Future global glacier mass changes and their impact on sea level and streamflow

Abstract

<p>Concurrent with atmospheric warming, glaciers around the world are rapidly retreating with direct consequences for global sea level and streamflow. Projections indicate considerable mass losses over the 21st century, however, mass losses vary strongly between regions and emission scenarios. In some regions with little ice cover projections forced by high emission scenarios show almost complete deglaciation by the end of the 21st century while in high-polar regions the relative mass losses are generally in the order of a few tenths of percent relative to year 2015. The mass losses alter local runoff regimes and lead to glacier runoff increases in some regions but to decreases in others. Global glacier changes are linearly correlated with global mean temperature increase indicating that limiting global warming has a direct effect on future glacier mass changes.</p>