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Melt model

Overview

The mass balance model computes the short-term mass balance variations (ablation and accumulation) of ice and snow with hourly to daily resolution and simulates resulting discharge. The mass balance model is fully distributed, i.e. calculations are performed for each grid cell of a digital elevation model. Ablation can be computed either by an energy balance model or by various temperature index methods. Discharge is calculated from the water provided by melt plus liquid precipitation by three linear reservoirs corresponding to the different storage properties of firn, snow and glacier ice. Discharge simulations are optional, i.e. the mass balance model can be run independently of the discharge model. In addition, subsurface temperatures, water content and percolation can be computed by a one-dimensional multi-layer snow model that is forced by the surface energy balance. The module has been added in 2006 by Carleen Tijm-Reijmer, Utrecht University.

Manual

A manual describing the model, data format requirements and how to use it can be downloaded here. The model source code is available on request.

References

The model code has been applied to a number of sites and the model and various applications are described in (key references that describe the model are in bold):

Temperature-index model

• Hock, R., 1999: A distributed temperature index ice and snow melt model including potential direct solar radiation. Journal of Glaciology, 45(149), 101-111.
• Schneeberger, C., O. Albrecht, H. Blatter, M. Wild and R. Hock, 2001: Modelling the response of glaciers to a doubling in atmospheric CO2: a case study on Storglaciären, northern Sweden. Climate Dynamics 17,825-834.
• Schuler, T, U. Fischer, R. Sterr, R. Hock and H. Gudmundson, 2001: Comparison of modeled water input and measured discharge prior to a release event: Unteraargletscher, Bernese Alps, Switzerland. Nordic Hydrology 33 (1), 27-46.
• Hock, R., M. Johansson, P. Jansson and L. Bärring, 2002: Modelling the climate conditions for re-glaciation of cirques in Rassepautasjtjåkka massif, northern Sweden. Arctic, Antarctic and Alpine Research. 34(1), 3-11.
• Gurtz, J., Zappa, M., Jasper, K.,Lang, H., Verbunt, M., Badoux, A. and T. Vitvar, 2003: A comparative study in modelling runoff and its components in two mountainous catchments. Hydrological Processes 17(2), 297-311.
• Schneeberger, C., H. Blatter and A. Abe-Ouchi, 2003: Modelling changes in the mass balance of glaciers of the northern hemisphere for 2xCO2 scenario. Journal of Hydrology, 282(1-4).
• Zappa, M., F. Pos, U. Strasser and J. Gurtz, 2003: Seasonal Water Balance of an Alpine Catchment as Evaluated by Different Methods For Spatially Distributed Snow Melt Modelling. Nordic Hydrology 34(3), 179-202.
• Schuler, T., R. Hock, M. Jackson, H. Elvehøy, M. Braun, I. Brown and J.-O. Hagen, 2005. Distributed mass balance and climate sensitivity modelling of Engabreen, Norway. Annals of Glaciology 42, 395-401.
• Schuler, T., J.-O. Hagen, K. Metvold and R. Hock, 2005. Assessing the future evolution of meltwater intrusions into a mine below Gruvefonna, Svalbard. Annals of Glaciology 42, 262-268.
• de Woul, M., R. Hock, M. Braun, T. Thorsteinsson, T. Jóhannesson, S. Halldorsdottir, 2006.  Firn layer effect on glacial runoff – A case study at Hofsjökull, Iceland. Hydrological Processes 20, 2171-2185. DOI:10.1002/hyp.6201.
• Huss, M, A. Bauder, M. Werder, M. Funk and R. Hock. 2007. Glacier-dammed lake outburst events of Gornersee, Switzerland. Journal of Glaciology. 53(181), 189-200
• Hock, R., V. Radic and M. de Woul, 2007. Climate sensitivity of Storglaciären – An intercomparison of mass balance models using ERA-40 reanalysis and regional climate model data. Annals of Glaciology, 46, 342-348.
• Hock R., V. Radić and M. de Woul, 2007. Climate sensitivity of Storglaciären – An intercomparison of mass balance models using ERA-40 reanalysis and regional climate model data. Ann. Glaciol. 46, 342-348.
• M. Huss, A. Bauder, M. Funk, R. Hock, 2008. Determination of the seasonal mass balance of four Alpine glaciers since 1865. J. Geophysical Res. 113, F01015, doi:10.1029/2007JF000803.

Energy balance model

• Hock, R. and Ch. Noetzli, 1997: Areal mass balance and discharge modelling of Storglaciären, Sweden. Annals of Glaciology, 24, 211-217.
• Braun, M. and R. Hock, 2004: Spatially distributed snowmelt modelling on the subantarctic ice cap of King George Island. Global and Planetary Change. 42(1-4), 45-58. doi 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2003.11.010.
• Hock, R. and B. Holmgren, 2005. A distributed energy balance model for complex topography and its application to Storglaciären, Sweden. Journal of Glaciology 51(172), 25-36.
• Reijmer, C. H. and R. Hock, 2008. A distributed energy balance model including a multi-layer sub-surface snow model. Journal of Glaciology. 54, No. 184, 61-72.
• Hock, R., V. Radic, and M. de Woul, 2007. Climate sensitivity of Storglaciären – An intercomparison of mass balance models using ERA-40 reanalysis and regional climate model data. Annals of Glaciology, 46, 342-348.