Elevation and volume changes on the Harding Icefield, Alaska
Adalgeirsdóttir G, Echelmeyer KA, Harrison W. 1998. Elevation and volume changes on the Harding Icefield, Alaska. Journal of Glaciology. 44(148):570–582
Airborne surface elevation profiles of the Harding Icefield, southcentral Alaska, were made in 1994 and 1996. Thirteen glaciers were profied, along with the upper region of the icefield. The profiles were compared to U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps made in the 1950s, to obtain elevation and volume changes. Copmarison of the changes for the different glaciers shows no significant correlation between volume change the type of glacier or characteristics such as location, aspect, size, slpoe or terminus changes. Estimated total volume change for this ~40 year period is about -34km3, which corresponds to an area-average elevation change of -21m. The estimated error in this elevation change of 5m is mainly due to errors in the maps at higher elevations. Our measurements provide an accurate baseline against which future determinations of volume change can be made.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Adalgeirsdóttir, G; Echelmeyer, K; Harrison, WD
- Units
- KEFJ
- Keywords
- Glaciers, Glaciology, Harding Icefields, Icefields