Relating glacier mass balance to meteorological data by using a seasonal sensitivity characteristic

We propose to quantify the climate sensitivity of the mean specific balance B of a glacier by a seasonal sensitivity characteristic (SSC). The SSC giv es the dependence of B on monthly anomalies in temperature and precipitatio n. It is calculated from a mass-balance model. We show and discuss examples for Franz-Josef Glacier (New Zealand), Nigardsbreen (Norway), Hintereisfer ner (Austria), Peyto Glacier (Canadian Rockies), Abramov Glacier (Kirghizst an) and White Glacier (Canadian Arctic). With regard to the climate sensiti vity of B, the SSCs clearly show that summer temperature is the most import ant factor for glaciers in a dry climate. For glaciers in a wetter climate, spring and fall temperatures also make a significant contribution to the o verall sensitivity. The SSC is a 2 x 12 matrix. Multiplying it with monthly perturbations of temperature and precipitation for a particular year yield s an estimate of the balance for that year. We show that, with this techniq ue, mass-balance series can be (re)constructed from long meteorological rec ords or fr om output of atmospheric models.