bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Timing of Initial Spring Melt in the Arctic from Nimbus-7 SMMR Data (Abstract)
Authors: Anderson Mark R. 
Published: September 2017

The ablation of sea ice is an important feature in the global climate system. During the melt season in the Arctic, rapid changes occur in sea-ice surface conditions and areal extent of ice. These changes alter the albedo and vary the energy budgets. Understanding the spatial and temporal variations of melt is critical in the polar regions. This study investigates the spring onset of melt in the seasonal sea-ice zone of the Arctic Basin through the use of a melt signature derived by Anderson and others from the Nimbus-7 Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) data. The signature is recognized in the “gradient ratio” of the 18 and 37 GHz vertical brightness temperatures used to distinguish multi-year ice. A spuriously high fraction of multi-year ice appears rapidly during the initial melt of sea ice, when the snow-pack on the ice surface has started to melt. The brightness-temperature changes are a result of either enlarged snow crystals or incipient puddles forming at the snow/ice interface.The timing of these melt events varies geographically and with time. Within the Arctic Basin, the melt signatures are observed first in the Chukchi and Kara/Barents Seas. As the melt progresses, the location of the melt signature moves westward from the Chukchi Sea and eastward from the Kara/Barents Seas to the Laptev Sea region. The timing of the melt signal also varies with year. For example, the melt signature occurred first in the Chukchi Sea in 1979, while in 1980 the signature was first observed in the Kara Sea.There are also differences in the timing of melt for specific geographic locations between years. The melt signature varied almost 25 days in the Chukchi Sea region between 1979 and 1980. The other areas had changes in the 7–10 day range.The occurrence of these melt signatures can be used as an indicator of climate variability in the seasonal sea-ice zones of the Arctic. The timing of the microwave melt signature has also been examined in relation to melt observed on short-wave imagery. The melt events derived from the SMMR data are also related to the large-scale climate conditions.
Spectral Response Patterns of Snow and Ice Surfaces for the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (Abstract)
Authors: Kristensen M. , McIntyre N.F. 
Published: September 2017

The high-resolution imagery recorded by systems such as the multi-spectral scanners (MSSs) of the Landsat satellites has revolutionized the study of all types of surface in the polar regions. Visible and near-infra-red imagery has found a wide range of glaciological uses. There is, however, a lack of comparability within and between MSS data which may be a contributary factor to some current problems in interpretation of remotely sensed glaciological data.With the expected continuity of MSS coverage for the forseeable future, it is highly desirable to extend use of the data beyond the basic mapping and feature identification which has made it such a valuable resource. One of the most obvious developments is to investigate characteristics of the reflecting surfaces and to achieve absolute identification of snow and ice surfaces. Although conversion of digital MSS grey tones to radiances enables direct comparison with other sources, automatic identification requires detailed and extensive knowledge of the spectral and reflecting characteristics of surfaces which are to be monitored. This is often best achieved through ground-based observation.In order to provide a base line against which corrected radiances from Landsat MSS data can be compared, a spectrally gated photometer has been used to measure albedo at MSS wave bands in a wide range of conditions. The surfaces monitored in several parts of Norway include sea ice, lake ice, snow, firn and glacier ice, permafrost, and reference surfaces. A range of supporting measurements (including grain-size, surface irregularity, density, level, and free-water content) allows accurate characterization of each surface. This enables identification of spectral-response patterns for each surface category and hence the classification of their reflectances as recorded by the MSS. Examples are given of the application of such classifications to imagery of the polar regions.
Comparison of Surface Characteristics of the Antarctic Ice Sheet with Satellite Observations (Abstract)
Authors: Young N. , Goodwin I. 
Published: September 2017

