Modelling steady states and the transient response of debris-covered glaciers

Abstract. Debris-covered glaciers are commonly found in alpine landscapes of high relief and play an increasingly important role a warming climate. As result the insulating effect supraglacial debris, their response to changes climate is less direct dynamic behaviour more complex than for debris-free glaciers. Due lack observations, here we use numerical modelling explore interactions between debris cover geometry evolution idealized glacier over centennial timescales. The main goal this study understand effects on glacier's transient response. To do so, model that couples ice flow, transport, its surface mass balance thereby captures feedbacks affect volume length evolution. In second step incorporate cryokarst features such as cliffs ponds dynamical behaviour. Our indicates thick delays both especially signal. Including dynamics therefore results with extended debris-covered tongues tend advance or stagnate fluctuating at century timescales hence remember cold periods warm. However, when including even relatively small amount melt enhancing model, responsive substantial loss thinning tongues, also observed.