Université de Fribourg

Imaging spectroscopy to assess the composition of ice surface materials and their impact on glacier mass balance

Naegeli, Kathrin ; Damm, Alexander ; Huss, Matthias ; Schaepman, Michael ; Hoelzle, Martin

In: Remote Sensing of Environment, 2015, vol. 168, p. 388–402

Glacier surfaces are not only composed of ice or snow but are heterogeneous mixtures of different materials. The occurrence and dynamics of light-absorbing impurities affect ice surface characteristics and strongly influence glacier melt processes. However, our understanding of the spatial distribution of impurities and their impact on ice surface characteristics and the glacier's energy budget...

Université de Fribourg

Data and knowledge gaps in glacier, snow and related runoff research – A climate change adaptation perspective

Salzmann, Nadine ; Huggel, Christian ; Rohrer, Mario ; Stoffel, Markus

In: Journal of Hydrology, 2014, vol. 518, Part B, p. 225–234

Glacier and snow cover changes with related impacts on melt runoff can seriously affect human societies which are depending on fresh water from cryospheric sources. Observed trends and projected future evolutions of climatic and cryospheric variables clearly show the need to adapt to these changes. Accordingly, the topics addressed herein have been put on the agendas of many larger funding...

Université de Fribourg

High uncertainty in 21st century runoff projections from glacierized basins

Huss, Matthias ; Zemp, Michael ; Joerg, Philip C. ; Salzmann, Nadine

In: Journal of Hydrology, 2014, vol. 510, p. 35–48

Glacier response to a changing climate and its impact on runoff is understood in general terms, but model-based projections are affected by considerable uncertainties. They originate from the driving climate model, input data quality, and simplifications in the glacio-hydrological model and hamper the reliability of the simulations. Here, an integrative assessment of the uncertainty in 21st...