The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers

W. Tad Pfeffer; Anthony A. Arendt; Andrew Bliss; Tobias Bolch; J. Graham Cogley; Alex S. Gardner; Jon Ove Hagen; Regine Hock; Georg Kaser; Christian Kienholz; Evan S. Miles; Geir Moholdt; Nico Mölg; Frank Paul; Valentina Radić; Philipp Rastner; Bruce H. Raup; Justin Rich; Martin J. Sharp; L. M. Andreassen; S. Bajracharya; N. E. Barrand; M. J. Beedle; E. Berthier; R. Bhambri; I. Brown; D. O. Burgess; E. W. Burgess; F. Cawkwell; T. Chinn; L. Copland; N. J. Cullen; B. Davies; H. De Angelis; A. G. Fountain; H. Frey; B. A. Giffen; N. F. Glasser; S. D. Gurney; W. Hagg; D. K. Hall; U. K. Haritashya; G. Hartmann; S. Herreid; I. Howat; H. Jiskoot; T. E. Khromova; A. Klein; J. Kohler; M. König; D. Kriegel; S. Kutuzov; I. Lavrentiev; R. Le Bris; X. Li; W. F. Manley; C. Mayer; B. Menounos; A. Mercer; P. Mool; A. Negrete; G. Nosenko; C. Nuth; A. Osmonov; R. Pettersson; A. Racoviteanu; R. Ranzi; M. A. Sarikaya; C. Schneider; O. Sigurdsson; P. Sirguey; C. R. Stokes; R. Wheate; G. J. Wolken; L. Z. Wu; F. R. Wyatt

doi:10.3189/2014JoG13J176

The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers

W. Tad Pfeffer, Anthony A. Arendt, Andrew Bliss, Tobias Bolch, J. Graham Cogley, Alex S. Gardner, Jon Ove Hagen, Regine Hock, Georg Kaser, Christian Kienholz, Evan S. Miles, Geir Moholdt, Nico Mölg, Frank Paul, Valentina Radić, Philipp Rastner, Bruce H. Raup, Justin Rich, Martin J. Sharp, L. M. AndreassenS. Bajracharya, N. E. Barrand, M. J. Beedle, E. Berthier, R. Bhambri, I. Brown, D. O. Burgess, E. W. Burgess, F. Cawkwell, T. Chinn, L. Copland, N. J. Cullen, B. Davies, H. De Angelis, A. G. Fountain, H. Frey, B. A. Giffen, N. F. Glasser, S. D. Gurney, W. Hagg, D. K. Hall, U. K. Haritashya, G. Hartmann, S. Herreid, I. Howat, H. Jiskoot, T. E. Khromova, A. Klein, J. Kohler, M. König, D. Kriegel, S. Kutuzov, I. Lavrentiev, R. Le Bris, X. Li, W. F. Manley, C. Mayer, B. Menounos, A. Mercer, P. Mool, A. Negrete, G. Nosenko, C. Nuth, A. Osmonov, R. Pettersson, A. Racoviteanu, R. Ranzi, M. A. Sarikaya, C. Schneider, O. Sigurdsson, P. Sirguey, C. R. Stokes, R. Wheate, G. J. Wolken, L. Z. Wu, F. R. Wyatt

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

915 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a globally complete collection of digital outlines of glaciers, excluding the ice sheets, developed to meet the needs of the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for estimates of past and future mass balance. The RGI was created with limited resources in a short period. Priority was given to completeness of coverage, but a limited, uniform set of attributes is attached to each of the ~198 000 glaciers in its latest version, 3.2. Satellite imagery from 1999-2010 provided most of the outlines. Their total extent is estimated as 726 800±34 000km². The uncertainty, about ±5%, is derived from careful single-glacier and basin-scale uncertainty estimates and comparisons with inventories that were not sources for the RGI. The main contributors to uncertainty are probably misinterpretation of seasonal snow cover and debris cover. These errors appear not to be normally distributed, and quantifying them reliably is an unsolved problem. Combined with digital elevation models, the RGI glacier outlines yield hypsometries that can be combined with atmospheric data or model outputs for analysis of the impacts of climatic change on glaciers. The RGI has already proved its value in the generation of significantly improved aggregate estimates of glacier mass changes and total volume, and thus actual and potential contributions to sea-level rise.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	537-552
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Glaciology
Volume	60
Issue number	221
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J176
Publication status	Published - Jun 2014
Externally published	Yes

