Variability in winter mass balance of Northern Hemisphere glaciers and relations with atmospheric circulation

An analysis of variability in the winter mass balance (WMB) of 22 glaciers in the Northern Hemisphere indicates two primary modes of variability that explain 46% of the variability among all glaciers. The first mode of variab ility characterizes WMB variability in Northern and Central Europe and the second mode primarily represents WMB variability in northwestern North Amer ica, but also is related to variability in WMB of one glacier in Europe and one in Central Asia. These two modes of WMB variability are explained by v ariations in mesoscale atmospheric circulation which art: driving forces of variations in surface temperature and precipitation. The first mode is hig hly correlated with the Arctic Oscillation Index, whereas the second mode i s highly correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index. In addition, the s econd mode of WMB variability is highly correlated with variability in glob al winter temperatures. This result suggests some connection between global temperature trends and WMB for some glaciers.