Ice avalanche activity and mass balance of a high-altitude hanging glacier in the Swiss Alps

Abstract

An estimation of average mass balance of a high hanging glacier in the Swiss Alps was made by measuring volumes of ice avalanches originating from this glacier. Ice avalanches are this glacier’s predominant form of ablation. Since the volume of the glacier has not noticeably changed over the past few years, the annual ice loss due to ice avalanches can be taken as an indication of average total net acumulation above the ice cliff where the avalanches originate. The mass balance value, as determined by recording ice avalanches, compares well with values obtained by independent methods (measurements of firn stratigraphy in the cliff, direct accumulation measurements in the vicinity). No seasonal variation in the frequency of ice avalanche occurence was detected.