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Toward an Ice‐Free Mountain Range: Demise of Pyrenean Glaciers During 2011–2020
Author(s) -
Vidaller I.,
Revuelto J.,
Izagirre E.,
RojasHeredia F.,
AlonsoGonzález E.,
Gascoin S.,
René P.,
Berthier E.,
Rico I.,
Moreno A.,
Serrano E.,
Serreta A.,
LópezMoreno J. I.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2021gl094339
Subject(s) - glacier , physical geography , climate change , surge , geology , climatology , range (aeronautics) , glacier mass balance , demise , glacier morphology , geomorphology , geography , cryosphere , ice stream , oceanography , sea ice , materials science , political science , law , composite material
Pyrenean glaciers are the largest in southern Europe. Their survival is threatened by climate change, highlighting the significance of their study. This research presents an assessment of changes in the glacierized area and thickness of Pyrenean glaciers from 2011 to 2020, using high‐resolution optical satellite, airborne lidar and UAV images. The total glacierized area has shrunk by 23.2% and thickness has decreased on average by 6.3 m. These two variables show no correlation for individual glaciers. Although climatic conditions do not vary much among glaciers, their evolution was heterogeneous during the study period. The smaller glaciers (<10 ha) show a higher variability in their area decrease and thickness loss whereas the four largest glaciers (>10 ha) have a more homogeneous response. This can be attributed to the generally larger influence of local topography on the response of the smaller Pyrenean glaciers. There is no sign of slowdown in glacier shrinkage respect to previous decades.