Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Glacier Changes Following the Little Ice Age — A Survey of the International Data Basis and Its Perspectives

  • Conference paper
Glacier Fluctuations and Climatic Change

Part of the book series: Glaciology and Quaternary Geology ((GQGE,volume 6))

Abstract

International monitoring of glacier variations started in 1894. Today, the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS) of ICSI/FAGS and GEMS/UNEP collects standardized glacier information. The data basis is briefly described and illustrated. It includes observations on changes in length and, since World War II, also in mass, as well as recent glacier inventories. By far the highest information density is found for the Alps and Scandinavia.

About 90 years of observations clearly reveal a general shrinkage of mountain glaciers on a global scale. This effect was most pronounced during the first half of the 20th century; more recently, however, glaciers have started to grow again in several regions, especially on the maritime slopes of mountain ranges. For the first time, length changes of mountain glaciers as a reaction to well documented and strong signals in mass balance history can now be measured. Important empirical information has started to become available on the complex relationship between climate and glaciers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 189.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Ageta, Y. and Higuchi, K. 1984. Estimation of mass balance components of a summer-accumulation type glacier in Nepal, Himalaya. Geografiska Annaler 66A, (3), 249–255.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, E. and Muret, E. 1907. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XIIme rapport, 1906. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde II, 161–198.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, E. and Muret, E. 1909. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XIIIme rapport, 1907. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde III, 161–185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, E. and Muret, E. 1910. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XIVme rapport, 1908. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde IV, 161–176.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, E. and Muret, E. 1911a. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XVme rapport, 1909. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde V, 177–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruckner, E. and Muret, E. 1911b. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XVIme rapport, 1910. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde VI, 81–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, D.N. 1984. Water and mass balance measurements in glacierised drainage basins. Geografiska Annaler 66A, (3), 197–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Corte, A.E. and Espizua, L.E. 1981. Inventario de glaciares de la cuenca del Rio Mendoza. CONICET/IANIGLA, Mendoza/Argentina, 64 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Driedger, C.L. and Kennard, P.M. 1986. Glacier volume estimation on Cascade volcanoes: an analysis and comparison with other methods. Annals of Glaciology 8, 59–64.

    Google Scholar 

  • Field, W.O. (Ed) 1975. Mountain glaciers of the Northern Hemisphere. CRREL, Hanover, Vol. 1, 698 pp., Vol. 2, 932 pp., and Atlas, 49 plates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielding Reid, H. and Muret, E. 1904. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. IXme rapport, 1903. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 109, Période 4, t. 18, 160–195.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielding Reid, H. and Muret, E. 1905. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. Xme rapport, 1904. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 110, Période 4, t. 20, 62–74, 169–190.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fielding Reid, H. and Muret, E. 1906. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XIme rapport, 1905. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde I, 121.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finsterwalder, R. and Rentsch, H. 1980. Zur Höhenänderung von Ostalpengletschern im Zeitraum 1969–1979. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 16, (1), 110–115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finsterwalder, S. and Muret, E. 1901. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. VIme rapport, 1900. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 106, Période 4, t. 12, 56–69, 118–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finsterwalder, S. and Muret, E. 1902. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. VIIme rapport, 1901. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 107, Période 4, t. 14, 282–302.

    Google Scholar 

  • Finsterwalder, S. and Muret, E. 1903. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. VIIIme rapport, 1902. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 108, Période 4, t. 15, 661–677.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forel, F.-A. 1895. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. Discours préliminaire. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, t. XXXIV, 209–229.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forel, F.-A. and Du Pasquier 1896. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. Ier rapport, 1895. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 101, Période 4, t. 2, 129–147.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forel, F.-A. and Du Pasquier 1897. Les variations périodiqes des glaciers. Ilme rapport, 1896. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 102, Période 4, t. 4, 218–245.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W. 1983. Permafrost-glacier relationships in the Swiss Alps–today and in the past. Permafrost Fourth International Conference, Proceedings, NAP/Washington D.C., 415–420.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W. 1985a. Fluctuations of glaciers 1975–1980. IAHS and UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W. 1985b. Global land ice monitoring: present status and future perspectives. US Department of Energy, DOE/EV/60235–1, 216231.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W. 1985c. Creep of mountain permafrost: internal structures and flow of alpine rock glaciers. Mitteilungen der Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie, ETH Zürich, no.77, 142 PP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Haeberli, W. and Penz, U. 1985. An attempt to reconstruct glaciological and climatological characteristics of 18ka BP Ice Age glaciers in and around the Swiss Alps. Zeitschrif für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 21, 351–361.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamberg, A. and Mercanton, P.-L. 1913. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XIXme rapport, 1913. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde IX, 42–65.

