Determining supra glacial debris thickness : Why do we need to, and how can we do it ?

Séminaire de L. Nicholson (Center for Climate and Cryosphere, Innsbruck University), Mardi 11 Septembre à 11h salle 105, OSUG B

Determining supra glacial debris thickness : Why do we need to, and how can we do it ?
By Lindsey Nicholson, Center for Climate and Cryosphere, Innsbruck University, http://lindseynicholson.org/cv/

Abstract : As mountain glaciers recede a greater proportion of the glaciated area becomes dirty of covered in rock material. The thickness of this debris cover determine whether the underlying ice will melt faster or slower as a result of the debris cover. Therefore, in order to refine projections of glacier runoff, it is necessary to determine the current, and future thickness of the debris cover. In this talk I will present the ways in which debris cover thickness can be determined in the field, and discuss how these data can be integrated with satellite data to generate regional-wide estimates of supra glacial debris thickness.