| ID |
1604 |
| Citation |
Beedle, M., Menounos, B., and Wheate, R., 2014. An evaluation of mass-balance methods applied to Castle Creek Glacier, British Columbia, Canada. Journal of Glaciology, 60, 262-276. doi: 10.3189/2014JoG13J091 |
| Organization |
University of Northern British Columbia |
| URL |
http://couplet2.unbc.ca/pdfs/Beedle_2014.pdf |
| Abstract/Description or Keywords |
We estimate the glacier mass balance of a 9.5km2 mountain glacier using three approaches for balance years 2009, 2010 and 2011. The photogrammetric, GPS and glaciological methods yielded sampling densities of 100, 5 and 2 pointskm–2, with measurement precisions of 0.40, 0.10 and 0.10mw.e. respectively. Our glaciological measurements likely include a positive bias, due to omission of internal and basal mass balance, and uncertainty in determining the interface between snow and firn with a probe (0.10mw.e.). Measurements from our photogrammetric method include a negative bias introduced by the manual operator and our temperature index model used to correct for different dates of imaging (0.15mw.e.), whereas GPS measurements avoid these biases. The photogrammetric and GPS methods are suitable for estimating glacier-wide annual mass balance, and thus provide a valuable measure that complements the glaciological method. These approaches, however, cannot be used to estimate mass balance at a point or mass-balance profiles without a detailed understanding of the vertical component of ice velocity. glacier mass balance; glaciological instruments and methods; remote sensing |
| Information Type |
Article |
| Regional Watershed |
Fraser River |
| Sub-watershed if known |
Castle Creek glacier |
| Aquifer # |
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| Comments |
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| Project status |
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| Contact Name |
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| Contact Email |
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