Indicator Specification

Glaciers

Indicator Specification

Indicator codes: CLIM 007

Published 08 Sep 2008 Last modified 25 Aug 2017

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This is an old version, kept for reference only.

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Topics: Climate change adaptation

This page was archived on 25 Aug 2017 with reason: A new version has been published

Cumulative specific net mass balance of glaciers from all European glaciated regions 1946-2006 Modelled remains of the glacier cover in the European Alps for an increase in average summer air temperature of 1 to 5 °C

Data and maps

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Update planned for November 2012

Assessment versions

Published (reviewed and quality assured)

No published assessments

Rationale

Justification for indicator selection

Glacier changes are among the most visible indications of the effects of climate change. Glaciers are particularly sensitive to changes in the global climate because their surface temperature is close to the freezing/melting point (Zemp et al., 2006). Glacier fluctuations showed a strong relation to air temperature throughout the 20th century (Greene, 2005). Therefore the change in the mass balance of glaciers is considered to be an immediate signal of global warming trends. A negative mass balance indicates that the loss of ice, mainly from melting and calving in summer, is larger than the accumulation from snowfall in winter.
Glaciers are an important freshwater resource and act as 'water towers' for lower-lying regions. In the coming decades, we can first expect more melt water from the glaciers running into rivers. As the glaciers diminish, however, the annual melt water, and therefore their contribution to river flow and sea-level rise, will decrease. This will have serious consequences for freshwater supply, river navigation, ecosystems fed by water from rivers, irrigation facilities, and power generation. Furthermore, the solute release from melting rock-glaciers may affect the water quality of high mountain lakes adversely by the intrusion of heavy metals (Thies et al., 2007).
Strong retreat of glaciers can cause instabilities resulting in hazardous incidents such as glacier lake outbursts, rock-ice avalanches and landslides (Pralong and Funk, 2005; Huggel et al., 2007). This may cause damage to infrastructure. Glacier retreat affects tourism and winter sports in the mountains (OECD, 2007) and changes the appearance of mountain landscapes.
Improved glacier monitoring, and adaptation options such as water management measures, draining of glacier-lakes and construction of protective walls can reduce some of the risks and negative consequences, but not all.

Scientific references

No rationale references available

Indicator definition

Cumulative specific net mass balance of glaciers from all European glaciated regions 1946-2006
Modelled remains of the glacier cover in the European Alps for an increase in average summer air temperature of 1 to 5 °C

Units

http://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/eea_report_2008_4/pp37-75CC2008_ch5-1to4_Athmosphere_and-_cryosphere.pdf

Policy context and targets

Context description

In April 2009 the European Commission presented a White Paper on the framework for adaptation policies and measures to reduce the European Union's vulnerability to the impacts of climate change. The aim is to increase the resilience to climate change of health, property and the productive functions of land, inter alia by improving the management of water resources and ecosystems. More knowledge is needed on climate impact and vulnerability but a considerable amount of information and research already exists which can be shared better through a proposed Clearing House Mechanism. The White Paper stresses the need to mainstream adaptation into existing and new EU policies. A number of Member States have already taken action and several have prepared national adaptation plans. The EU is also developing actions to enhance and finance adaptation in developing countries as part of a new post-2012 global climate agreement expected in Copenhagen (Dec. 2009). For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/adaptation/index_en.htm