Modelling debris-covered glacier ablation using the Simultaneous Heat and Water transport model. Part 1: Model development and application to North Changri Nup

Authors: WINTER-BILLINGTON, ALEX - University Of British Columbia; DADIC, RUZICA - Victoria University Of Wellington; MOORE, DAN - University Of British Columbia; Flerchinger, Gerald; WAGNON, PATRICK - Grenoble Institute Of Technology; BANERJEE, ARGHA - Indian Institute Of Science

Submitted to: Frontiers in Earth Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/9/2022
Publication Date: 8/24/2022
Citation: Winter-Billington, A., Dadic, R., Moore, D., Flerchinger, G.N., Wagnon, P., Banerjee, A. 2022. Modelling debris-covered glacier ablation using the Simultaneous Heat and Water transport model. Part 1: Model development and application to North Changri Nup. Frontiers in Earth Science. 10. Article 796877. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.796877.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2022.796877

Interpretive Summary: Glacier meltwater is an important resource in densely populated areas such as the Himalayan foothills, but glaciers are being lost worldwide due to climate warming. As glaciers melt, loose rock and debris within the glaciers are exposed at the surface, creating a layer of debris atop the glacier that can be >50 cm thick. Simulation models that can accurately predict the melt rate of these glaciers under rock debris are largely non-existent. The purpose of this study was to modify the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model to simulate energy and water dynamics of debris-covered glaciers in order to predict glacier recession. The ability of the newly modified model, named SHAW-Glacier, was shown to simulate melt rate very accurately when properties of the debris layer are known.

Technical Abstract: Glacier meltwater is an important resource in densely populated areas such as the Himalayan foothills, but glaciers are being lost worldwide due to climate warming. As glaciers melt, loose rock and debris within the glaciers are exposed at the surface, creating a layer of debris atop the glacier that can be >50 cm thick. Simulation models that can accurately predict the melt rate of these glaciers under rock debris are largely non-existent. The purpose of this study was to modify the Simultaneous Heat and Water (SHAW) model to simulate energy and water dynamics of debris-covered glaciers in order to predict glacier recession. The ability of the newly modified model, named SHAW-Glacier, was shown to simulate melt rate very accurately when properties of the debris layer are known.