Estimation of Freezing Level Height, Equilirium Line and Permafrost Edge Altitude and Snow-Cover Percentage at Sabalan Mountain and Their Impact on Water Resources

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Physical Geography Department , Geographic Science and Planning Faculty, University of Isfahan, Hezarjarib St., Isfahan, Iran

2 Physical Geography Department , Geographic Science and Planning Faculty, University of Isfahan, Hezarjarib St., Isfahan, Iran.

Abstract

Freezing Level Height (FLH), Permafrost Edge Altitude (PEA), Equilibrium Line Altitude (ELA) and Snow-Cover Percentage (SC) are considered as important components of assessing and investigating the status of water resources. Environmental Lapse-Rate (ELR) was used to calculate these parameters. Regarding to the problem of using Land-Based climatological stations data, gridded radiosonde data were used as a replacement. This database has a higher and proper spatial and temporal resolution. In the first stage, raw data were processed in the Python programming environment, and then the ELR ratios on the lower part of troposphere were estimated up to 6000m in order to be used in FLH calculation during 2008 to 2016 time period, FLH and ELR were together used to calculate PEA at Sabalan mountainous area. The results are presented in the form of diagrams, maps and tables. Snow-Cover status at the Sabalan heights was obtained from Terra and Aqua Modis images, during the same period and they were analyzed and presented on the basis of monthly, seasonaly and annually time interval. The SC levels and the FLH altitudes were analyzed and compared. The FLH position, and hypsometrical distribution interactions, can be used for investigation of water resources future, and the establishment of appropriate water management scenarios. The comparison of SC percentage and the FLH level pointed out more differences during warm-months and the less during cold and wet months of the year. Winterly FLH level of Sabalan mountain lies at the elevation classes of 1200-1700, 1700-2200 and 2200-2700m which shows a normal, semi-critical and critical state of water resources respectively that could affect water resources management policies.

