Article
Geography, Physical
Ann Rowan, David L. Egholm, Chris D. Clark
Summary: Glacial landscapes serve as valuable archives of terrestrial paleoclimate change, with moraines playing a significant role in recording these changes. However, the complex dynamics of glaciers, including response time and mountainous topography, make moraines a less straightforward indicator of glacier change in response to climate change. By using a glacial landscape evolution model, researchers found that the rate of climate change relative to glacier response time determines the geometry, number, and position of moraines.
EARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
RachelP. Oien, Iestyn D. Barr, Matteo Spagnolo, Robert G. Bingham, Brice R. Rea, John Jansen
Summary: By mapping and analyzing the distribution and altitude variations of cirques in the Scandinavian Peninsula, the study suggests that cirque floor altitude (CFA) may serve as a proxy for paleoclimate. The results reveal close relationships between CFA and factors such as latitude, aspect, and distance to the coastline, indicating potential links to ancient climate conditions.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Changbin Bai, Feiteng Wang, Lin Wang, Chunhai Xu, Xiaoying Yue, Shujing Yang, Puyu Wang, Yanqun Bi, Haining Wei
Summary: The Mt.Tomur glaciers in Western China are experiencing more frequent glacial hazards due to climate change, despite no changes in long-term glacier surface velocities. This study used image-correlation offset tracking to estimate the glacier surface velocity and ice thickness in the Mt.Tomur region from 2000 to 2020. The results showed a significant slowdown in glacier surface velocity and provided insights into the glacier ice thickness distribution. The reliability of the remote sensing methods was confirmed by comparing with measured surface velocity and ice thickness data.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
A. Gilbert, F. Gimbert, O. Gagliardini, C. Vincent
Summary: By studying the observations of Argentiere Glacier in the French Alps, researchers have found a value of m = 3.1 +/- 0.3 for the sliding law, suggesting that Weertman's law is suitable for modeling the long-term evolution of hard-bedded glaciers and ice sheets.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
A. Gilbert, F. Gimbert, O. Gagliardini, C. Vincent
Summary: Basal sliding of glaciers and ice sheets is a significant factor in their long-term evolution, but it is still uncertain in simulations. By studying the Argentiere Glacier, researchers have found that the Weertman's law is suitable for modeling the evolution of hard-bedded glaciers and ice sheets.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Ian Delaney, Leif S. Anderson
Summary: Debris in glaciers affects their shape and movement, reducing ice melt and potentially leading to conditions for glacier surging.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Felicity A. Holmes, Eef van Dongen, Riko Noormets, Michal Petlicki, Nina Kirchner
Summary: Understanding calving processes and their controls is important for reducing uncertainty in sea level rise estimates. The impact of tidal fluctuations and frontal melt on calving patterns has been studied but remains uncertain and may vary from glacier to glacier.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Julian Martin, Bethan J. Davies, Richard Jones, Varyl Thorndycraft
Summary: This study investigates the sensitivity of glacier mass balance, velocity, and ice thickness in Patagonia to climate change, using the Parallel Ice Sheet Model. The results provide insights into present-day glacier properties and dynamics, as well as the controls on ice cap deglaciation. Additionally, the study explores the palaeoclimatic envelope for glacial advances during the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition and Holocene in Patagonia.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
D. R. Rounce, R. Hock, R. W. McNabb, R. Millan, C. Sommer, M. H. Braun, P. Malz, F. Maussion, J. Mouginot, T. C. Seehaus, D. E. Shean
Summary: Supraglacial debris affects glacier mass balance by either enhancing or reducing surface melting. Accounting for debris can reduce sub-debris melt by up to 37%, impacting regional mass balance by 0.40 m water equivalent per year. Recent observations suggest differences in ice dynamics are the primary reason for thinning rates over debris-covered and clean ice glaciers.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Water Resources
Thongley Thongley, Praveen K. Thakur, Varun Khajuria, Neharika Bhattarai, Kuenzang Choden, Chokila Chokila
Summary: The purpose of this study was to determine the displacement, velocity, and thickness of seven major glaciers in Bhutan, as well as predict potential glacier lake formation sites. The study found that the velocity of the glaciers fluctuated significantly between 1976 and 1978, with an average uncertainty velocity of +/- 27.10 m/year. However, the year 2013-2014 had the lowest uncertainty in glacier velocity, with a value of +/- 1.24 m/year. The thicknesses of all the glaciers decreased significantly from 2000 to 2022, with glacier ID 6 having the highest decrease of -192.3 +/- 1.99 m. In the future, each glacier is predicted to form a glacier lake at its base, with glacier ID 6 expected to have the largest lake with a surface area of 2.572 km² and a depth of 208.5 m.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Yin Fu, Qiao Liu, Guoxiang Liu, Bo Zhang, Rui Zhang, Jialun Cai, Xiaowen Wang, Wei Xiang
Summary: The study found that in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau, the debris-covered Dagongba Glacier experiences a significant decrease in surface elevation and velocity during the warm season compared to the cold season, with particularly notable changes around supraglacial lakes and ice cliffs.
JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Smriti Srivastava, Purushottam Kumar Garg, Mohd Farooq Azam
Summary: The study investigated the dimensional and mass balance changes of Dokriani Bamak and Chhota Shigri glaciers in the central and western Himalayas over the past seven decades. Both glaciers experienced deglaciation and retreat since 1968, with accelerated rates in the twenty-first century. Mass balance was found to significantly influence the deglaciation and retreat of both glaciers.
JOURNAL OF THE INDIAN SOCIETY OF REMOTE SENSING
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Fei Li, Fabien Maussion, Guangjian Wu, Wenfeng Chen, Zhengliang Yu, Yaojun Li, Guohua Liu
Summary: This study assesses the impact of boundary conditions on ice thickness estimates in the Tian Shan mountain range and compares different glacier inventories and digital elevation models. The results show regional differences due to inventory and limited effect of different DEM sources on ice volume estimation.
JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jakob Abermann, Manuel Theurl, Elisabeth Frei, Bernhard Hynek, Wolfgang Schoener, Karl W. Steininger
Summary: Glaciers are seen as symbols of pristine high mountain landscapes by humans, attracting millions of visitors annually and providing crucial ecosystem services. Despite the high costs exceeding three times the revenue from tourism, artificial management can still conserve glaciers with abundant water availability under ongoing climate change.
REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sojiro Sunako, Koji Fujita, Takeki Izumi, Satoru Yamaguchi, Akiko Sakai, Rijan Bhakta Kayastha
Summary: We quantified the surface elevation changes of Yala Glacier in Nepal Himalaya using geodetic methods. Our analysis shows a continuous surface lowering trend in the down-glacier area, with recent years experiencing an up-glacier propagation. The calculated mass-balance data indicate accelerated mass loss in Yala Glacier since the late 2000s, consistent with previous studies.
JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Jasper Knight
Summary: Research on the east coast of Ireland reveals the impact of late Devensian ice retreat and postglacial slope readjustment phases on the landscape, influenced by climate and climate change. Evidence from sediment and radiocarbon dating suggests climatic deterioration in the 8th to 10th centuries, leading to morphological changes in the landscape, consistent with similar evidence of enhanced landscape geomorphic change across northwest Europe.
Editorial Material
Geography, Physical
Sam Challis, Brian A. Stewart, Jasper Knight
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Emmah Mandishona, Jasper Knight
Summary: Rural wetlands, particularly in dryland areas, are important for food production and human wellbeing, but there is limited understanding of the ecosystem services provided by these wetlands and how they are used and managed by local communities. This study in rural eastern Zimbabwe found that valley bottom wetlands are mainly used for provisioning services, but these services are influenced by the availability and properties of supporting and regulatory services in the wetland environment. The traditional cultural contexts and values of the local communities also play a significant role in wetland management. However, the exploitation of certain ecosystem services can have negative impacts on others, highlighting the need for trade-offs in their use. The study emphasizes the importance of including small wetlands in management plans to support rural livelihoods and improve the sustainability of ecosystem services.
Review
Geography, Physical
Emmah Mandishona, Jasper Knight
Summary: Wetlands play important roles in Earth system functioning and provide ecosystem and environmental services. The physical nature and properties of African inland wetlands, as well as the interconnected ways in which different services are manifested, are not fully described. This review critically discusses the types and definitions of African inland wetlands, focusing on dambos, and considers their ecosystem services and benefits to local communities.
PROGRESS IN PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY-EARTH AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Jasper Knight, Mary Evans
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Lynda M. Petherick, Jasper Knight, James Shulmeister, Helen Bostock, Andrew Lorrey, Jennifer Fitchett, Shaun Eaves, Marcus J. Vandergoes, Timothy T. Barrows, David J. A. Barrell, Peter N. Eze, Paul Hesse, Ignacio A. Jara, Stephanie Mills, Rewi Newnham, Joel Pedro, Matt Ryan, Krystyna M. Saunders, Duanne White, Maisa Rojas, Chris Turney
Summary: Proxy records indicate significant variability in climatic and environmental conditions across the Southern Hemisphere prior to the global last glacial maximum. This complexity suggests a different development pattern in the Southern Hemisphere compared to the North. Temperature and precipitation patterns show that local factors played a significant role in driving moisture availability.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmah Mandishona, Jasper Knight
Summary: This study critically examines the historical developments in wetland management legislation in Zimbabwe from colonial era to present, and explores how these legislative and management frameworks have impacted wetland management strategies and the involvement of local communities. The findings indicate that the laws during the colonial era prohibited the use of wetlands for certain purposes and excluded local communities from accessing wetland resources. Even after independence, the inherited laws continued to be applied, leading to tensions among different wetland users. The study recommends closing legislative gaps, conducting inventory and monitoring of wetland properties, and engaging with community stakeholders to address these challenges.
