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Practical examples of applications and interpretations
Published in Werner Käss, Tracing Technique in Geohydrology, 2018
Applying natural and artificial tracers in hydroglaciology is generally a case of inverse system identification. A known initial value is transformed into a measurable end value through a system that is to be determined. Natural and artificial tracers allow an identification of either marked water bodies in cases with injection of artificial tracers or using tracers (isotopes, water constituents), which are naturally a part of the water body. This identification can be temporal (dating) or spatial (site of origin). The measured end value is the temporally variable runoff and the concentration of the applied tracer at the system exit. Analogous to spring catchment areas, glacier catchment areas usually have a collected runoff in the form of a glacial stream. The total runoff can be sampled at one site, near the glacier outlet. The hydrological information about the glacial catchment area is stored here naturally in the variations in the runoff amount, the mineralization, and the isotope concentrations, and also in the concentration of an injected tracer. If the information contained in the runoff can be sucessfully deciphered, important conclusions pertaining to the storage and runoff behaviour in the glacier can be made.
Distributions and light absorption property of water soluble organic carbon in a typical temperate glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau
Published in Tellus B: Chemical and Physical Meteorology, 2018
HEWEN NIU, SHICHANG KANG, XIXI LU, XIAOFEI SHI
Surface aged-snow and granular ice samples were collected from different elevations (ranged from 4340 to 4825 m asl) on Baishui glacier mostly in the melt season in 2014. Meltwater of surface snow on glacier was collected along the tributary from the glacier terminus to the upper ablation zone during the extensive melting period. Glacial stream water was collected from miniature streams on glacier surface during the extensive melting season. Two snow pits were excavated on 01 June and 10 June 2014, at the same site with an elevation of 4700 m asl on Baishui glacier. Maximum depth of the two snow pits were 1.6 m (excavated on 01 June) and 1.3 m (excavated on 10 June). Snow pit samples were immediately collected as soon as the pits were excavated, and samples were collected continuously at 10 cm depth intervals from the bottom to the top. Detailed information of sample collection is summarized in Table 1. Air temperature at the glacier surface was measured using a portable temperature transducer. The average temperature at the glacier surface was 0.3 °C on Mt. Yulong, when Baishui glacier has been experiencing extensive ablation.