‘reference glaciers’ for mass balance

Glacier mass balance is the direct and undelayed response to atmospheric climate change and hence is among the essential variables required for climate system monitoring. Glacier melt contributes to runoff and has been recognised as one of the largest non-steric contributor to sea-level rise. With the reference glaciers, the WGMS aims at providing a reliable and well documented sample of globally distributed long-term observation series to document the impact of climate change on glacier mass-balance. The reference glaciers have more than 30 years of ongoing glaciological mass-balance measurements. As an essential climate variable, these glaciers build the backbone of the observational network of the WGMS within the Global Climate Observation System in support of the United Nations Framework Convention for Climate Change.

Overview map

Overview_map_reference_and_benchmark_glaciers

List of 'reference glaciers'

RegionCountryGlacier name
ALASKAUSGULKANA
ALASKAUSWOLVERINE
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAUSCOLUMBIA (2057)
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAUSEASTON
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAUSLEMON CREEK
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAUSRAINBOW
WESTERN NORTH AMERICAUSSOUTH CASCADE
WESTERN NORTH AMERICACAHELM
WESTERN NORTH AMERICACAPEYTO
WESTERN NORTH AMERICACAPLACE
ARCTIC CANADA NORTH & SOUTHCADEVON ICE CAP NW
ARCTIC CANADA NORTH & SOUTHCAMEIGHEN ICE CAP
ARCTIC CANADA NORTH & SOUTHCAMELVILLE SOUTH ICE CAP
ARCTIC CANADA NORTH & SOUTHCAWHITE
ICELANDISBRÚARJÖKULL
ICELANDISEYJABAKKAJÖKULL
ICELANDISHOFSJÖKULL E
ICELANDISHOFSJÖKULL N
ICELANDISHOFSJÖKULL SW
ICELANDISTUNGNÁRJÖKULL
SVALBARD & JAN MAYENSJAUSTRE BROEGGERBREEN
SVALBARD & JAN MAYENSJMIDTRE LOVÉNBREEN
SCANDINAVIANOAALFOTBREEN
SCANDINAVIANOENGABREEN
SCANDINAVIANOGRAASUBREEN
SCANDINAVIANOHELLSTUGUBREEN
SCANDINAVIANOLANGFJORDJOEKELEN
SCANDINAVIANONIGARDSBREEN
SCANDINAVIANOREMBESDALSKAAKA
SCANDINAVIANOSTORBREEN
SCANDINAVIASEMARMAGLACIÄREN
SCANDINAVIASERABOTS GLACIÄR
SCANDINAVIASERIUKOJIETNA
SCANDINAVIASESTORGLACIÄREN
CENTRAL EUROPEATGOLDBERGKEES
CENTRAL EUROPEATHINTEREISFERNER
CENTRAL EUROPEATJAMTALFERNER
CENTRAL EUROPEATKESSELWANDFERNER
CENTRAL EUROPEATPASTERZE
CENTRAL EUROPEATVERNAGTFERNER
CENTRAL EUROPECHALLALIN
CENTRAL EUROPECHBASÒDINO
CENTRAL EUROPECHGIÉTRO
CENTRAL EUROPECHGRIES
CENTRAL EUROPECHSILVRETTA
CENTRAL EUROPEESMALADETA
CENTRAL EUROPEFRARGENTIÈRE
CENTRAL EUROPEFRSAINT SORLIN
CENTRAL EUROPEFRSARENNES
CENTRAL EUROPEITCARESÈR
CENTRAL EUROPEITCIARDONEY
CAUCASUS & MIDDLE EASTRUDJANKUAT
CAUCASUS & MIDDLE EASTRUGARABASHI
CAUCASUS & MIDDLE EASTRULEVIY AKTRU
CENTRAL ASIAKGABRAMOV
CENTRAL ASIAKGGOLUBIN
CENTRAL ASIAKGKARA-BATKAK
CENTRAL ASIAKZTS. TUYUKSUYSKIY
CENTRAL ASIACNURUMQI GLACIER NO. 1
SOUTHERN ANDESBOZONGO
SOUTHERN ANDESCLECHAURREN NORTE

List of former 'reference glaciers'

Mountain rangeCountryGlacier nameReason
ALPSATSTUBACHER SONNBLICKKEESno recent direct glaciological measurements
ALPSATWURTENKEESinfluence of artificial snow management
ASIA NORTHRULEVIY AKTRUdiscontinued observations
ASIA NORTHRUMALIY AKTRUdiscontinued observations
ASIA NORTHRUVOVOPADNIY (NO. 125)discontinued observations

Reference glacier criteria

Preconditions: the glacier fluctuations are mainly driven by climatic factors and must not be subject to major other influences such as avalanche, calving or surge dynamics, heavy debris cover, artificial snow production or ablation protection.

Length of time series: the glacier must have a time series of more than 30 years of ongoing mass-balance measurements based on the glaciological method.

Observational gaps: the observation series may have a maximum gap of three years in the past three decades. In case of larger data gaps, the renewed observations need to cover a time period of at least half the length of the preceding data gap in order to regain the status of a reference glacier. Note that for years of measurement gaps, mass balance estimates (e.g. based on snow line observations or meteorological modelling) can be reported with corresponding flags and information about the estimation techniques.

