An Improved Method Based on Shallow Ice Approximation to Calculate Ice Thickness along Flow-Line and Volume of Mountain Glaciers  

作　　者：李慧林 李忠勤 张明军 李汶峰 

机构地区：[1]State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tianshan Glaciological Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences [2]State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences/Tien Shan Glaciological Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences [3]College of Geography and Environment Sciences, Northwest Normal University

出　　处：《Journal of Earth Science》2011年第4期441-448,共8页地球科学学刊（英文版）

基　　金：supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (No. 2007CB411501);the Knowledge Innovation Project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. KZCX2-EW-311);the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 91025012, J0930003/J0109);the Project for Outstanding Young Scientists of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40121101)

摘　　要：To evaluate the water storage and project the future evolution of glaciers, the ice-thickness of glaciers is an essential input. However, direct measurements of ice thickness are labo- rious, not feasible everywhere, and necessarily restricted to a small number of glaciers. In this article, we develop a simple method to estimate the ice-thickness along flow-line of mountain glaciers. Different from the traditional method based on shallow ice approximation （SIA）, which gives a relationship be- tween ice thickness, surface slope, and yield stress of glaciers, the improved method considers and pre- sents a simple way to calibrate the influence of valley wall on ice discharge. The required inputs are the glacier surface topography and outlines. This shows the potential of the method for estimating the ice-thickness distribution and volume of glaciers without using of direct thickness measurements.To evaluate the water storage and project the future evolution of glaciers, the ice-thickness of glaciers is an essential input. However, direct measurements of ice thickness are labo- rious, not feasible everywhere, and necessarily restricted to a small number of glaciers. In this article, we develop a simple method to estimate the ice-thickness along flow-line of mountain glaciers. Different from the traditional method based on shallow ice approximation （SIA）, which gives a relationship be- tween ice thickness, surface slope, and yield stress of glaciers, the improved method considers and pre- sents a simple way to calibrate the influence of valley wall on ice discharge. The required inputs are the glacier surface topography and outlines. This shows the potential of the method for estimating the ice-thickness distribution and volume of glaciers without using of direct thickness measurements.

关 键 词：improved method shallow ice approximation ice thickness calculation glacier volume calculation mountain glacier. 

分 类 号：P343.6[天文地球—水文科学]