New Zealand glacier responses to climate change of the past century

Abstract

An investigation of 127 glaciers of the New Zealand Southern Alps shows the losses that have occurred since the end of the Little Ice Age. On average they have shortened by 38% and lost 25% in area. The great variability within the measurements emphasises the need to consider response times and climate sensitivity when analysing glacier fluctuations. The upward shift of glacier mean elevation with this century of change is approximately equivalent to a temperature rise of 0.6°C. Extensive debris cover on many glaciers is significant in damping the climate signal, and proglacial lake formation may decouple a glacier from the climate signal.