Articles | Volume 6, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-345-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/wcd-6-345-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Investigating the influence of changing ice surfaces on gravity wave formation impacting glacier boundary layer flow with large-eddy simulations
Brigitta Goger
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Center for Climate Systems Modeling, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, Universtität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Ivana Stiperski
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, Universtität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Matthis Ouy
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, Universtität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
Lindsey Nicholson
Department of Atmospheric and Cryospheric Sciences, Universtität Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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This preprint is open for discussion and under review for The Cryosphere (TC).
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We evaluated the numerical weather model ICON in two horizontal resolutions with two bulk microphysics schemes over hilly and complex terrain in Switzerland and Austria, respectively. We focused on the model's ability to simulate mid-level clouds in summer and winter. By combining observational data from two different field campaigns, we show that an increase in the horizontal resolution and a more advanced cloud microphysics scheme is strongly beneficial for cloud representation.
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Wind-driven snow redistribution affects glacier mass balance. A case study of Hintereisferner glacier in Austria used high-resolution observations and simulations to model snow redistribution. Simulations matched observations, showing the potential of the model for studying snow redistribution on other mountain glaciers.
A. B. Voordendag, B. Goger, C. Klug, R. Prinz, M. Rutzinger, and G. Kaser
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B2-2022, 1093–1099, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2022-1093-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2022-1093-2022, 2022
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Supraglacial debris cover comprises ponds, exposed ice cliffs, debris material and vegetation. Understanding these features is important for glacier hydrology and related hazards. We use linear spectral unmixing of satellite data to assess the composition of map supraglacial debris across the Himalaya range in 2015. One of the highlights of this study is the automated mapping of supraglacial ponds, which complements and expands the existing supraglacial debris and lake databases.
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Short summary
We study with numerical simulations whether changing glacier ice surfaces impacts the atmospheric boundary layer structure over a glacier. Under north-westerly flow, a gravity wave forms over the glacier valley. When the surrounding upstream glaciers are removed, the gravity wave is weakened and breaks earlier. This leads to stronger turbulent mixing over the remaining glacier and to higher temperatures. We suggest that glaciers influence each other and should be studied as a connected system.
We study with numerical simulations whether changing glacier ice surfaces impacts the...