Distributed Melt on a Debris-Covered Glacier: Field Observations and Melt Modeling on the Lirung Glacier in the Himalaya

Debris-covered glaciers, especially in high-mountain Asia, have received increased attention recent years. So far, few field-based observations of distributed mass loss exist and both the properties debris layer as well atmospheric drivers melt below remain poorly understood. Using multi-year on-glacier data, spatial surface elevation changes from repeat flights with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), we quantify necessary variables to compute for Lirung Glacier Himalaya. By applying energy balance model reproduce observed during one monsoon season 2013. We show that is sensitive thermal conductivity thickness debris. Our previously used values literature through are valid but variability space on a single glacier remains high. also present simple model, which calibrated based results only dependent air temperature therefore applicable larger scale studies. This reproduces under thin (<0.5 m) at hourly resolution, fails represent thicker accurately this high temporal resolution. On using off-glacier forcing data however able total volume debris-covered tongue. promising result catchment studies, where quantifying covered glaciers challenge.