    Google Scholar 

  • IAHS 1980. World Glacier Inventory - Proceedings of the workshop at Riederalp, Switzerland, 17–22 September 1978. IAHS Publication no. 126, 351 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, P. 1967. Fluctuations of glaciers 1959–1965. IAHS and UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kasser, P. 1973. Fluctuations of glaciers 1965–1970. IAHS and UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kislov, A.V. and Koryakin, V.S. 1986. Spatial and temporal regulations of glacier fluctuations in Eurasian Arctic. Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Soviet Geophysical Committee, Data of Glaciological Studies, Publication no. 57., 236–241.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koerner, R.M. 1986. A new method for using glaciers as monitors of climate. Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Soviet Geophysical Committee, Data of Glaciological Studies, Publication no. 57, 175179.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kruss, P. 1983. Climate change in East Africa: a numerical simulation from the 100 years of terminus record at Lewis glacier, Mount Kenya. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 19 (1), 43–60.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, M. 1981. Climate and glaciers. IAHS Publication no. 131, 3–20.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, M. 1984. Mass budget imbalances as criterion for a climatic classification of glaciers. Geografiska Annaler 66A, (3), 229–238.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, M. 1985. Reactions of mid-latitude glacier mass balance to predicted climatic changes. US Department of Energy, DOE/EV/60235–1, 248–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kuhn, M. 1986. Meteorological conditions of mass balance extremes. Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Soviet Geophysical Committee, Data of Glaciological Studies, Publication no. 57, 149–153.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leiva, J.C., Cabrera, G. and Lenzano, L.E. 1986. Glacier mass balances in the Cajon del Rubio, Andes Centrales Argentinos. Cold Regions Science and Technology 13, 83–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Letréguilly, A. 1984. Bilans de masse des glaciers Alpins: méthodes de mesure et répartition spatio-temporelle. CNRS, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et de Géophysique de l’Environnement, Grenoble, Publication no. 439, 274 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lliboutry, L. 1974. Multivariate statistical analysis of glacier annual balances. Journal of Glaciology 13 (69), 371–392.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lliboutry, L. (unpublished). Note sur le “Raport du Sous-Comité sur les variations des glaciers existants” à la Commission des Neiges et des Glaces, 3pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Makarevich, K.G. and Rototayeva, 0.V. 1986. Present-day fluctuations of mountain glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere. Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Soviet Geophysical Committee, Data of Glaciological Studies, Publication no. 57, 157–163.

    Google Scholar 

  • Matthes, M.F.E. 1934. Committee on glaciers of the American Geophysical Union–report for 1931/32. IAHS Bulletin no. 20, 251–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1930. Rapport sur les variations de longueur des glaciers de 1913 à 1928 (Chaine des Alpes; Scandinavie). Bulletin no. 14 of the IAHS, 53 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1934. Rapport sur les variations de longueur des glaciers de 1928 à 1931 (1932) (Chaine des Alpes; Scandinavie). Bulletin no. 20 of the IAHS, 229–250.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1936. Rapport sur les variations des glaciers de 1931 à 1935 (Chaine des Alpes; Scandinavie et Islande). IAHS publication no. 22, 430–456.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1948. Rapport sur les variations des glaciers de 1935 à 1946 (1947) (Alpes françaises, suisses, italiennes et autrichiennes; variations des glaciers en Suède, Islande et Norvège). IAHS publication no. 30, 233–261.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1952. Rapport sur les variations de longueur des glaciers européens de 1947 à 1950. Alpes françaises, suisses, italiennes et autrichiennes; Pyrénées, Appennins; Norvège, Suède et Islande. IAHS publication no. 32, 107–119.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1954. Rapport sur les variation de longueur des glaciers d’Europe en 1950–51; 1951–52 et 1952–53. IAHS publication no. 39, 478–490.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1958. Rapport sur les variations de longueur des glaciers européens en 1953–54; 1954–55 et 1955–56. IAHS publication no. 46, 358–371.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercanton, P.-L. 1961. Rapport sur les variations de longueur des glaciers européens en 1956–57; 1957–58 et 1958–59. IAHS publication no. 54, 366–378.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mercer, J.H. 1967. Southern Hemisphere glacier atlas. US Army Natick Laboratories Technical Report 67–76-ES, 325 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F. 1977. Fluctuations of glaciers 1970–1975. IAHS and UNESCO, Paris.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F. 1978. Instructions for compilation and assemblage of data for a World Glacier Inventory. Supplement: Identification/Glacier Number. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 7 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F., Caflisch, T. and Müller, G. 1976. Firn und Eis der Schweizer Alpen. Gletscherinventar. ETH Zürich, Geographisches Institut, publ. no. 57, 174 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F. Caflisch, T. and Müller, G. 1977. Instructions for compilation and assemblage of data for a World Glacier Inventory. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 19 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F. and Scherler, K.E. 1979a. Report on World Glacier Inventory - status December 1978. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 67 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, F. and Scherler, K.E. 1979b. Report on World Glacier Inventory - status October 1979. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 21 PP.