Funding

Funders	Funder number
Environment Canada
European Space Agency	4000101778/10/I-AM
Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada
National Science Foundation	0943599, 1038818, 1038907

Keywords

Antarctic glaciology
Arctic glaciology
Glacier delineation
Glacier mapping
Remote sensing
Tropical glaciology

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.3189/2014JoG13J176

Cite this

Pfeffer, W. T., Arendt, A. A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J. G., Gardner, A. S., Hagen, J. O., Hock, R., Kaser, G., Kienholz, C., Miles, E. S., Moholdt, G., Mölg, N., Paul, F., Radić, V., Rastner, P., Raup, B. H., Rich, J., Sharp, M. J., ... Wyatt, F. R. (2014). The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers. Journal of Glaciology, 60(221), 537-552. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J176

@article{48961ca34bb74046beafde8b3166e190,

title = "The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers",

abstract = "The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a globally complete collection of digital outlines of glaciers, excluding the ice sheets, developed to meet the needs of the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for estimates of past and future mass balance. The RGI was created with limited resources in a short period. Priority was given to completeness of coverage, but a limited, uniform set of attributes is attached to each of the ~198 000 glaciers in its latest version, 3.2. Satellite imagery from 1999-2010 provided most of the outlines. Their total extent is estimated as 726 800±34 000km2. The uncertainty, about ±5%, is derived from careful single-glacier and basin-scale uncertainty estimates and comparisons with inventories that were not sources for the RGI. The main contributors to uncertainty are probably misinterpretation of seasonal snow cover and debris cover. These errors appear not to be normally distributed, and quantifying them reliably is an unsolved problem. Combined with digital elevation models, the RGI glacier outlines yield hypsometries that can be combined with atmospheric data or model outputs for analysis of the impacts of climatic change on glaciers. The RGI has already proved its value in the generation of significantly improved aggregate estimates of glacier mass changes and total volume, and thus actual and potential contributions to sea-level rise.",

keywords = "Antarctic glaciology, Arctic glaciology, Glacier delineation, Glacier mapping, Remote sensing, Tropical glaciology",

author = "Pfeffer, {W. Tad} and Arendt, {Anthony A.} and Andrew Bliss and Tobias Bolch and Cogley, {J. Graham} and Gardner, {Alex S.} and Hagen, {Jon Ove} and Regine Hock and Georg Kaser and Christian Kienholz and Miles, {Evan S.} and Geir Moholdt and Nico M{\"o}lg and Frank Paul and Valentina Radi{\'c} and Philipp Rastner and Raup, {Bruce H.} and Justin Rich and Sharp, {Martin J.} and Andreassen, {L. M.} and S. Bajracharya and Barrand, {N. E.} and Beedle, {M. J.} and E. Berthier and R. Bhambri and I. Brown and Burgess, {D. O.} and Burgess, {E. W.} and F. Cawkwell and T. Chinn and L. Copland and Cullen, {N. J.} and B. Davies and {De Angelis}, H. and Fountain, {A. G.} and H. Frey and Giffen, {B. A.} and Glasser, {N. F.} and Gurney, {S. D.} and W. Hagg and Hall, {D. K.} and Haritashya, {U. K.} and G. Hartmann and S. Herreid and I. Howat and H. Jiskoot and Khromova, {T. E.} and A. Klein and J. Kohler and M. K{\"o}nig and D. Kriegel and S. Kutuzov and I. Lavrentiev and {Le Bris}, R. and X. Li and Manley, {W. F.} and C. Mayer and B. Menounos and A. Mercer and P. Mool and A. Negrete and G. Nosenko and C. Nuth and A. Osmonov and R. Pettersson and A. Racoviteanu and R. Ranzi and Sarikaya, {M. A.} and C. Schneider and O. Sigurdsson and P. Sirguey and Stokes, {C. R.} and R. Wheate and Wolken, {G. J.} and Wu, {L. Z.} and Wyatt, {F. R.}",

