Research Projects

Debris and glacier Ice in a changing Climate's (D-ICE) overall aim is to understand the role of debris concentration and cryokarst in controlling the dynamics of debris-covered galciers (DCG), and to integrate these advaces into a new high resolutino horizontally-distributed numerical flow model applicable from single glacier to basin scales. In D-ICE a process-based model approach will be utilized which will combine field observation, remote-sensing and numerical modelling for the Satopanth glacier in the Central Himalaya and will be complemented by data from previous investigations of this glacier. The resulting model will be applied to the smaller debris-covered Zmutt Glacier in the AIps for which a century of geometric evolution data exists. These studies on individual glaciers will enable the development of a basing scale coupled debris-ice dynamics model which will be initally applied to the Uppder Alakhnanda basin, Central Hiamalaya. The project will thereby close crucial gaps in our understanding of interaction between debris and glacier dynamic: the formation of cryokarst and the evolution of debris emergence and its extent. It will ultimately produce a high resolution, horizontally-distributed and efficient modelling framework for the evolution of debris-covered glaciers that can applied at the single glacier to basin scales.