Keywords

Main Subjects


Benn, D.I., Lehmkuhl, F. (2000). Mass balance and equilibrium-line altitudes of glaciers in high-mountain environments. Journal of Quaternary International, 65(66), 15-29.
Bolch, T.  Kulkarni, A. Kääb, A. Huggel, C. Paul, F. Cogley, G. Frey, H. Kargel, J.S. (2012). The state and fate of Himalayan Glaciers. Journal of Science, 336(10), 310-314.
Bradley, R. S.  Keimig, F.  Diaz, H. F. Hardy, D. R. (2009). Recent Changes in Freezing Level Heights in the Tropics with Implications for the Deglacierization of High Mountain Regions. Geophysical Reasearch Letters, 36(17), 1-4.
Chen, Z.  Chen, Y. Li, W. (2012). Response of Runoff to Change of Atmospheric 0°C Level Height in Summer in Arid Region of Northwest China. Journal of China Earth Sciences, 55(9), 1533-1544.
Coudrain, A, Francou, B. Kundewicz, W. (2005). Glacier Shrinkage in the Andes and Consequences for Water Resources. Journal of Hydrological Sciences, 50(6), 925-932.
Diaz, H. F. Eischeid, J. K. Duncan, C. Bradley, R. S. (2003). Variability of Freezing Levels, Melting Season Indicators, and snow cover for Selected High-Elevation and Continental Regions in the last 50 years. Journal of Climate Change, 59(1-2), 33-52.
Diaz, H.F. and Graham, N. E. (1996). Recent Changes in Tropical Freezing Heights and the Role of Sea Surface Temperature. Journal of Nature, 383(1038), 152-155.
Ebrahimi, B. and Seif, A. (2016a). Equilibrium Line Altitude (TPW-ELA and TP-ELA) in Zagros Mountains. Journal of Earth Science Researchs, 7(28), 96-118. (In Farsi).
Ebrahimi, B. Seif, A. (2016b). Equilibrium-Line Altitudes of Late Quaternary Glaciers in the Zardkuh Mountain. Journal of Geopersia, 6(2), 299-322.
Esfandiary, F. and Khayam, M. (2007). Analysis of the geomorphologic effects of Nivation in the eastern slopes of Sabalan. Journal of Physical Geography Research, 39(8), 49-60. (In Farsi).
Folkins, I. (2013). The melting level stability anomaly in the tropics, Journal of Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics, 13(3), 1167–1176.
Fujita, K. (2008a). Effect of Precipitation Seasonality on Climatic Sensitivity of Glacier Mass Balance. Journal of Earth and Planetary Science , 276(1-2), 14-19.
Fujita, K. (2008b). Influence of Precipitation Seasonality on Glacier Mass Balance and its Sensitivity to Climate Change. Annals of Glaciology, 48, 88-92.
Fujita, K. and Ageta, Y. (2000). Effect of Summer Accumulation on Glacier Mass Balance on the Tibetan Plateau Revealed by Mass-Balance Model. Journal of Glaciology, 46(153), 244-252.
Fujita, K. and Nuimura, T. (2011). Spatially Heterogeneous Wastage of Himalayan glaciers. Proceding of the Natural Academy of Science of the Unitaed State of America, 108(34), 14011-14014.
Gardner, A. S. Moholdt, G. Cogley, G. Wouters, B. Arendt, A.A. Wahr, J. Berthier, E. Hock, R. Pfeffer, W.T. Kaser, G. Ligtenberg, R.M. Bolch, T. Sharp, M.J. Hagen, J.O. van den Broeke, M.R. Paul, F. (2013). A Reconciled Estimate of Glacier Contributions to Sea Level Rise: 2003 to 2009. Journal of Science, 340 (6134), 852-857.
Gue, Y, Zhang, Y, (2011). Variability of atmospheric freezing level height derived from radiosonde data in China during 1958-2005 and its impact to cryosphere changes, Journal of Sciences in Cold and Arid Regions, 3(6), 485-490.
Haeberli, W. Hoelzle, M. Paul, F. Zemp, M. (2007). Integrated Monitoring of Mountain Glaciers as Key Indicators of Global Climate Change: The European Alps. Annals of Glaciology 46(1), 150-160.
Hall, D. K. and G. A. Riggs. (2015). MODIS/Terra Snow Cover Monthly L3 Global 0.05Deg CMG, Version 6. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MOD10CM.006. [Date Accessed].
Hall, D. K. and G. A. Riggs. (2016). MODIS/Aqua Snow Cover Monthly L3 Global 0.05Deg CMG, Version 6. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NASA National Snow and Ice Data Center Distributed Active Archive Center. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5067/MODIS/MYD10CM.006. [Date Accessed].
Harris, N.G. Gettys, N. Bowman, K.P. Shin, D.B. (2000). Comparison of Freezing-level Altitude from NCEP Reanalysis with TRMM Precipitation Radar Bright Band Data. Journal of Climate, 13(23), 4137-4148.
Hoffmann, G. (2003). Taking the Pulse of the Tropical Water Cycle. Journal of American Association for the Advancement of Science, 301(5634), 776-778.
Jiang, F.C., Wu X.H., Wang S.B., Zhao Z.Z., Fu J.L., (2003). Basic features of spatial distribution of the limits of permafrost in China. Journal of Geomechanics, 19(14), 12-22.
Li, Z. Li, H. Chen, Y. (2011). Mechanisms and Simulation of Accelerated Shrinkage of Continental Glaciers: A Case Study of Urumqi Glacier No. 1 in eastern Tianshan, Central Asia. Journal of Earth Science, 22(4), 423–430.
