Homogenization of long-term mass-balance time series

Abstract

The re-analysis of long-term mass-balance time series is important to provide bias-corrected mass-balance data for climate-change impact studies. A method to homogenize time series of comprehensive mass-balance monitoring programmes is presented and applied to the nearly 50 year mass-balance records of Griesgletscher and Silvrettagletscher, Switzerland. Using a distributed mass-balance model in daily resolution we correct the mass-balance data for varying observation dates. Direct point measurements are combined with independent geodetic mass changes, a prerequisite for a thorough homogenization of mass-balance records. Differences between mass balance evaluated in the hydrological year or according to the measurement period and the stratigraphic system are analysed and may be up to ±0.5mw.e. a⁻1. Cumulative mass balance of both glaciers based on the glaciological method generally agrees well with geodetic mass change on the investigated glaciers. However, for Silvretta-gletscher a significant bias of +0.37mw.e. a⁻1 has been detected and corrected for since 1994.