CGRG Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology
Search Results
Author : Arendt, A.A.
Date : 1997
Title : Approaches to modeling the mass balance of High Arctic Glaciers.
Publication : Unpublished M.Sc Thesis, University of Alberta, Edmonton.
Issue :
Page(s) : 222 p.
Abstract
Comparisons are made between degree-day and energy balance model simulations for John Evans Glacier, Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada. The average specific mass balance of John Evans Glacier from 1996 to 1997 was 0.016 mWE from energy balance model predictions, and 0.13 m WE from degree-day model predictions, compared with 0.15 m WE from ablation stake measurements. A physically-based surface albedo routine is developed which is driven by variations in the solar zenith angle and snow grain size, and is highly sensitive to prescribed values of surface slope and azimuth. A physically-based superimposed ice formation routine, based on heat flux calculations at the snow-ice interface, is shown to produce the best predictions of measured superimposed ice thickness and ice temperatures. For degree-day model simulations, a method of determining positive degree-day factor variations through the melt season is developed. This method relates empirically predicted effective snow grain radii to positive degree-day factors for snow.
Bibliography of Canadian Geomorphology