Glacial-hydrological investigations at the Vernagtferner glacier as a basis for a discharge model.

Abstract

The discharge hydrographs for the years 1974-80 are discussed and characteristic time intervals with characteristic discharge components are pointed out. Using the different discharge patterns exhibited by different parts of the glacier, a spatial classification for the discharge formation is given, and the different hydraulic conditions are descirbed. The mathematical model which is proposed uses four parallel linear reservoirs for which the storage constants were determined by former experiments. For a fortnight period with dry and sunny weather the discharge is calculated with the energy balance on the glacier surface as input data.-from Authors