific Coast Ranges Place, South Cascade, Helm, Lemon Creek, Peyto Andes Echaurren Norte Canadian High Arctic Devon Ice Cap NW, Meighen Ice Cap, White Svalbard Austre Broeggerbreen, Midtre Lovénbreen Scandinavia Engabreen, Alfotbreen, Nigardsbreen, Grasubreen, Storbreen, Hellstugubreen, Hardangerjoekulen, Storglaciaeren Alps Saint Sorlin, Sarennes, Argentière, Silvretta, Gries, Stubacher Sonnblickkees, Vernagtferner, Kesselwandferner, Hintereisferner, Caresèr Caucasus Djankuat Altai No. 125 (Vodopadniy), Maliy Aktru, Leviy Aktru Tien Shan Ts. Tuyuksuyskiy, Urumqi Glacier No.1 The corresponding annual and cumulative mass balance results of this data set from glaciers in the Americas and Eurasia are visualized in the following two figures:

Figure 1: Mean annual mass balance of reference glaciers. pdf

Figure 2: Mean cumulative mass balance of all reported glaciers (blue line) and the reference glaciers (red line).pdf

For more detailed analysis of the global mass balance dataset, see the following selected publications and references therein:

Braithwaite, R.J. 2002. Glacier mass balance: the first 50 years of international monitoring. Progr. Phys. Geogr., 26 (1), 76-95. Cogley, J.G. and W.P. Adams. 1998. Mass balance of glaciers other than the ice sheets. J. Glaciol., 44 (147), 315-325. Dyurgerov, M.B. 2002. Glacier mass balance and regime: data of measurements and analysis. Boulder, CO, University of Colorado, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. INSTAAR Occasional Paper 55. Dyurgerov, M.B. and M.F. Meier. 2005. Glaciers and the changing Earth system: a 2004 snapshot. Boulder, CO, University of Colorado, Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. INSTAAR Occasional Paper 58. Kaser, G., Cogley, J.G., Dyurgerov, M.B., Meier, M.F. and A. Ohmura. 2006. Mass balance of glaciers and ice caps: consensus estimates for 1961-2004. Geophys. Res. Lett., 33 (19), L19501. Meier, M.F., Dyurgerov, M.B., Rick, U.K., O'Neel, S., Pfeffer, W.T., Anderson, R.S., Anderson, S.P. and A.F. Glazovsky. 2007. Glaciers dominate eustatic sea-level rise in the 21st century. Science, 317 (5841): 1064-1067. Ohmura, A. 2006. Changes in mountain glaciers and ice caps during the 20th century. Ann. Glaciol., 43, 361-368. WGMS. 2008. Global Glacier Changes: facts and figures. Zemp, M., Roer, I., Kääb, A., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. and W. Haeberli (eds.), UNEP, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland: 88 pp. Zemp, M., Hoelzle, M. and W. Haeberli. 2009. Six decades of glacier mass balance observations - a review of the worldwide monitoring network. Annals of Glaciology, 50A018.

2   Preliminary mass balance data

Table 3: Reported preliminary mass balance values of the observation period 2009/10.

Name	MB10
	[mm w.e.]
Antarctica
Bahia del Diablo	+370
Hurd	+540
Johnson	+510
Argentina
Martial Este	+930
Austria
Grosser Goldbergkees	-216
Hintereisferner	-1419
Jamtalferner	-1434
Kesselwandferner	-670
Kleiner Fleisskees	-758
Pasterzenkees	-910
Sonnblickkees	-792
Vernagtferner	-680
Wurtenkees	-519
Bolivia
Chacaltaya	vanished
Charquini sur	-2921
Zongo	-739
Canada
Devon Ice Cap NW	-417
Helm
Meighen Ice Cap	-387
Melville	-939
Peyto
Place
White	-188
Chile
Echaurren Norte
China
Urumqihe S.No.1	-1327
Colombia
La Conejera (Sta Isabel)	-757
Ecuador
Antizana 15 Alpha	-938
France
Argentìere	-540
Gebroulaz	-340
Ossoue	-480
Saint Sorlin	-1000
Sarennes	-1530
Greenland
Mittivakkat	-2155
Freya	-795
Iceland
Bruarjökull	-1570
Dyngjujökull	-1540
Eyabakkajökull	-1750
Hofsjökull E	-2830
Hofsjökull N	-2400
Hofsjökull SW	-3490
Koeldukvislarjökull	-2870
Langjökull Southern Dome	-3800
Tungnaarjökull	-3551
India
Chhota Shigri
Hamtah
Italy
Calderone	+702
Campo Settentrionale	-978
Careser	-962
Ciardoney	-830
Fontana Bianca	-195
Grand Etret
Lupo	+347
Malavalle	-197
Pendente	-134
Suretta Meridionale	-3
Vedretta Lunga	-557
Vedretta Occ. di Ries	-470
Japan
Hamaguri Yuki	-105
Kazakhstan
Ts. Tuyuksuyskiy	+30
New Zealand
Brewster
Norway
Aalfotbreen	-1840
Austdalsbreeen	-2000
Austre Broeggerbreen	-440
Blomstolskar	-1230
Breidalblikkbrea	-1940
Elisebreen
Engabreen	-520
Graafjellsbreen	-1840
Graasubreen	-1060
Hansbreen	-14
Hansebreen	-2220
Hardangerjoekulen	-1490
Hellstugubreen	-1340
Irenebreen
Juvfonne	-3240
Kongsvegen	+130
Langfjordjoekul	-760
Midtre Lovenbreen	-200
Nigardsbreen	-800
Storbreen	-1760
Svelgjabreen	-1640
Waldemarbreen
Peru
Artesonraju	+50
Yanamarey	-182
Russia
Djankuat	-600
Garabashi	-1240
Leviy Aktru
Maliy Aktru
No. 125 (Vodopadniy)
Spain
Maladeta	+259
Sweden
Marmaglaciaeren	-500
Rabots Glaciaer	-1080
Riukojietna	-960
Storglaciaeren	-690
Tarfalaglaciaeren	-1060
Switzerland
Basodino	-584
Findelen	-470
Gries	-1307
Pizol	-860
Plaine Morte	-874
Silvretta	-268
Tsanfleuron	-917
USA
Columbia (2057)	-210
Daniels	-260
Easton	+680
Emmons	+1020
Foss	-110
Gulkana	-1832
Ice Worm	-380
Lemon Creek	-580
Lower Curtis	-440
Lynch	-340
Nisqually	+20
Noisy Creek	-180
North Klawatti	+250
Rainbow	+760
Sandalee	+240
Sholes	+940
Silver	+550
South Cascade	-810
Taku	-120
Wolverine	-85
Yawning	+170

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