Ground surveys of the ice sheet in Wilkes Land, Antarctica, have been made on oversnow traverses operating out of Casey. Data collected include surface elevation, accumulation rate, snow temperature, and physical characteristics of the snow cover. By the nature of the surveys, the data are mostly restricted to line profiles. In some regions, aerial surveys of surface topography have been made over a grid network.Satellite imagery and remote sensing are two means of extrapolating the results from measurements along lines to an areal presentation. They are also the only source of data over large areas of the continent. Landsat images in the visible and near infra-red wavelengths clearly depict many of the large- and small scale features of the surface. The intensity of the reflected radiation varies with the aspect and magnitude of the surface slope to reveal the surface topography. The multi-channel nature of the Landsat data is exploited to distinguish between different surface types through their different spectral signatures, e.g. bare ice, glaze, snow, etc. Additional information on surface type can be gained at a coarser scale from other satellite-borne sensors such as ESMR, SMMR, etc. Textural enhancement of the Landsat images reveals the surface micro-relief.Features in the enhanced images are compared to ground-truth data from the traverse surveys to produce a classification of surface types across the images and to determine the magnitude of the surface topography and micro-relief observed. The images can then be used to monitor changes over time.
Recent Changes of Nordbogletscher and Nordgletscher, Johan Dahl Land, South Greenland
Authors: Knudsen N.Tvis 
Published: September 2017

Generally, outlet glaciers from the Inland Ice in South Greenland have retreated and thinned considerably since the 19th century. A sector in Johan Dahl Land, comprising the glaciers Nordbogletscher, Nordgletscher, and Eqalorutsit kangigdlît sermiat, has no trim-line zones. These glaciers have probably reached their most advanced position in historical time and are advancing further.Marginal and surface changes of the glaciers, over the last 30 years, are determined, using topographic maps based on aerial photographs taken in 1953, 1977, and 1981 and compared with ablation and surface movement of ice measured at stakes, established in 1978 at Nordbogletscher.The conclusion, made on the basis of the observations, is that the advance is the result of a higher transport rate of ice from the accumulation area than can ablate during the summers in the ablation area, under prevailing climatic conditions.
Analysis and Simulation of Altimeter Performance for the Production of Ice Sheet Topographic Maps
Authors: Partington K.C. , Rapley C.G. 
Published: September 2017

Satellite-borne, radar altimeters have already demonstrated an ability to produce high-precision, topographic maps of the ice sheets. Seasat operated in a tracking mode, designed for use over oceans, but successfully tracked much of the flatter regions of the ice sheet to ± 72° latitude. ERS-1 will extend coverage to ± 82° latitude and will be equipped with an ocean mode similar to that of Seasat and an ice mode designed to permit tracking of the steeper, peripheral regions. The ocean mode will be used over the flatter regions, because of its greater precision.Altimeter performance over the ice sheets has been investigated through a study of Seasat tracking behaviour and the use of an altimeter performance simulator, with a view to assessing the likely performance of ERS-1 and the design of improved tracking systems. Analysis of Seasat data shows that lock was frequently lost, as a result of possessing a non-linear height error signal over the width of the range window. Having lost lock, the tracker frequently failed to transfer rapidly and effectively to track mode. Use of the altimeter performance simulator confirms many of the findings from Seasat data and it is being used to facilitate data interpretation and mapping, through the modelling of waveform sequence.
Water Temperature Measurements in Turbulent Streams During Periods of Frazil-Ice Formation
Authors: Osterkamp T. E. , Gilfilian R. E. , Gosink J. P. , Benson C. S. 
Published: September 2017

