---
_id: '12586'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: Ice cliffs are common on debris-covered glaciers and have relatively high
melt rates due to their direct exposure to incoming radiation. Previous studies
have shown that their number and relative area can change considerably from year
to year, but this variability has not been explored, in part because available
cliff observations are irregular. Here, we systematically mapped and tracked ice
cliffs across four debris-covered glaciers in High Mountain Asia for every late
ablation season from 2009 to 2019 using high-resolution multi-spectral satellite
imagery. We then quantified the processes occurring at the feature scale to train
a stochastic birth-death model to represent the cliff population dynamics. Our
results show that while the cliff relative area can change by up to 20% from year
to year, the natural long-term variability is constrained, thus defining a glacier-specific
cliff carrying capacity. In a subsequent step, the inclusion of external drivers
related to climate, glacier dynamics, and hydrology highlights the influence of
these variables on the cliff population dynamics, which is usually not a direct
one due to the complexity and interdependence of the processes taking place at
the glacier surface. In some extreme cases (here, a glacier surge), these external
drivers may lead to a reorganization of the cliffs at the glacier surface and
a change in the natural variability. These results have implications for the melt
of debris-covered glaciers, in addition to showing the high rate of changes at
their surface and highlighting some of the links between cliff population and
glacier state.
article_number: e2021JF006179
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: M.
full_name: Kneib, M.
last_name: Kneib
- first_name: E. S.
full_name: Miles, E. S.
last_name: Miles
- first_name: P.
full_name: Buri, P.
last_name: Buri
- first_name: P.
full_name: Molnar, P.
last_name: Molnar
- first_name: M.
full_name: McCarthy, M.
last_name: McCarthy
- first_name: S.
full_name: Fugger, S.
last_name: Fugger
- first_name: Francesca
full_name: Pellicciotti, Francesca
id: b28f055a-81ea-11ed-b70c-a9fe7f7b0e70
last_name: Pellicciotti
citation:
ama: 'Kneib M, Miles ES, Buri P, et al. Interannual dynamics of ice cliff populations
on debris‐covered glaciers from remote sensing observations and stochastic modeling.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 2021;126(10). doi:10.1029/2021jf006179'
apa: 'Kneib, M., Miles, E. S., Buri, P., Molnar, P., McCarthy, M., Fugger, S., &
Pellicciotti, F. (2021). Interannual dynamics of ice cliff populations on debris‐covered
glaciers from remote sensing observations and stochastic modeling. Journal
of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. American Geophysical Union. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jf006179'
chicago: 'Kneib, M., E. S. Miles, P. Buri, P. Molnar, M. McCarthy, S. Fugger, and
Francesca Pellicciotti. “Interannual Dynamics of Ice Cliff Populations on Debris‐covered
Glaciers from Remote Sensing Observations and Stochastic Modeling.” Journal
of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. American Geophysical Union, 2021.
https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jf006179.'
ieee: 'M. Kneib et al., “Interannual dynamics of ice cliff populations on
debris‐covered glaciers from remote sensing observations and stochastic modeling,”
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, vol. 126, no. 10. American
Geophysical Union, 2021.'
ista: 'Kneib M, Miles ES, Buri P, Molnar P, McCarthy M, Fugger S, Pellicciotti F.
2021. Interannual dynamics of ice cliff populations on debris‐covered glaciers
from remote sensing observations and stochastic modeling. Journal of Geophysical
Research: Earth Surface. 126(10), e2021JF006179.'
mla: 'Kneib, M., et al. “Interannual Dynamics of Ice Cliff Populations on Debris‐covered
Glaciers from Remote Sensing Observations and Stochastic Modeling.” Journal
of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, vol. 126, no. 10, e2021JF006179, American
Geophysical Union, 2021, doi:10.1029/2021jf006179.'
short: 'M. Kneib, E.S. Miles, P. Buri, P. Molnar, M. McCarthy, S. Fugger, F. Pellicciotti,
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 126 (2021).'
date_created: 2023-02-20T08:11:36Z
date_published: 2021-10-01T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2023-02-28T13:18:26Z
day: '01'
doi: 10.1029/2021jf006179
extern: '1'
intvolume: ' 126'
issue: '10'
keyword:
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Geophysics
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
url: https://doi.org/10.1029/2021JF006179
month: '10'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
publication: 'Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface'
publication_identifier:
issn:
- 2169-9003
- 2169-9011
publication_status: published
publisher: American Geophysical Union
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: Interannual dynamics of ice cliff populations on debris‐covered glaciers from
remote sensing observations and stochastic modeling
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 126
year: '2021'
...
