Abstract

Abstract. The mass balance of very small glaciers is often governed by anomalous snow accumulation, winter precipitation being multiplied by snow redistribution processes (gravitationally or wind driven), or suppressed snow ablation driven by micrometeorological effects lowering net radiation and/or turbulent heat exchange. In this case study, we analysed the relative contribution of snow accumulation and ablation processes governing the long- and short-term mass balance of the lowest perennial ice field of the Alps, the Ice Chapel, located at 870 m a.s.l. in the Berchtesgaden National Park (Germany). This study emphasizes the importance of the local topographic setting for the survival of a perennial ice field located far below the climatic snow line. Although long-term mass balance measurements of the ice field surface showed a dramatic mass loss between 1973 and 2014, the ice field mass balance was rather stable between 2014 and 2017 and even showed a strong mass gain in 2017/2018 with an increase in surface height by 50 %–100 % relative to the ice field thickness. Measurements suggest that the winter mass balance clearly dominated the annual mass balance. At the Ice Chapel surface, 92 % of snow accumulation was gained by snow avalanching, thus clearly governing the 2017/2018 winter mass balance of the ice field with mean snow depths of 32 m at the end of the accumulation period. Avalanche deposition was amplified by preferential deposition of snowfall in the wind-sheltered rock face surrounding the ice field. Detailed micrometeorological measurements combined with a numerical analysis of the small-scale near-surface atmospheric flow field identified the micrometeorological processes driving the energy balance of the ice field. Measurements revealed a katabatic flow system draining down the ice field throughout the day, showing strong temporal and spatial dynamics. The spatial origin of the thermal flow system was shown to be of particular importance for the ice field surface energy balance. Numerical simulation indicates that deep katabatic flows, which developed at higher-elevation shaded areas of the rock face and drained down the ice field, enhance sensible heat exchange towards the ice field surface by enhancing turbulence close to the ice surface. Conversely, the shallow katabatic flow developing at the ice field surface appeared to laterally decouple the local near-surface atmosphere from the warmer adjacent air suppressing heat exchange. Numerical results thus suggest that shallow katabatic flows driven by the cooling effect of the ice field surface are especially efficient in lowering the climatic sensitivity of the ice field to the surrounding rising air temperatures. Such micrometeorological phenomena must be taken into account when calculating mass and energy balances of very small glaciers or perennial ice fields at elevations far below the climatic snow line.

Highlights

  • Very small glaciers are especially sensitive to climatic changes and are considered to be strong climate indicators

  • This study presents a detailed investigation of the relative contribution of accumulation and ablation processes driving the mass balance of the lowest perennial ice field of the Alps, i.e. the Ice Chapel, located far below the climatic snow line, making it into a popular tourist attraction

  • These results clearly suggest that the orographic setting allowed the perennial ice field to survive at such a low elevation by gaining 3000 % of winter snow accumulation compared to a nearby flat field snow station

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Summary

Introduction

Very small glaciers are especially sensitive to climatic changes and are considered to be strong climate indicators. Experimental and numerical studies on the energy balance of perennial ice fields and large snow patches (Marsh and Pomeroy, 1996; Essery et al, 2006; Fujita et al, 2010; Mott et al, 2011, 2013, 2016; Curtis et al, 2014; Schlögl et al, 2018a, b) identified additional micrometeorological processes strongly affecting the local air temperature and associated heat exchange processes, such as cold-air pooling, boundary layer decoupling, and advective heat transport These processes are expected to be important climatic drivers for the mass balance of very small glaciers by strongly affecting their sensitivity to an increase in ambient air temperature. Considering the effect of micrometeorological drivers, as well as processes promoting strong amplifications of solid precipitation over very small glaciers (e.g. cirque glaciers) and perennial ice fields, will help to improve the assessment of climate change impacts on very small glaciers, representing the majority of the glaciers in the Alps

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