Mass Budget of Khumbu Glacier

Abstract

The mass budget of Khumbu Glacier is estimated on the basis of ablation observation at the lower part of the glacier. The accumulation is calculated assuming that there is uniform precipitation on the glacier surface. The total ablation from the glacier is more than triple of the accumulation by the snowfall on the glacier. Mass supply from the surrounding walls is necessary for the mass balance of the glacier. The latter is estimated to be more than double of the direct snowfall onto the glacier. This suggests the possibility that snowfall at 7000-8000m is of the same order as observed at 4000m.