Detailed information: besides glacier-wide balances for the previous observation period, the submission of the following data is strongly encouraged:

  • preliminary estimates for the current observation period,
  • overview photograph and text on glacier location and climate regime,
  • time system used, corresponding survey dates, and interpolation method,
  • equilibrium line altitudes and accumulation area ratios,
  • surface area as well as winter, summer, and annual balances per elevation bins,
  • ablation and accumulation measurements at point level,
  • principal investigators, sponsoring agencies, references
  • in case of glacier disintegration and vanishing, investigators are requested to report the data with a corresponding flag.

Validation and calibration: it is encouraged to periodically reanalysis and – if necessary – calibrate the glaciological balance series with results from high quality products of about decadal geodetic surveys (cf. Zemp et al., 2013). The status of a reference glacier will be awarded and periodically re-evaluated by the WGMS based on the submitted data and in consultation with the corresponding Principal Investigators. The reference glaciers are highlighted in the online and print products of the WGMS. This page provides detailed information on those reference glaciers given in individual factsheets (see list below). The factsheets are designed to provide clear information and data to anyone interested in learning more about the reference glaciers. For access to the full data set on the reference glaciers, click here.

‘benchmark’ glaciers

In 2023, the WGMS introduced the term ‘benchmark’ glacier, after consultation with the international collaboration network. The label ‘benchmark’ glacier is awarded to selected glaciological mass-balance programmes that have not yet reached 30 years of ongoing measurements but are located in regions without ‘reference’ glaciers, or where existing ‘reference’ glaciers are about to vanish. ‘Benchmark’ glaciers fulfill the preconditions as defined for the ‘reference’ glaciers, have a time series of more than 10 years of ongoing glaciological mass-balance measurements, and can have a maximum observational gap of one year in the past decade.

REGIONCOUNTRYGLACIER NAME
GREENLANDGLFREYA
GREENLANDGLMITTIVAKKAT
ICELANDISLANGJÖKULL ICE CAP
SVALBARD & JAN MAYENSJIRENEBREEN
SVALBARD & JAN MAYENSJWALDEMARBREEN
SVALBARD & JAN MAYENSJWERENSKIOLDBREEN
CENTRAL EUROPEFROSSOUE
CENTRAL ASIACNPARLUNG NO. 94
ASIA SOUTH WEST & SOUTH EASTINCHHOTA SHIGRI
ASIA SOUTH WEST & SOUTH EASTNPMERA
ASIA SOUTH WEST & SOUTH EASTNPPOKALDE
ASIA SOUTH WEST & SOUTH EASTNPRIKHA SAMBA
ASIA SOUTH WEST & SOUTH EASTNPYALA
SOUTHERN ANDESARMARTIAL ESTE
SOUTHERN ANDESBOCHARQUINI SUR
SOUTHERN ANDESCLMOCHO CHOSHUENCO SE
SOUTHERN ANDESCOCONEJERAS
SOUTHERN ANDESECANTIZANA 15 ALPHA
NEW ZEALANDNZBREWSTER
NEW ZEALANDNZROLLESTON
ANTARCTICA & SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDSAQBAHÍA DEL DIABLO
ANTARCTICA & SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDSAQHURD
ANTARCTICA & SUBANTARCTIC ISLANDSAQJOHNSONS

References

  • Fluctuations of Glaciers browser. Accessible at: http://www.wgms.ch/fogbrowser/.
  • WGMS 2021. Global Glacier Change Bulletin No. 4 (2018-2019). Zemp, M., Nussbaumer, S. U., Gärtner-Roer, I., Bannwart, J., Paul, F., and Hoelzle, M. (eds.), ISC(WDS)/IUGG(IACS)/UNEP/UNESCO/WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland, 278 pp., publication based on database version: doi:10.5904/wgms-fog-2021-05.
  • WGMS (2012). Fluctuations of Glaciers 2005-2010, Volume X. Zemp M., Frey H., Gärtner-Roer I., Nussbaumer S.U., Hoelzle M., Paul F. & Haeberli W. (eds.), IUCN(WDS)/IUGG (IACS)/UNEP/UNESCO/WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service: Zurich.
  • WGMS (2013). Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 12 (2010-11). Zemp, M., Nussbaumer, S.U., Naegeli, K., Gärtner-Roer, I., Paul, F., Hoelzle, M. and Haeberli, W. (eds.), ICSU (WDS) / IUGG (IACS) / UNEP / UNESCO / WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland: 106 pp.
  • Zemp, M., Hoelzle M. & Haeberli W. (2009). Six decades of glacier mass-balance observations: a review of the worldwide monitoring network. Annals of Glaciology, 50, 101-111.
  • Zemp, M., Thibert, E., Huss, M., Stumm, D., Rolstad Denby C., Nuth, C., Nussbaumer, S.U., Moholdt, G., Mercer, A., Mayer, C., Joerg, P.C., Jansson, P., Hynek, B., Fischer, A., Escher-Vetter, H., Elvehøy, H. & L. Andreassen (2013). Reanalysing glacier mass balance measurement series. The Cryosphere 7, 1227-1245.
last change 11/04/2024