Summarized 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 contains total mass balance changes at each stake measured 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. These values are the result of an analysis of the raw data presented in other data files (glacier stake heights, snow depths, and snow densities). Included here for each stake is the total water equivalent mass change. The standard deviation or the range for each total is 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: 

November 4, 1993 to January 30, 2020
Data Citation
Gooseff, M.N., Fountain, A.G. 2022. Summarized glacier mass balance measurements, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1993-2020, ongoing). Environmental Data Initiative. DOI: 10.6073/pasta/f97642848330faae570fb100a346eb46. Dataset accessed 3 October 2024.
Dataset(s)

Description: 

Adams Glacier - Summarized Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
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 - Summarized Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
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 - Summarized Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD_COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
COMMONWEQ_COMMENTS
  • Label: Comments
  • 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 - Summarized Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD_COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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: Date on which sampling ended
  • Type: Date/time
  • Date format: MM/DD/YYYY
  • Missing values: None specified
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
HOWARDWEQ_COMMENTS
  • Label: COmments
  • Definition: Comments about the measurement
  • 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

Description: 

Taylor Glacier - Summarized Mass Balance

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
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 mass balance summaries spreadsheet units and column descriptions

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
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_WEQ.csv (7.98 KB)

Description: 

Suess glacier mass balance summaries spreadsheet units and column descriptions

Variables (click to expand): 

DATASET CODE
  • Label:
  • Definition: CODE REPRESENTING GLACIER MASS BALANCE SUMMARY DATASET - Glacier name plus 'WEQ'
  • 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
PERIOD_COVERED
  • Label:
  • Definition: LENGTH OF PERIOD MEASURED (EITHER YEAR, WINTER, SUMMER OR A PART OF A SEASON)
  • 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
WEQ
  • Label:
  • Definition: TOTAL MASS IN TERMS OF WATER EQUIVALENT (SUM OF ICE WEQ AND SNOW WEQ; ICE DENSITY = 0.9g/Cm3)
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: Cm3/Cm2
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: 0
  • Precision: 0.1
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
WEQ_STD_DEV
  • Label:
  • Definition: STANDARD DEVIATION OF WEQ
  • Type: Physical quantity
  • Unit: CmWEQ
  • Maximum: Not specified
  • Minimum: Not specified
  • Precision: Not specified
  • Missing values:
    • NULL = None given
SUESSWEQ_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: 

SUES_WEQ.csv (11.54 KB)

Short name: 

glcrweq

Dataset ID: 

2005
People

Principal Investigator(s): 

Contact: 

Associated Personnel: 

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