Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram
The precipitation conditions in central Karakoram are investigated on the basis of snow samples from high elevated snow pits at Urdok glacier from 2006 and the analysis of atmospheric transport trajectories in combination with the general, large scale pressure distribution. Our analysis shows that a...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2014-01-01
|
| Series: | Advances in Meteorology |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/215162 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832551693398573056 |
|---|---|
| author | Christoph Mayer Astrid Lambrecht Hans Oerter Margit Schwikowski Elisa Vuillermoz Nicola Frank Guglielmina Diolaiuti |
| author_facet | Christoph Mayer Astrid Lambrecht Hans Oerter Margit Schwikowski Elisa Vuillermoz Nicola Frank Guglielmina Diolaiuti |
| author_sort | Christoph Mayer |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The precipitation conditions in central Karakoram are investigated on the basis of snow samples from high elevated snow pits at Urdok glacier from 2006 and the analysis of atmospheric transport trajectories in combination with the general, large scale pressure distribution. Our analysis shows that accumulation at the high elevated regions of the central Karakoram is dominated by the west wind circulation (WWC). Incursions of the South Asian monsoon (SAM) occur sometimes during the summer months accompanied by strong precipitation but play a minor role for the total accumulation amount. Dust layers found in the snow pits show a rare earth elements signature which indicates that the dust very likely originates from the arid regions of western China and Central Asia. Our trajectory calculations based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data confirm that especially during late spring and early summer the westerly flow is redirected over the Tarim basin to reach central Karakoram from an East/Southeast direction. The preservation of the layer structure and the clear seasonal signals in the snow pits indicate that locations above 5200 m in central Karakoram will be suitable places for retrieving longer climate records from ice cores. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a56d34a9406144faa768d35cd45c0a12 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1687-9309 1687-9317 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Meteorology |
| spelling | doaj-art-a56d34a9406144faa768d35cd45c0a122025-02-03T06:00:46ZengWileyAdvances in Meteorology1687-93091687-93172014-01-01201410.1155/2014/215162215162Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central KarakoramChristoph Mayer0Astrid Lambrecht1Hans Oerter2Margit Schwikowski3Elisa Vuillermoz4Nicola Frank5Guglielmina Diolaiuti6Commission for Geodesy and Glaciology, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Alfons-Goppel Straße 11, 80539 München, GermanyCommission for Geodesy and Glaciology, Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities, Alfons-Goppel Straße 11, 80539 München, GermanyAlfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Centre for Polar and Marine Research, Bremerhaven, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, GermanyPaul Scherrer Institute, Labor für Radio- und Umweltchemie, 5232 Villigen, SwitzerlandAssociazione EvK2CNR, Via San Bernardino 145, 24126 Bergamo, ItalyInstitut für Umweltsozialwissenschaften und Geographie, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Werthmannstraße 4, 79098 Freiburg, GermanyArdito Desio Earth Sciences Department, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Mangiagalli 34, 20133 Milan, ItalyThe precipitation conditions in central Karakoram are investigated on the basis of snow samples from high elevated snow pits at Urdok glacier from 2006 and the analysis of atmospheric transport trajectories in combination with the general, large scale pressure distribution. Our analysis shows that accumulation at the high elevated regions of the central Karakoram is dominated by the west wind circulation (WWC). Incursions of the South Asian monsoon (SAM) occur sometimes during the summer months accompanied by strong precipitation but play a minor role for the total accumulation amount. Dust layers found in the snow pits show a rare earth elements signature which indicates that the dust very likely originates from the arid regions of western China and Central Asia. Our trajectory calculations based on NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data confirm that especially during late spring and early summer the westerly flow is redirected over the Tarim basin to reach central Karakoram from an East/Southeast direction. The preservation of the layer structure and the clear seasonal signals in the snow pits indicate that locations above 5200 m in central Karakoram will be suitable places for retrieving longer climate records from ice cores.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/215162 |
| spellingShingle | Christoph Mayer Astrid Lambrecht Hans Oerter Margit Schwikowski Elisa Vuillermoz Nicola Frank Guglielmina Diolaiuti Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram Advances in Meteorology |
| title | Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram |
| title_full | Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram |
| title_fullStr | Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram |
| title_full_unstemmed | Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram |
| title_short | Accumulation Studies at a High Elevation Glacier Site in Central Karakoram |
| title_sort | accumulation studies at a high elevation glacier site in central karakoram |
| url | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/215162 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christophmayer accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT astridlambrecht accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT hansoerter accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT margitschwikowski accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT elisavuillermoz accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT nicolafrank accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram AT guglielminadiolaiuti accumulationstudiesatahighelevationglaciersiteincentralkarakoram |