The Peyto Glacier
Boundary-Layer
Experiment
D. Scott Munro
University of Toronto
stream-flow X
base (2240 m)
low (2183 m) 
middle (2461 m) 
high (2709 m) 
AWS
Status
• Point process
investigation
• Spatial
distribution tools
(DEM,
trigonometry,
parameterization)
• Distributed
modelling and
prediction
• Base AWS/RCM
forcing
stream-flow 
base (2240 m) 
low (2183 m) 
middle (2461 m) 
high (2709 m) 
AWS
Status
• Point process
investigation
• Spatial
distribution tools
(DEM,
trigonometry,
parameterization)
• Distributed
modelling and
prediction
• Base AWS/RCM
forcing
August 2007 Profiles
Profiles 0800 and 1300
9
8
Height (m)
7
6
5
4
3
1 exp. × 2 days
= 2 data days
(12r/h)
2
1
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
e (hPa) T (oC) u (m s-1)
12
14
Twin profile experiment:
B: energy → ablation → runoff suite
B to A: B-L acceleration & cooling
A: 10 Hz B-L turbulence (BLHFs?)
B
• July 24-26
• August 4-8
• August 12-17
• August 22-28
)
)
•low AWS
3 exp. × ~15 days
= 45 data days!
(12r/h)
)
EC
z (m )
A
)
z(m)
)
)
)
EC
)
)
~ 600 m
)
0
5
T, e, u
10
~ 50 m
0
5
T, e, u
10
Twin
profile
experiment:
B: energy ablation runoff suite
→
→
B to A: B-L acceleration & cooling
A: 10 Hz B-L turbulence (BLHFs?)
B
• July 24-26
• August 4-8
• August 12-17
• August 22-28
)
)
•low AWS
3 exp. × ~15 days
= 45 data days!
(12r/h)
)
EC
z (m )
A
)
z(m)
)
)
)
EC
)
)
~ 600 m
)
0
5
T, e, u
10
A: profiles & 2EC
~ 50 m
also,
hydrology!
0
5
T, e, u
10
B: profiles, EB
terms & ablation
B: energy → ablation → runoff suite
K*
Q*
L*
Qh
Qe
900
Energy Flux ( W m -2)
800
700
600
500
400
300
200
100
0
-100
6
12
Aug 13
18
6
12
Aug 14
18
6
12
Aug 15
18
6
12
Aug 16
18
B: energy → ablation → runoff suite
1.00
1000
900
800
700
0.98
600
500
0.97
400
300
0.96
200
100
0.95
0
6
12
Aug 13
18
6
12
Aug 14
18
6
12
Aug 15
18
6
12
Aug 16
18
Melt Energy ( W m-2)
4
4
Emissivity =Tt / T0 ( )
0.99
B: energy → ablation → runoff suite
Measured Ablation
Melt Energy Flow Estimate
Measured Flow
40
0.9
35
30
-1
Flow Rate ( L s )
Ablation (m)
0.8
25
0.7
20
15
0.6
10
5
0.5
0
6
12 18
Aug 13
6
12 18
Aug 14
6
12
18
Aug 15
6
12
18
Aug 16
B to A: B-L acceleration & cooling
40
7
35
6
30
5
25
4
20
3
15
2
10
1
5
0
0
9
-1
45
8
10
Wind Speed (m s)
B:
u 1m
T 1m
u 2m
T 2m
u 4m
T 4m
u 6m
T 6m
50
A:
45
8
40
7
35
6
30
5
25
4
20
3
15
2
10
1
5
0
0
600
Temperature (°C)
-1
Wind Speed (m s)
9
50
1200
Aug 13
1800
600
1200
Aug 14
1800
600
1200
Aug 15
1800
600
1200
Aug 16
1800
Temperature (°C)
10
B to A: B-L acceleration & cooling
-2
Mean QH ( W m ) from profile B data:
98 at 1 m
250
Height (m)
5
4
3
A: Wind
2
B: Wind
A: Temp.
1
γ
d∆
B: Temp.
z
Sensible Heat Flux, QH, at A ( W m-2)
6
0
107 at 2 m
114 at 4 m
109 at 6 m
200
150
100
50
0
0
5
10
-1
15
Wind Speed (m s ) Temperature (°C)
20
0
50
100
150
200
-2
250
Sensible Heat Flux, QH, at B ( W m )
Taking mean values, assuming no heat transfer across 4 m and
correcting for adiabatic warming, expect 1 & 2 m TA< TB by ~2 °C.
A: 10 Hz B-L turbulence (BLHFs?)
Def’n: A glacier boundary-layer hot flash (BLHF) is very brief warm
spell that coincides with a lull in the glacier wind (Munropedia).
BLHF frequency: greater
at A than at B?
A: 10 Hz B-L turbulence (BLHFs?)
Horizontal Wind
12
1.0
10
0.5
8
-0.5
recovery
6
4
-1.0
2
-1.5
0
1130
1135
1140
1145
Time (PST)
1150
1155
o
hot flash
onset
0.0
Temperature ( C)
-1
1.5
Horizontal Wind Speed ( m s )
Virtual Temperature
-1
Vertical Wind Speed ( m s )
Vertical Wind
Χο ν χ λ υ δ ι ν γ
Ρ ε µ αρ κ σ
Findings to this point:
• B: Ts < 0 °C is consistent with ~0.98 surface emissivity
•
•
•
•
B: significant lag in supra-glacial run-off
B→A: minimal acceleration; significant warming
B→A: similar sensible heat flux values below 4 m
A: boundary-layer flow instability (i.e. BLHFs)
To do:
•
•
•
•
explanation of B→A sensible heat flux similarity
search for vertical eddy flux divergence
comparison of EC and bulk transfer eddy fluxes
etc.
Acknowledgements
Funding and Infrastructure
CFCAS IP3 Network
Environment Canada CRYSYS Program
NSERC Canada
Natural Resources Canada GSC-CGVMAN
The Field People
Steve Bertollo, Laura Comeau, Mike Demuth,
Eric Hicks, Sean Wegen-Schimmel