WETLANDS ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Geography, Physical
Katie E. E. Miles, Bryn Hubbard, Evan S. S. Miles, Duncan J. J. Quincey, Ann V. V. Rowan
Summary: The study focuses on the internal structure of a debris-covered glacier in the Himalayas using high-resolution optical televiewer (OPTV) logs. The logs reveal thin structural features that are up to an order of magnitude thinner than those observed on the glacier surface. Five structural units were identified, including primary stratification, debris-rich planes, water-healed crevasse traces, healed crevasse traces, and steeply dipping planes of basally derived sediment near the glacier terminus. The logs also show that the primary stratification decreases and rotates with depth, indicating a previously more dynamic glacier regime.
JOURNAL OF GLACIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jasper Knight, Stephan Harrison
Summary: Global climate change affects the spatial patterns of snow and ice in mountains, which impact glacier development and geomorphic systems. This study examines the sensitivity of mountain cryosphere to climate change and its implications for surface stability, geomorphic change, and geohazards. The findings indicate that sensitivity varies across different mountain blocks and different elements of the cryosphere, such as snow, ice, and permafrost, respond differently to climate forcing. The study proposes an integrated model for mountain system development under a changing cryosphere, emphasizing the role of energy balance as a driving factor.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Reuben Lembani, Jasper Knight
Summary: In the miombo woodlands of Luanshya, Zambia, the variability of soil organic matter (SOM) and carbon stock was analyzed. It was found that SOM stocks varied between different soil depths and miombo woodland sites, with areas affected by recent tree clearance and secondary succession having higher soil organic carbon stock. Woodland thinning and silt content were found to be the most important factors regulating SOM and carbon stock.
COMMUNICATIONS IN SOIL SCIENCE AND PLANT ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Jasper Knight
Summary: This paper discusses the predicted disappearance of remaining glaciers in Africa by the middle of the 21st Century and examines the implications for the surrounding environment and local communities. It highlights the significant and irreversible downstream effects on East African mountain landscapes, including water resources, geohazards, ecosystems, and human activities. This foresight study identifies the most sensitive elements of mountain systems in East Africa and emphasizes the need for management and mitigation strategies.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yao Yao, Helene Burningham, Jasper Knight, David Griffiths
Summary: This study used unmanned aerial system surveys to monitor moving boulders and measure their volumes using the volume differential method. The results showed significant differences in mobility among boulders located in different zones of the coast over a three-year period. The volume differential method yielded a theoretical error of 1-3.9%, which is much smaller than that of the conventional tape measure method for estimating volume.
Article
Geography
Jasper Knight
Summary: Coastlines globally are vulnerable to various factors such as sea-level rise, coastal storminess, land use change, and urbanization. This study examines the properties of coastlines in South Africa that contribute to coastal resilience, emphasizing their rates of change and dynamic behavior in response to physical and human factors. Coastal landforms can be seen as green infrastructure that provides ecosystem services and can mitigate against climate change impacts. The green infrastructure approach to coastal resilience, although not well developed in South Africa, is more effective in supporting coastal sustainable development.
SOUTH AFRICAN GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jasper Knight, Eleni Flack-Davison, Sidney Engelbrecht, Retha G. Visagie, Winston Beukes, Marizvikuru Mwale
Summary: The Nagoya Protocol provides an international framework for access and benefits sharing of genetic resources. This study examines the legislative and management frameworks for enacting the principles of the Nagoya Protocol in each of the sixteen SADC countries. It reveals that the frameworks and levels of engagement vary greatly across the region, calling for the sharing of best practices and development of protocols for engagement with local communities and stakeholders.
SOUTH AFRICAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Geography
Jasper Knight, Jennifer M. Fitchett
Summary: This study emphasizes the impact of geomagnetic declination on measurements of wind direction in aeolian studies, highlighting the need for greater clarity and consistency in describing declination corrections applied in research publications. Failure to account for declination corrections can lead to significant discrepancies in reported data, particularly when comparing wind data from different sources or regions.
SOUTH AFRICAN GEOGRAPHICAL JOURNAL
(2022)