---
_id: '12613'
abstract:
- lang: eng
text: 'We use high-resolution digital elevation models (DEMs) from unmanned aerial
vehicle (UAV) surveys to document the evolution of four ice cliffs on the debris-covered
tongue of Lirung Glacier, Nepal, over one ablation season. Observations show that
out of four cliffs, three different patterns of evolution emerge: (i) reclining
cliffs that flatten during the ablation season; (ii) stable cliffs that maintain
a self-similar geometry; and (iii) growing cliffs, expanding laterally. We use
the insights from this unique data set to develop a 3-D model of cliff backwasting
and evolution that is validated against observations and an independent data set
of volume losses. The model includes ablation at the cliff surface driven by energy
exchange with the atmosphere, reburial of cliff cells by surrounding debris, and
the effect of adjacent ponds. The cliff geometry is updated monthly to account
for the modifications induced by each of those processes. Model results indicate
that a major factor affecting the survival of steep cliffs is the coupling with
ponded water at its base, which prevents progressive flattening and possible disappearance
of a cliff. The radial growth observed at one cliff is explained by higher receipts
of longwave and shortwave radiation, calculated taking into account atmospheric
fluxes, shading, and the emission of longwave radiation from debris surfaces.
The model is a clear step forward compared to existing static approaches that
calculate atmospheric melt over an invariant cliff geometry and can be used for
long-term simulations of cliff evolution and to test existing hypotheses about
cliffs'' survival.'
article_processing_charge: No
article_type: original
author:
- first_name: Pascal
full_name: Buri, Pascal
last_name: Buri
- first_name: Evan S.
full_name: Miles, Evan S.
last_name: Miles
- first_name: Jakob F.
full_name: Steiner, Jakob F.
last_name: Steiner
- first_name: Walter W.
full_name: Immerzeel, Walter W.
last_name: Immerzeel
- first_name: Patrick
full_name: Wagnon, Patrick
last_name: Wagnon
- first_name: Francesca
full_name: Pellicciotti, Francesca
id: b28f055a-81ea-11ed-b70c-a9fe7f7b0e70
last_name: Pellicciotti
citation:
ama: 'Buri P, Miles ES, Steiner JF, Immerzeel WW, Wagnon P, Pellicciotti F. A physically
based 3‐D model of ice cliff evolution over debris‐covered glaciers. Journal
of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 2016;121(12):2471-2493. doi:10.1002/2016jf004039'
apa: 'Buri, P., Miles, E. S., Steiner, J. F., Immerzeel, W. W., Wagnon, P., &
Pellicciotti, F. (2016). A physically based 3‐D model of ice cliff evolution over
debris‐covered glaciers. Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface.
American Geophysical Union. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jf004039'
chicago: 'Buri, Pascal, Evan S. Miles, Jakob F. Steiner, Walter W. Immerzeel, Patrick
Wagnon, and Francesca Pellicciotti. “A Physically Based 3‐D Model of Ice Cliff
Evolution over Debris‐covered Glaciers.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth
Surface. American Geophysical Union, 2016. https://doi.org/10.1002/2016jf004039.'
ieee: 'P. Buri, E. S. Miles, J. F. Steiner, W. W. Immerzeel, P. Wagnon, and F. Pellicciotti,
“A physically based 3‐D model of ice cliff evolution over debris‐covered glaciers,”
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface, vol. 121, no. 12. American
Geophysical Union, pp. 2471–2493, 2016.'
ista: 'Buri P, Miles ES, Steiner JF, Immerzeel WW, Wagnon P, Pellicciotti F. 2016.
A physically based 3‐D model of ice cliff evolution over debris‐covered glaciers.
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface. 121(12), 2471–2493.'
mla: 'Buri, Pascal, et al. “A Physically Based 3‐D Model of Ice Cliff Evolution
over Debris‐covered Glaciers.” Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface,
vol. 121, no. 12, American Geophysical Union, 2016, pp. 2471–93, doi:10.1002/2016jf004039.'
short: 'P. Buri, E.S. Miles, J.F. Steiner, W.W. Immerzeel, P. Wagnon, F. Pellicciotti,
Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface 121 (2016) 2471–2493.'
date_created: 2023-02-20T08:14:28Z
date_published: 2016-11-22T00:00:00Z
date_updated: 2023-02-24T11:34:54Z
day: '22'
doi: 10.1002/2016jf004039
extern: '1'
intvolume: ' 121'
issue: '12'
keyword:
- Earth-Surface Processes
- Geophysics
language:
- iso: eng
main_file_link:
- open_access: '1'
url: https://doi.org/10.1002/2016JF004039
month: '11'
oa: 1
oa_version: Published Version
page: 2471-2493
publication: 'Journal of Geophysical Research: Earth Surface'
publication_identifier:
eissn:
- 2169-9011
issn:
- 2169-9003
publication_status: published
publisher: American Geophysical Union
quality_controlled: '1'
scopus_import: '1'
status: public
title: A physically based 3‐D model of ice cliff evolution over debris‐covered glaciers
type: journal_article
user_id: 2DF688A6-F248-11E8-B48F-1D18A9856A87
volume: 121
year: '2016'
...