Snow, ice, and total glacier mass balance measurements, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1993-2020, ongoing)

Summary

Abstract: 

As part of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, a systematic sampling program has been undertaken to monitor glacial mass balance and meltwater flow. This data package includes mass balance changes at each stake on six glaciers (Canada, Commonwealth, Hughes, Suess, Howard, and Taylor) in Taylor Valley and one glacier (Adams) in Miers Valley, all of which are located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys region of Antarctica. The values are the result of an analysis of the raw data presented in other data files (glacier stake heights, snow depths, and glacier snow densities). Included here for each stake are the change in ice and snow water equivalent (mass) values, and the total mass change. The standard deviation or the range for each total is also given. Most measurements began during the 93-94 field season. Adams measurements were established during the 14-15 field season. Measurements are ongoing except at Hughes and Suess Glaciers where monitoring ceased following the 08-09 field season. Monitoring the changes in these measurements over time provides a record of mass balance, and aids in determining the role of glaciers in the polar hydrologic cycle.

Date Range: 

October 22, 1993 to January 30, 2020
Data Citation
Gooseff, M.N., Fountain, A.G. 2022. Snow, ice, and total glacier mass balance measurements, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1993-2020, ongoing). Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/4941aa77d931b089cad4ec02343b479f. Dataset accessed 18 March 2024.
Dataset(s)

Description: 

Adams Glacier - Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

Description: 

Canada Glacier - Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

Description: 

Commonwealth Glacier - Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

Description: 

Howard Glacier - Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

Description: 

Taylor Glacier - Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

Description: 

Hughes Glacier - Snow & Ice Mass Changes

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: UNIQUE NUMBER FOR EACH STAKE ON GLACIER
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: RAW DATA FILE CONTAINING INFORMATION
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

HUGH_MSCHNG.csv (6.98 KB)

Description: 

Suess Glacier - Snow & Ice Mass Changes

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER SNOW AND ICE MASS CHANGES DATASET
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLACIER
  • Label:
  • Definition: NAME OF GLACIER WHERE MEASUREMENT WAS MADE
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
STAKE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Unique number for each stake on glacier
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
START_DATE
  • Label: Starting Date
  • Definition: BEGINNING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
END_DATE
  • Label: Ending Date
  • Definition: ENDING DATE OF DATA MEASUREMENT
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
ZONE
  • Label:
  • Definition: REGION OF THE GLACIER (ABLATION OR ACCUMULATION)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
SNOW_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: SNOW HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
ICE_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: ICE HEIGHT CHANGE IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT - Cm3/Cm2 (cm water depth)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_CHANGE
  • Label:
  • Definition: Total mass change in terms of water equivalent (sum of ice WEQ change and snow WEQ change; ice density = 0.9g/cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: 400
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
TOTAL_WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF TOTAL WEQ CHANGE
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_CHANGE_COMMENTS
  • Label:
  • Definition: NOTES ON WATER EQUIVALENT MEASUREMENTS
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
GLSTKID
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE FROM GLACIER / STAKE/ DATE OF COORDINATE MEASUREMENT (TO BE USED FOR GIS MAPPING)
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified
FILE_NAME
  • Label:
  • Definition: Name of file in which data was submitted
  • Type: Nominal
  • Missing values: None specified

File: 

SUES_MSCHNG.csv (8.97 KB)

Short name: 

MSCHNG

Dataset ID: 

2006
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Contact: 

Associated Personnel: 

Field Technician
Data Manager
Former Field Crew
Former Field Crew
Former Field Crew
Former Data Manager
Former Data Manager
Former Data Manager