preliminary glacier mass balance data 2010/2011

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1   Summary of the balance year 2010/11

Preliminary mass balance values for the observation period 2010/11 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 ten 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 one metre water equivalent (m w.e.) during the hydrological year 2011. 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 more than 15 m w.e. (see Figures 1 and 2). All so far reported mass balance values given in Table 3, are tentative.

Table 1: Overview on mass balance data 2010/11. Statistics are given for all reported glaciers (ALL) and for the available 'reference' glaciers with continuous long-term observation series (REF).

.	2010/11
.	ALL	REF
Mean annual mass balance (mm w.e.)	-796	-1147
Minimum value (mm w.e.)	-4153	-4153
Maximum value (mm w.e.)	1640	1210
Standard deviation (mm w.e.)	1104	954
Number of positive/reported balances	25/109	3/33

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. WGMS. 2011. Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 11 (2008-2009). Zemp, M., Nussbaumer, S.U., Gärtner-Roer, I., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. and Haeberli, W. (eds.), ICSU (WDS) / IUGG (IACS) / UNEP / UNESCO / WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland: 102 pp. WGMS. 2012. Fluctuations of Glaciers 2005-2010 (Vol. X): Zemp, M., Frey, H., Gärtner-Roer, I., Nussbaumer, S.U., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. & W. Haeberli (eds.), ICSU (WDS)/ IUGG (IACS)/ UNEP/ UNESCO/ WMO, World Glacier Monitorings Service, Zurich, Switzerland. Based on database version doi: 10.5904/wgms-fog-2012-11. 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 2010/11.

Name	MB11
	[mm w.e.]
Antarctica
Bahia del Diablo	+60
Hurd	+290
Johnson	+500
Argentina
Martial Este	-319
Austria
Grosser Goldbergkees	-1878
Hintereisferner	-1419
Jamtalferner	-1434
Kesselwandferner	-670
Kleiner Fleisskees	-1536
Pasterze	-1268
Sonnblickkees	-2311
Vernagtferner	-955
Wurtenkees	-1800
Bolivia
Chacaltaya	vanished
Charquini sur	-1205
Zongo	-221
Canada
Devon Ice Cap NW	-683
Helm	+650
Meighen Ice Cap	-1310
Melville	-1339
Peyto	-360
Place	+120
White	-983
Chile
Echaurren Norte	-1270
China
Urumqihe S.No.1	-945
Colombia
La Conejera (Sta Isabel)	-1836
Ecuador
Antizana 15 Alpha
France
Argentìere	-2010
Gebroulaz	-1400
Ossoue	-2460
Saint Sorlin	-3020
Sarennes	-4153
Greenland
Mittivakkat	-2450
Freya	-934
Iceland
Bruarjökull	+515
Dyngjujökull	+377
Eyabakkajökull	+525
Hofsjökull E
Hofsjökull N
Hofsjökull SW
Koeldukvislarjökull	-754
Langjökull Southern Dome	-1279
Tungnaarjökull	-1380
India
Chhota Shigri
Hamtah
Italy
Calderone	-1182
Campo Settentrionale	-1588
Careser	-1922
Ciardoney	-1710
Fontana Bianca
Grand Etret
Lupo	-597
Malavalle	-1198
Pendente	-1800
Suretta Meridionale	-1706
Vedretta Lunga	-1078
Vedretta Occ. di Ries
Japan
Hamaguri Yuki	-406
Kazakhstan
Ts. Tuyuksuyskiy	-314
Kenya
Lewis	-1029
Kyrgyzstan
Akshiirak (No. 354)	-34
Golubin	70
Suek Zapadniy	-314
New Zealand
Brewster
Rolleston	-2039
Norway
Aalfotbreen	-845
Austdalsbreeen	-1350
Austre Broeggerbreen	-1004
Blomstolskar	-971
Breidalblikkbrea	-2286
Elisebreen
Engabreen	-910
Graafjellsbreen	-2239
Graasubreen	-1130
Hansbreen	-280
Hansebreen	-1235
Hardangerjoekulen	-1500
Hellstugubreen	-1810
Irenebreen	-1293
Juvfonne
Kongsvegen	-434
Langfjordjoekul	-1257
Midtre Lovenbreen	-920
Nigardsbreen	-831
Storbreen
Svelgjabreen	-1243
Waldemarbreen	-1239
Peru
Artesonraju	-517
Yanamarey
Russia
Djankuat	-680
Garabashi
Leviy Aktru
Maliy Aktru
No. 125 (Vodopadniy)
Spain
Maladeta	-1504
Sweden
Marmaglaciaeren	-1450
Rabots Glaciaer	-2110
Riukojietna	-1080
Storglaciaeren	-1060
Tarfalaglaciaeren	-1820
Switzerland
Basodino	-1000
Findelen	-880
Gries	-2150
Pizol	-2024
Plaine Morte	-874
Silvretta	-1450
Tsanfleuron	-2336
USA
Columbia (2057)	+1470
Daniels	+1060
Easton	+1150
Emmons	-20
Foss	+1300
Gulkana	-1290
Ice Worm	1340
Lemon Creek	-720
Lower Curtis	+940
Lynch	+980
Nisqually	+420
Noisy Creek	+1280
North Klawatti	+750
Rainbow	+1640
Sandalee	+1150
Sholes	+1450
Silver	+730
South Cascade	+1210
Taku	-550
Wolverine	-1070
Yawning	+1220

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