Université de Fribourg

Common climatic signal from glaciers in the European Alps over the last 50 years

Vincent, C. ; Fischer, A. ; Mayer, C. ; Bauder, Andreas ; Galos, S. P. ; Funk, Martin ; Thibert, E. ; Six, D. ; Braun, L. ; Huss, Matthias

In: Geophysical Research Letters, 2017, vol. 44, no. 3, p. 1376–1383

Conventional glacier-wide mass balances are commonly used to study the effect of climate forcing on glacier melt. Unfortunately, the glacier-wide mass balances are also influenced by the glacier's dynamic response. Investigations on the effects of climate forcing on glaciers can be largely improved by analyzing point mass balances. Using a statistical model, we have found that 52% of the...

Université de Fribourg

Runoff evolution in the Swiss Alps: projections for selected high-alpine catchments based on ENSEMBLES scenario

Farinotti, Daniel ; Usselmann, Stephanie ; Huss, Matthias ; Bauder, Andreas ; Funk, Martin

In: Hydrological Processes, 2011, vol. 25, p. -

The Alps are often referred to as the ‘water tower of Europe’. In Switzerland, many branches of the economy, especially the hydropower industry, are closely linked to and dependent on the availability of water. Assessing the impact of climate change on streamflow runoff is, thus, of great interest. Major efforts have already been made in this respect, but the analyses often focus on...

Université de Fribourg

Modelling and numerical simulation of the dynamics of glaciers including local damage effects

Jouvet, G. ; Picasso, M. ; Rappaz, J. ; Huss, Matthias ; Funk, Martin

In: Mathematical Modelling of Natural Phenomena, 2011, vol. 6, no. 05, p. 263-280

A numerical model to compute the dynamics of glaciers is presented. Ice damage due to cracks or crevasses can be taken into account whenever needed. This model allows simulations of the past and future retreat of glaciers, the calving process or the break-off of hanging glaciers. All these phenomena are strongly affected by climate change.Ice is assumed to behave as an incompressible fluid with...

Université de Fribourg

100-year mass changes in the Swiss Alps linked to the Atlantic multidecadal oscillation

Huss, Matthias ; Hock, Regine ; Bauder, Andreas ; Funk, Martin

In: Geophysical Research Letters, 2010, vol. 37, p. L10501

Thirty new 100-year records of glacier surface mass balance, accumulation and melt in the Swiss Alps are presented. The time series are based on a comprehensive set of field data and distributed modeling and provide insights into the glacier-climate linkage. Considerable mass loss over the 20th century is evident for all glaciers, but rates differ strongly. Glacier mass loss shows multidecadal...