A Coupled Glacier-Hydrology Model and Its Application in Eastern Pamir

Author:	Ren, Z., Su, F.G., Xu, B.Q., Xie, Y., Kan, B.Y.
Abstract:	An energy-balance glacier-melt scheme was coupled with the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrology model (VIC-glacier). The coupled model was setup at 30mx30m grids and applied in the Muji basin in eastern Pamir. The model was validated with field measurements of albedo, glacier mass balance, and river runoff. The VIC-glacier model showed a good correspondence with the observations in incoming shortwave radiation and albedo, with R-2 of 0.70 and 0.32, respectively, during August-October 2012. Simulated glacier mass balance exhibited overall good agreements with the observations in ablation seasons, with R-2 of 0.89 and root-mean-square error of 162.12mmw.e. during 2011-2015. The model also reproduced discharge records, with R-2 of 0.70-0.84, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.56-0.81, root-mean-square error of 0.29-0.45m(3)/s, and negative relative error of 13.73-18.76% in melt seasons of 2014-2015. The glaciers in Muji basin had a low mean net radiation of 40W/m(2), large negative latent heat fluxes of -32W/m(2), and low melt energy of -21W/m(2) in ablation seasons, resembling the energy partitioning generally found in continental climates. About 60% of the positive energy supply was consumed by latent heat fluxes on the glaciers in Muji basin, while only about 40% of the positive energy supply was used for melting. Glaciers in the Muji basin experienced a mass balance of -812.18mm over 2011-2015, corresponding to a water release of 4.42x10(6)m(3).The VIC-glacier model has a good potential of broader utility for the large basins with limited meteorological observations.
Contact the author:
Page number:	13692-13713
Issue:	24
Subject:
Authors units:
PubYear:	2018
Volume:	123
Publication name:	Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres
Abstract:	An energy-balance glacier-melt scheme was coupled with the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrology model (VIC-glacier). The coupled model was setup at 30mx30m grids and applied in the Muji basin in eastern Pamir. The model was validated with field measurements of albedo, glacier mass balance, and river runoff. The VIC-glacier model showed a good correspondence with the observations in incoming shortwave radiation and albedo, with R-2 of 0.70 and 0.32, respectively, during August-October 2012. Simulated glacier mass balance exhibited overall good agreements with the observations in ablation seasons, with R-2 of 0.89 and root-mean-square error of 162.12mmw.e. during 2011-2015. The model also reproduced discharge records, with R-2 of 0.70-0.84, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.56-0.81, root-mean-square error of 0.29-0.45m(3)/s, and negative relative error of 13.73-18.76% in melt seasons of 2014-2015. The glaciers in Muji basin had a low mean net radiation of 40W/m(2), large negative latent heat fluxes of -32W/m(2), and low melt energy of -21W/m(2) in ablation seasons, resembling the energy partitioning generally found in continental climates. About 60% of the positive energy supply was consumed by latent heat fluxes on the glaciers in Muji basin, while only about 40% of the positive energy supply was used for melting. Glaciers in the Muji basin experienced a mass balance of -812.18mm over 2011-2015, corresponding to a water release of 4.42x10(6)m(3).The VIC-glacier model has a good potential of broader utility for the large basins with limited meteorological observations.
The full text link: