Published In
Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2000
Subjects
Atmospheric physics -- Cold regions, Climatic changes -- Detection, Global environmental change, Atmospheric pressure, Southern oscillation, Glaciers, Arctic oscillation
Abstract
An analysis of variability in the winter mass balance (WMB) of 22 glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere indicates two primary modes of variability that explain 46% of the variability among all glaciers. The first mode of variability characterizes WMB variability in Northern and Central Europe and the second mode primarily represents WMB variability in northwestern North America, but also is related to variability in WMB of one glacier in Europe and one in Central Asia. These two modes of WMB variability are explained by variations in mesoscale atmospheric circulation which are driving forces of variations in surface temperature and precipitation. The first mode is highly correlated with the Arctic Oscillation Index, whereas the second mode is highly correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index. In addition, the second mode of WMB variability is highly correlated with variability in global winter temperatures. This result suggests some connection between global temperature trends and WMB for some glaciers.
DOI
10.2307/1552411
Persistent Identifier
http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/7397
Citation Details
Variability in Winter Mass Balance of Northern Hemisphere Glaciers and Relations with Atmospheric Circulation. Gregory J. McCabe, Andrew G. Fountain and Mark Dyurgerov. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research , Vol. 32, No. 1 (Feb., 2000), pp. 64-72
Description
Published by: INSTAAR, University of Colorado. Article Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/1552411