TEMPERATE GLACIER TIME RESPONSE FROM FIELD DATA

The relationship of glacier response due to mass-balance changes is of fundamental importance when climate variations are to be understood. In this paper, two aspects of the problem are analyzed from field data : (1) advance/retreat of the glacier terminus due to changes in mass b alance, and (2) cross-correlation of mass-balance data from two glacie rs in the same climate zone. The results show: (1) the terminus can re spond quickly in accordance with expected minimum time-scale, and (2) two glaciers in the same general climate zone may have very different yearly mass balance and advance/retreat behaviour. This latter result indicates the importance of local climate variations.