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Annual Runoff Rate from Glaciers in Alaska, a Model Using the Altitude of Glacier Mass Balance Equilibrium

By L.R. Mayo

Proceedings of the Symposium Cold Regions Hydrology: American Water Resources Association, 1986, p. 509-517.

ABSTRACT

Glaciers in Alaska occur in high precipitation areas where the runoff is difficult to measure, yet hydrologically important. The spatial variability of glacier runoff is understood poorly. The equilibrium line altitude (ELA) of glaciers is related inversely to the average precipitation rate. Therefore, information about the average runoff from individual glaciers is contained in ELA data. This newly evaluated information about runoff is available from topographic maps. An ELA runoff model proposed determines average annual runoff from basins in Alaska. As a test the runoff rate was calculated for the Knik River basin, Alaska, using the model is 2.0 m/yr which compares with the average rate of 2.03 m/yr measured from 1959 to 1985. Applied to an ungaged site in Alaska, the Bering Glacier drainage basin, the ELA model indicates that 34 km³ of water is produced annually from this basin which contains Alaska's largest glacier. Furthermore, Bering Glacier is the source of 76 percent of the discharge from the drainage basin and the average discharge of the Bering Glacier drainage into the Gulf of Alaska is about 1080 m³/s.

Contents

Abstract
Introduction
Glacier mass balance equilibrium
Determination of ELA from topographic maps
Relation of ELA to annual runoff
Proposed ELA runoff estimation model
ELA runoff model test at a gaged basin
Estimation of glacier runoff from an ungaged basin
Discussion
Acknowledgments
Literature cited

Mayo, L.R., 1986, Annual runoff rate from glaciers in Alaska, a model using the altitude of glacier mass balance equilibrium, in Kane, D.L., Proceedings of the Symposium Cold Regions Hydrology: American Water Resources Association, p. 509-517.

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