Field measurements of water temperatures in two turbulent streams in interior Alaska have been made during periods of frazil-ice production. The measured equilibrium temperature of the water Te-0.005°C agrees with the value calculated from the electrical conductivity of the water. Average cooling rates of the streams during the summer-to-fall stream cooling period were on the order of several tenths of a degree per day with average surface heat losses of -5 to -18 W m−2. Just prior to a frazil-ice event, the water-cooling rates were -1 to -3 mK min−1 with surface heat losses of -47 to -140 M m−2Supercooling at the water surface of a stream prior to and during frazil-ice production does not exceed 0.2°C as shown by measurements of air-water temperature profiles and by radiometer measurements. Mater supercooling at the time of frazil-ice nucleation was <10 mK. These measurements show that frazil-ice nuclei in streams must be other ice particles, cold organic materials, cold soil particles, or a combination of these, that may be introduced into the stream by mass exchange processes at the air-water interface.The maximum observed supercooling was ΔTm 40 mK. Two measured values for the residual supercooling were 3 and 9 mK. Frazil growth rates calculated from the observed values of supercooling show that, unless the period of residual supercooling is very long, most of the frazil-ice production during one night of supercooling occurred in the transient thermal period from the time of nucleation to the time that the water became residually supercooled.
Numerical, Analytical, and Laboratory Experimental Studies of Granular Avalanche Flows
Authors: Hutter Kolumban , Savage Stuart B. , Nohguchi Yasuaki 
Published: September 2017

Flow avalanches may be regarded as being composed of a granular fluid. When dislodged, the snow masses accelerate down a slope until the inclination of its bed tends towards the horizontal, at which stage bed friction eventually brings the snow to rest. We present a completely new analysis of the motion of a finite mass of granular material along an inclined base.We regard a granular snow mass as an incompressible continuum to which a Coulomb-like basal friction law can be applied. Depth-averaged equations of motion are formulated in terms of a curvilinear coordinate system along a curved bed, and incorporate an averaged longitudinal velocity and a height distribution. A numerical finite-difference technique is employed to integrate these equations. We present numerical results obtained for motion along a curved bed and compare this with the solutions of the equations with results from laboratory observations. The experiments have been performed in order to monitor the motion of a finite mass of granules, either plastic particles or glass beads, along a chute consisting of both an inclined and a horizontal zone, the two zones being connected by a curved element. The particle spread along the chute and the mass distribution of the granules in the run-out zone, as obtained from these experiments, are compared with those derived from theoretical computations. The results show that the model used predicts the motion of a granular avalanche reasonably well.Finally, it is indicated how the basal friction law may be extended or altered in order to reproduce the dynamic processes involved in causing the abrupt cessation of the snow mass-motion characteristic in the run-out zone.
Annually-Averaged Polar Sea-Ice Extents During 1978–1987: Northern Extent Decrease and Southern Extent Oscillation
Authors: Gloersen Per , J. Campbell William 
Published: September 2017

Recently reported observations of a nine-year decrease in global sea-ice extent, obtained from the Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer onboard the Nimbus-7 satellite during 1978–87 and averaged with an annual running mean, have been separated into Arctic and Antarctic components. The annually-averaged global extent decrease was 2.5%. Here it is shown that the greater part of this decrease occurred in the Arctic where there was a decline of 3.5% with a goodness of fit of 0.54.Superimposed on this decline was a small oscillation with a period of about four years and an amplitude of about 1%. A significantly smaller and statistically insignificant decrease of 1.2% with a goodness of fit of 0.03 is observed in the annually averaged Antarctic sea-ice extent. However, three large oscillations with amplitudes of about 4% and periods of about three years occurred in phase with three El Niño events.
26-Year High Resolution Profile Of Major Anions In Snow From Coats Land, Antarctica
Authors: Mulvaney R. , Peel D.A. , Reid A.P. 
Published: September 2017

