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The influence of humidity on the ablation of continental-type glaciers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Hiroyuki Ohno ,
Tetsuo Ohata  and
Keiji Higuchi
Hiroyuki Ohno
Affiliation:
Water Research Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 404–01, Japan
Tetsuo Ohata
Affiliation:
Water Research Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 404–01, Japan
Keiji Higuchi
Affiliation:
Water Research Institute, Nagoya University, Nagoya 404–01, Japan
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Abstract

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The annual evaporation of a continental-type glacier (43°05’ Ν, 86°48’ E) in the Chinese Tien Shan is estimated, based on data derived from four field observations carried out between summer 1987 and spring 1988, and data from a permanent weather station near the glacier. The evaporation during the melting and non-melting seasons is estimated as 81 mm and negligible, respectively. Assuming that the ablation is equivalent to the annual precipitation (650 mm) in 1987, estimated annual evaporation of 81 mm is 12% of the ablation and consumes 54% of the energy which causes the ablation. It can be said that evaporation suppresses ablation by 50% in comparison with the condition in which there is no evaporation.

The influence of fluctuations of air temperature and humidity on the ablation of the glacier were evaluated. Changes in temperature and humidity cause larger changes in ablation of glaciers in a cold and dry climate. The influence of humidity change is very important to glaciers located in a relatively warm environment.

Type
Research Article
Information
Annals of Glaciology , Volume 16 , 1992 , pp. 107 - 114
Copyright
Copyright © International Glaciological Society 1992

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