Historically unprecedented global glacier decline in the early 21st century

Author:

Zemp Michael,Frey Holger,Gärtner-Roer Isabelle,Nussbaumer Samuel U.,Hoelzle Martin,Paul Frank,Haeberli Wilfried,Denzinger Florian,Ahlstrøm Andreas P.,Anderson Brian,Bajracharya Samjwal,Baroni Carlo,Braun Ludwig N.,Cáceres Bolívar E.,Casassa Gino,Cobos Guillermo,Dávila Luzmila R.,Delgado Granados Hugo,Demuth Michael N.,Espizua Lydia,Fischer Andrea,Fujita Koji,Gadek Bogdan,Ghazanfar Ali,Ove Hagen Jon,Holmlund Per,Karimi Neamat,Li Zhongqin,Pelto Mauri,Pitte Pierre,Popovnin Victor V.,Portocarrero Cesar A.,Prinz Rainer,Sangewar Chandrashekhar V.,Severskiy Igor,Sigurđsson Oddur,Soruco Alvaro,Usubaliev Ryskul,Vincent Christian

Abstract

AbstractObservations show that glaciers around the world are in retreat and losing mass. Internationally coordinated for over a century, glacier monitoring activities provide an unprecedented dataset of glacier observations from ground, air and space. Glacier studies generally select specific parts of these datasets to obtain optimal assessments of the mass-balance data relating to the impact that glaciers exercise on global sea-level fluctuations or on regional runoff. In this study we provide an overview and analysis of the main observational datasets compiled by the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS). The dataset on glacier front variations (∼42 000 since 1600) delivers clear evidence that centennial glacier retreat is a global phenomenon. Intermittent readvance periods at regional and decadal scale are normally restricted to a subsample of glaciers and have not come close to achieving the maximum positions of the Little Ice Age (or Holocene). Glaciological and geodetic observations (∼5200 since 1850) show that the rates of early 21st-century mass loss are without precedent on a global scale, at least for the time period observed and probably also for recorded history, as indicated also in reconstructions from written and illustrated documents. This strong imbalance implies that glaciers in many regions will very likely suffer further ice loss, even if climate remains stable.

Publisher

International Glaciological Society

Subject

Earth-Surface Processes

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