In January 1987, an 7.8 m core, with an age at the bottom of 26 years, was collected from a site approximately 150 km inland from Halley Station (77°02.2′S, 22°32′W; altitude 1862 m a.s.l.); 10 m temperature ≈ −30°C; accumulation rate ≈ 14 g cm−2 a−1). The site lies some 140 km from the coast of the Weddell Sea and within the area bounded in winter by the polar vortex.The core has been analysed at a frequency of ≈28 samples per accumulation year for sulphate, nitrate and chloride, and has been dated stratigraphically from the clear seasonal cycles in non sea salt sulphate (Mulvaney and Peel, 1988). With this resolution it is possible to examine the seasonal pattern of deposition of chemical species and their phase relationships.Of particular interest is the possibility that ice cores may preserve evidence for disturbances in tropospheric chemistry, associated with the recent spring-time depletion of stratospheric ozone. It has been proposed that this is accompanied by a denitrification of the stratosphere during the winter months, implying enhanced levels of NOX in the late winter/spring troposphere and in precipitation. Our data reveal a strong seasonal signal in nitrate deposition, apparently peaking in spring. Similar behaviour has been reported by Wagenbach and others (1988) for nitrate in the atmospheric aerosol, in a 3-year sequence (1983–86) from Georg von Neumayer Station (70°S, 8°W). There does not appear to be any evidence in our data of an increase in spring-time nitrate deposition since the appearance of the Antarctic ozone hole in 1978.
Impurity Distributions In Ice Under Different Environmental Conditions
Authors: Wolff Eric , Mulvaney Robert 
Published: September 2017

We have shown previously (Mulvaney and others, 1988; Wolff and others, 1988) that some of the impurities in ice are localised. For samples from Dolleman Island in the Antarctic Peninsula, sulphuric acid was found at very high concentrations at the triple junctions (where three grains meet). No such localisation was found for sea salt elements, which are the other major soluble impurity. We believe that the acid is sufficiently concentrated at ice-sheet temperatures to remain liquid, forming a network of sub-micron veins through the ice.We used a scanning electron microscope (SEM) fitted with an X-ray microanalysis system and a cold stage that holds samples below −160°C. Located at the University of Lancaster, the instrument allows frozen samples to be investigated with elemental analysis carried out at a resolution of the order of 1 micron.Further experiments have yielded similar results for other samples from the same ice core. However, we have not yet found a method of cutting and cooling the samples that gives quantitatively reproducible data, so that it is too early to say what proportion of the acid in the sample is at the triple junctions.Nonetheless, we have now also seen S at several triple junctions in ice from Site G in central Greenland. The sample includes part of the material from the 1783 Laki volcanic eruption. We have still to look at samples from other sites, but are reassured that the positive result is not confined to one ice core.This work, still at a formative stage, has posed some important questions:(1) For us there is the technical question of how we obtain reproducible quantitative results.(2) How widespread is the phenomenon, and how much of the acid is at triple junctions? This is the next phase of studies at Lancaster, and is likely to include a study of older ice, and of temperate ice.(3) Why is the acid at triple junctions, and why is sea salt not found there? This must be due to processes in the atmosphere or snowpack, and is likely to be related to the eutectic temperatures of impurity/water mixtures. Thus the distribution may influenced by changes in climate or chemistry. For instance, Wisconsin-age ice in Greenland is neutral, any acid having reacted with alkali dusts. How did this affect the impurity distribution?(4) If the distribution does change as a result of a changed environment, does this affect the physical properties of the ice itself? In particular, is the presence or absence of liquid at the junctions a contributory factor to the changes in rheology between Wisconsin and Holocene ice? We are far into the realms of speculation here, but this does have the potential to be an interesting long-timescale feedback to climatic and environmental changes.
An automatic system for controlling snow on roofs
Authors: Tamura Moriaki 
Published: September 2017

In Honshu Island, Japan, tremendous amounts of snow falls over a vast area facing the Sea of Japan. The depth of deposited snow sometimes exceeds 2 m, even in urban areas. The weight of snow on roofs can damage conventional wooden houses. It is of great importance, therefore, to monitor and control roof snow loads.A model system has been developed for controlling snow on roofs. A precipitation detector capable of differentiating between solid and liquid precipitation and a water gauge for detecting the meltwater from a roof are combined to estimate the roof snow load. When the calculated load exceeds a critical value, an electric heater on the roof is energized to melt a portion of the snow. The whole system is controlled by a personal computer. The system was tested for about a month in 1990 with satisfactory results.
The dynamic friction characteristics of a rapidly sheared granular material applied to the motion of snow avalanches
Authors: Dent J.D. 
Published: September 2017

