Abstract
Abstract. A distributed energy balance model is coupled to a multi-layer snow model in order to study the mass balance evolution and the impact of refreezing on the mass budget of Nordenskiöldbreen, Svalbard. The model is forced with output from the regional climate model RACMO and meteorological data from Svalbard Airport. Extensive calibration and initialisation are performed to increase the model accuracy. For the period 1989–2010, we find a mean net mass balance of −0.39 m w.e. a−1. Refreezing contributes on average 0.27 m w.e. a−1 to the mass budget and is most pronounced in the accumulation zone. The simulated mass balance, radiative fluxes and subsurface profiles are validated against observations and are generally in good agreement. Climate sensitivity experiments reveal a non-linear, seasonally dependent response of the mass balance, refreezing and runoff to changes in temperature and precipitation. It is shown that including seasonality in climate change, with less pronounced summer warming, reduces the sensitivity of the mass balance and equilibrium line altitude (ELA) estimates in a future climate. The amount of refreezing is shown to be rather insensitive to changes in climate.
Highlights
The mass balance has been acknowledged as the critical link between glaciers and climate (Meier, 1965)
A distributed energy balance model, developed along the lines presented by Klok and Oerlemans (2002), is coupled to a multi-layer snow model based on the SOMARS model (Simulation Of glacier surface Mass balance And Related Subsurface processes) described by Greuell and Konzelmann (1994)
In an attempt to simulate the surface mass budget of Nordenskioldbreen, including refreezing and runoff, a distributed surface energy balance model is coupled to a multi-layer snow model
Summary
The mass balance has been acknowledged as the critical link between glaciers and climate (Meier, 1965). A distributed energy balance model, developed along the lines presented by Klok and Oerlemans (2002), is coupled to a multi-layer snow model based on the SOMARS model (Simulation Of glacier surface Mass balance And Related Subsurface processes) described by Greuell and Konzelmann (1994). This is used to simulate the spatial distribution and temporal evolution of the mass balance on Nordenskioldbreen, Svalbard.
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