%0 Journal Article
%T Extrapolating glacier mass balance to the mountain-range scale: the European Alps 1900¨C2100
%A M. Huss
%J The Cryosphere
%D 2012
%I Copernicus Publications
%R 10.5194/tc-6-713-2012
%X This study addresses the extrapolation of in-situ glacier mass balance measurements to the mountain-range scale and aims at deriving time series of area-averaged mass balance and ice volume change for all glaciers in the European Alps for the period 1900¨C2100. Long-term mass balance series for 50 Swiss glaciers based on a combination of field data and modelling, and WGMS data for glaciers in Austria, France and Italy are used. A complete glacier inventory is available for the year 2003. Mass balance extrapolation is performed based on (1) arithmetic averaging, (2) glacier hypsometry, and (3) multiple regression. Given a sufficient number of data series, multiple regression with variables describing glacier geometry performs best in reproducing observed spatial mass balance variability. Future mass changes are calculated by driving a combined model for mass balance and glacier geometry with GCM ensembles based on four emission scenarios. Mean glacier mass balance in the European Alps is  0.31 ¡À 0.04 m w.e. a 1 in 1900¨C2011, and  1 m w.e. a 1 over the last decade. Total ice volume change since 1900 is  96 ¡À 13 km3; annual values vary between  5.9 km3 (1947) and +3.9 km3 (1977). Mean mass balances are expected to be around  1.3 m w.e. a 1 by 2050. Model results indicate a glacier area reduction of 4¨C18% relative to 2003 for the end of the 21st century.
%U http://www.the-cryosphere.net/6/713/2012/tc-6-713-2012.pdf