A numerical simulation of simple two-dimensional shear of round uniform grains is used to investigate the dynamic friction characteristics of the layer of snow at the base of an avalanche. For steady, uniform flow on a uniform flat surface, the dynamic friction coefficient transmitted through the shear array is found as it varies with the shear speed and normal force applied to the top of the shear layer, and the properties of the particles in the shear layer.For this simple model, the flow in the shear layer is found to be independent of the total number of layers in the shear flow. A slip plane is formed along which most of the shearing motion takes places, so that the shear is confined to just two layers of particles which slide over one another. In the absence of gravity this slip plane jumps up and down randomly within the shear layer, which is otherwise composed of agitated semi-dispersed particles.
Changes in areal extent, elevation and volume of Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada, as estimated from a series of maps produced between 1919 and 1979
Authors: Reynolds J. R. , Young G. J. 
Published: September 2017

Changes in planimetric area, elevation and volume were calculated for Athabasca Glacier, Alberta, Canada, below 2400 m elevation for the period 1919–79 from maps produced using aerial or terrestrial photogrammetry. Map contours were digitized and converted into raster digital elevation models (DEMs). Comparison of the models allowed changes in volume and elevation to be estimated. In the time of record, the glacier lost 2.344 × 108 m3 of volume and downwasted significantly.There are several sources of error associated with DEM generation and construction: source maps have spatially variable uncertainty in vertical estimation, associated with the photogrammetric process used; small errors are introduced in the creation of raster DEMs as a result of fitting surfaces to digitized contours; errors of registration, leading to errors in estimation of vertical change over time, can be of significance, especially when comparing maps produced by different photogrammetric techniques.These errors are quantified and displayed in transect and map form. Especially with maps only 2 years apart in time, errors are often greater than actual changes in surface elevation. The magnitude of the errors involved in the comparison of maps made with a 2 year interval would suggest that 5 or 10 years between successive mappings might have been more scientifically justifiable and more cost effective.
Numerical simulation of fluctuations of Hintereisferner, Ötztal Alps, since AD 1850
Authors: Schlosser Elisabeth 
Published: September 2017

A one-dimensional ice flow model was adapted to reconstruct fluctuations of Hintereisferner, Ötztal Alps, since the last postglacial maximum in the mid-19th century. Both front positions and longitudinal ice thickness profiles were considered.As forcing function the specific mass balance was used. The model was calibrated with the period 1953–91, because since 1953 the mass balance has been determined directly. For the period before 1953, as a first step so-called dendro-mass balances (derived from tree rings) were used. Then the mass balance was also parameterized as a function of temperature and precipitation from adjacent climate stations. With both forcings Hintereisferner could be reconstructed back to about 1850 with an accuracy that lies within the accuracy of the model (200 m grid-point distance).
Modelling of Last Glacial Maximum ice sheets using different accumulation parameterizations
Authors: Fabre Adeline , Ritz Catherine , Ramstein Gilles 
Published: September 2017

We use a three-dimensional thermomechanical ice-sheet model, previously tested on the Greenland ice sheet, to reconstruct Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) ice sheets. We compare the effects on the results of the ice-sheet model of three different accumulation parameterization schemes. In the first and second schemes, LGM precipitation is computed from the present precipitation, taking and not taking into account moisture transport. In the third scheme, LGM precipitation and surface temperatures are computed using outputs of an atmospheric global circulation model (AGCM), treated in anomaly mode.Results are compared to the last reconstruction of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheets (Peltier, 1994), computed using global rebound rates in a visco-elastic model of the Earth’s crust. The first two accumulation parameterizations do not give satisfactory reconstructions of the LGM ice sheets, since they are unable to compute realistic LGM climatic conditions. The third method gives very satisfactory results, which leads us to conclude that the best way to obtain realistic LGM climatic conditions is to use AGCM outputs.