Glacier mass balance

Long-term elevation change for South Cascade Glacier, WA

Key Questions:

  • What is the current state and fate of the Earth’s glaciers?
  • What is long-term (30-60 year), decadal, annual, and seasonal mass balance of all glaciers in the Western U.S. and High-mountain Asia?
  • How are mass loss rates evolving over time?

Approaches

  • Geodetic mass balance, calculated from stereo DEMs
  • Comparisons with glaciological mass balance stake measurements

Long-term (1970 to 2016) elevation change for Mt. Rainier, WA

Seasonal and annual elevation change for Mt. Rainier, WA

Long-term mass balance curve for South Cascade Glacier, WA

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