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller, P. 1988. Parametrisierung der Gletscher-Klima-Beziehung für die Praxis: Grundlagen und Beispiele. Mitteilungen der Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie. ETH Zürich, nr. 95, 228 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patzelt, G. 1985. The period of glacier advances in the Alps, 1965 to 1980. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde und Glazialgeologie 21, 403–407.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patzelt, G. 1987. Gegenwärtige Veränderungen an Gebirgsgletschern im weltweiten Vergleich. Verhandlungen des Deutschen Geographentages Bd. 45, Stuttgart, 259–264.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabot, C. and Muret, E. 1912. Les variations périodiques des glaciers.XVIIme rapport, 1911. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde VII, 37–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabot, C. and Muret, E. 1912. Supplément au VII rapport sur les variations périodiques des glaciers. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde VII, 191–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rabot, C. and Mercanton, P.-L. 1913. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. XVIIIme rapport, 1912. Zeitschrift für Gletscherkunde VIII, 42–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reeh, N., Clausen, H.B., Dansgaard, W., Gundestrup, N., Hammer, C.U. and Johnson, S.J. 1978. Secular trends of accumulation rates at three Greenland stations. Journal of Glaciology 20 (82), 27–30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, L. 1980. Can the linear balance model be extended to the whole Alps? IAHS publication no. 126, 273–282.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, L., Vallon, M., Martin, S. and Letréguilly, A. 1984. Spatio temporal distribution of the glacial mass balance in the Alpine, Scandinavian and Tien Shan areas. Geografiska Annaler 66A (3), 239247.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynaud, L., Vallon, M. and Letréguilly, A. 1986. Mass balance measurements: problems and two new methods of determining variations. Journal of Glaciology 32 (112), 446–454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter 1898. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. IIIme rapport, 1897. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 103, Période 4, t. 6, 22–55.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter 1899. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. IVme rapport, 1898. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 104, Période 4, t. 8, 31–61.

    Google Scholar 

  • Richter 1900. Les variations périodiques des glaciers. Vme rapport, 1899. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, Genève, Année 105, Période 4, t. 10, 26–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherler, K.E. 1980. Report on World Glacier Inventory - status December 1980. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 34 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scherler, K.E. 1983. Guidelines for preliminary glacier inventories. TTS/WGI, Dept. of Geography, ETH Zürich, 16 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sugden, D.E. 1977. Reconstruction of the morphology, dynamics and thermal characteristics of the Laurentide Ice Sheet at its maximum. Arctic and Alpine Research 9 (1), 21–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L., Hastenrath, S. and Morales, B. 1979. Climatic ice core records from the tropical Quelccaya Ice Cap. Science 203, 1240–1243.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, L.G., Wu Xiaoling, Mosley-Thompson, E. and Xie Zichu 1988. Climatic ice core records from the Dunde Ice Cap, China. Annals of Glaciology, 178–182.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO 1969. Variations of existing glaciers. UNESCO/IAHS Technical Papers in Hydrology no. 3, 19 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • UNESCO 1970. Perennial ice and snow masses. A guide for compilation and assemblage of data for a World Glacier Inventory. UNESCO/IAHS Technical Papers in Hydrology no. 1, 59 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • US Dept. of Energy 1985. Glaciers, ice sheets, and sea level: effect of a CO9-induced climatic change. Report of a Workshop held in Seattle, Washington, September 13–15, 1984. DOE/EV/60235–1, 330 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vallon, M., Letréguilly, A. and Reynaud, L. 1986. Glacier mass balance reconstructions for the Northern Hemisphere covering the past century and their climatic significance. Academy of Sciences of the U.S.S.R., Soviet Geophysical Committee, Data of Glaciological Studies, Publication no. 57, 153–157.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vareschi, V. 1942. Die pollenanalytische Untersuchung der Gletscherbewegung. Veröffentlichung des Geobotanischen Institutes Rubel in Zürich, 19. Heft, 142 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wallén, C.C. 1984. Present century climate fluctuations in the Northern Hemisphere and examples of their impact. WMO/TD-no. 9, 85 pp.

    Google Scholar 

  • WMO 1983. Report of the meeting on climate system monitoring, Geneva, 5–9 December 1983. WMO/WCP-64.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Versuchsanstalt für Wasserbau, Hydrologie und Glaziologie (VAW), ETH Zürich, Switzerland

    W. Haeberli, P. Müller, P. Alean & H. Bösch

Authors
  1. W. Haeberli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. P. Müller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. Alean
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Bösch
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Meteorology and Oceanography, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Johannes Oerlemans

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1989 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Haeberli, W., Müller, P., Alean, P., Bösch, H. (1989). Glacier Changes Following the Little Ice Age — A Survey of the International Data Basis and Its Perspectives. In: Oerlemans, J. (eds) Glacier Fluctuations and Climatic Change. Glaciology and Quaternary Geology, vol 6. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7823-3_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-7823-3_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-4040-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-7823-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation