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Abstract
GIS-based Modelling of Glacial Sediment Balance
Track: Mining and Geosciences
Author(s): Michael Zemp, Andreas Kääb, Martin Hoelzle
In view of ongoing atmospheric warming, there is concern as to whether retreating glaciers uncover a rocky or sedimentary bed. Sedimentary beds are abundant in high-mountain areas and represent--if exposed--a severe potential for outbursts of periglacial lakes and debris flows. The paper assesses the utilization of GIS to derive process relevant parameters of glacial sediment balance from a Digital Elevation Model. The method was automated, and tested on 84 Swiss Alpine glaciers. Essentially, this approach may provide basis elements for the quantification of periglacial debris production and detection of debris-covered glaciers within the Glacier Land Ice Measurement from space ("GLIMS") project.
Michael Zemp
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Geography
Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group
Winterthurerstrasse 190
Zurich CH-8057
Switzerland
Phone: +41 1 3602460
Fax: +41 1 6356848
E-mail: mzemp@geo.unizh.ch
Andreas Kääb
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Geography
Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group
Winterthurerstrasse 190
Zurich CH-8057
Switzerland
Phone: +41 1 6355146
Fax: +41 1 6356848
E-mail: kaeaeb@geo.unizh.ch
Martin Hoelzle
University of Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Geography
Glaciology and Geomorphodynamics Group
Winterthurerstrasse 190
Zurich CH-8057
Switzerland
Phone: +41 1 6355139
Fax: +41 1 6356848
E-mail: hoelzle@geo.unizh.ch