Mahdavi, M. and Taherkhani, M. (2004) Applied Statistical Analysis in Geographical Researchs(2nd ed.). Tehran: Ghoomes Publications.
Meier, M. F. and Post, A.S. (1962). Recent Variation in Mass net Budgets of Glaciers in Western North America. Journal of International Association of Scientific Hydrology Publications, 58, 63-77.
Mölg, T. Cullen, N.J. Hardy, D.R. Winkler, M. Kaser, G. (2009). Quantifying Climate Change in the Tropical Midtroposphere over East Africa from Glacier Shrinkage on Kilimanjaro, Journal of American Meteorological Society, 22(15), 4162-4181.
Pepin, N. C., Lundquist J. D. (2008). Temperature trends at high elevations: Patterns across the globe, Journal of Geophysical Research, 35(14), 1-6.
Porter, S. C. (2001). Snowline Depression in the Tropics During the Last Glaciation. Journal of Quaternary Science Reviews, 20(10), 1067-1091.
Rabatel, A. Bernard, F. Soruco, A. Gomez, J. Caceres, B. Ceballos, J.L. Basantes, R. Vuille, M. Sicart, J.E. Huggel, C. Scheel, M. Lejeune, Y. Yves, A. Collet, M. Thomas, C. Consoli, G. Favier, V. Jomelli, V. Galarraga R. Patrick, G. Maisincho, L. Mendoza, J. Menegoz, M. Ramirez, E. Ribstein, P. Suarez, W. Villacis, M. Patrick, W. (2013). Current State of Glaciers in the Tropical Andes: A multi Century Perspective on Glacier evolution and Climate Change. Journal of Cryosphere, 7(1), 81-102.
Rahimi, J. Khalili, A. and Bazrafshan, J. (2017). Evaluation of Different Missing Data Reconstruction Methods for Daily Minimum Temperature in Elevated Stations of Iran: Comparison with New Proposed Approach. Iranian Journal of Soil and Water Research (IJSWR), 48(2), 231-239. (In Farsi).
Ramesht, M. H, Lajevardi, M. Lashkari, H. Mahmudi, T. (2011). Tracking the Evidences of Natural Glaciers (case study: Natural Glaciers in Mahan, Tigrani basin). Journal of Geography and Environmental Planning, 22(42), 59-78. (In Farsi).
Retelk, B. G. )1985) Translated by: Nuhi, A., Public meteorology (1st ed.). Tehran: Publication of Meteorological Organization of Iran.
Seif, A, (2015). Equilibrium-Line Altitudes of Late Quaternary Glaciers in the Oshtorankuh Mountain, Iran. Journal of Quaternary International, 374, 126-143.
Tadono, T. Ishida, H. Oda, F.  Naito, S.  Minakawa, K.  Iwamoto, H. (2014). Precise Global DEM Generation by ALOS PRISM, ISPRS Annals of the Photogrammetry. Journal of Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 2(4), 71-76.
Tahuni, P. (2004). Geomorphological Evidences of Pilotoscene Glacial Erosion in Talesh Mountains. Journal of Research in Geography, 36(1), 31-55. (In Farsi).
Takaku, J. Tadono, T. Tsutsui, K. (2014). Generation of High Resolution Global DSM from ALOS PRISM, The International Archives of the Photogrammetry. Journal of Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, XL (4), 243-248.
Thurai, M. Deguchi, E. Iguchi, T. Okamoto, K. (2003). Freezing Height Distribution in the Tropics. International Journal of Satellite, 21(8), 533-545.
Vuille, B., M. Favier, V. Cáceres, B. (2004). New Evidence for an ENSO Impact on Low Latitude Glaciers: Antizana 15, Andes of Ecuador. Journal of Geophysical Research (Atmospheres), 109(D18), 106-123.
Vuille, M. Francou, B. Wagnon, P. Juen, I. Kaser, G. Mark, B.G. Bradley, R.S. (2008). Climate Change and Tropical Andean Glaciers Past, present and Future, Journal of Earth-Science Reviews, 89(3-4), 79-96.
Wang, S. Zhang, M. Li, Z.  Wang, F. Li, H. Li, Y. Huang, X. (2011). Glacier Area Variation and Climate Change in the Chinese Tianshan Mountains Since 1960. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 21(2), 263-273.
Wang, S. Zhang, M. Pepin, N.C. Li, Z. Sun, M. Huang, X. Wang, Q. (2014). Recent Changes in Freezing Level Heights in High Asia and Their Impacts on Glacier Changes. Journal of Geophysical Research, 119(4), 1753-1765.
Yamani, M. and Zamani, H. (2007). Reconstruction of Snow-Lines in the Shahrestanak Valley in Last Glacial Maximum, Journal of Iranian Geographical Association, 5(12), 7-25. (In Farsi).
Yamani, M. Shamsi poor, A. Jafari Aghdam, M. (2011). Snow-line Reconstruction of Pleistocene in Jajrud Basin. Journal of Physical Geography Research, 43(76), 35-50. (In Farsi).
Yao, T. Thompson, L. Yang, W. Yu, W. Gao, Y. Guo, X. Yang, X. Duan, K. Zhao, H. Xu, B. Pu, J. Lu, A. Xiang, Y. Kattel, D.B. Joswiak, D. (2012). Different Glacier Status with Atmospheric Circulations in Tibetan Plateau and Surroundings, Journal of the Nature of Climate Change, 2(9), 663-667.
Zhang, G. Sun, S. Ma, Y. Zhao, L. (2010). The Response of Annual Runoff to the Height Change of the Summer-time 0°C Level Over Xinjiang. Journal of Geographical Sciences, 20(6), 833-847.
Zhang, Y. Guo Y. (2011). Variability of Atmospheric Freezing-Level Height and its Impact on the Cryosphere in China. Annals of Glaciology, 52(58), 81-88.