year = "2014",

month = jun,

doi = "10.3189/2014JoG13J176",

language = "English",

volume = "60",

pages = "537--552",

journal = "Journal of Glaciology",

issn = "0022-1430",

publisher = "Cambridge University Press",

number = "221",

}

Pfeffer, WT, Arendt, AA, Bliss, A, Bolch, T, Cogley, JG, Gardner, AS, Hagen, JO, Hock, R, Kaser, G, Kienholz, C, Miles, ES, Moholdt, G, Mölg, N, Paul, F, Radić, V, Rastner, P, Raup, BH, Rich, J, Sharp, MJ, Andreassen, LM, Bajracharya, S, Barrand, NE, Beedle, MJ, Berthier, E, Bhambri, R, Brown, I, Burgess, DO, Burgess, EW, Cawkwell, F, Chinn, T, Copland, L, Cullen, NJ, Davies, B, De Angelis, H, Fountain, AG, Frey, H, Giffen, BA, Glasser, NF, Gurney, SD, Hagg, W, Hall, DK, Haritashya, UK, Hartmann, G, Herreid, S, Howat, I, Jiskoot, H, Khromova, TE, Klein, A, Kohler, J, König, M, Kriegel, D, Kutuzov, S, Lavrentiev, I, Le Bris, R, Li, X, Manley, WF, Mayer, C, Menounos, B, Mercer, A, Mool, P, Negrete, A, Nosenko, G, Nuth, C, Osmonov, A, Pettersson, R, Racoviteanu, A, Ranzi, R, Sarikaya, MA, Schneider, C, Sigurdsson, O, Sirguey, P, Stokes, CR, Wheate, R, Wolken, GJ, Wu, LZ & Wyatt, FR 2014, 'The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers', Journal of Glaciology, vol. 60, no. 221, pp. 537-552. https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J176

TY - JOUR

T1 - The randolph glacier inventory

T2 - A globally complete inventory of glaciers

AU - Pfeffer, W. Tad

AU - Arendt, Anthony A.

AU - Bliss, Andrew

AU - Bolch, Tobias

AU - Cogley, J. Graham

AU - Gardner, Alex S.

AU - Hagen, Jon Ove

AU - Hock, Regine

AU - Kaser, Georg

AU - Kienholz, Christian

AU - Miles, Evan S.

AU - Moholdt, Geir

AU - Mölg, Nico

AU - Paul, Frank

AU - Radić, Valentina

AU - Rastner, Philipp

AU - Raup, Bruce H.

AU - Rich, Justin

AU - Sharp, Martin J.

AU - Andreassen, L. M.

AU - Bajracharya, S.

AU - Barrand, N. E.

AU - Beedle, M. J.

AU - Berthier, E.

AU - Bhambri, R.

AU - Brown, I.

AU - Burgess, D. O.

AU - Burgess, E. W.

AU - Cawkwell, F.

AU - Chinn, T.

AU - Copland, L.

AU - Cullen, N. J.

AU - Davies, B.

AU - De Angelis, H.

AU - Fountain, A. G.

AU - Frey, H.

AU - Giffen, B. A.

AU - Glasser, N. F.

AU - Gurney, S. D.

AU - Hagg, W.

AU - Hall, D. K.

AU - Haritashya, U. K.

AU - Hartmann, G.

AU - Herreid, S.

AU - Howat, I.

AU - Jiskoot, H.

AU - Khromova, T. E.

AU - Klein, A.

AU - Kohler, J.

AU - König, M.

AU - Kriegel, D.

AU - Kutuzov, S.

AU - Lavrentiev, I.

AU - Le Bris, R.

AU - Li, X.

AU - Manley, W. F.

AU - Mayer, C.

AU - Menounos, B.

AU - Mercer, A.

AU - Mool, P.

AU - Negrete, A.

AU - Nosenko, G.

AU - Nuth, C.

AU - Osmonov, A.

AU - Pettersson, R.

AU - Racoviteanu, A.

AU - Ranzi, R.

AU - Sarikaya, M. A.

AU - Schneider, C.

AU - Sigurdsson, O.

AU - Sirguey, P.

AU - Stokes, C. R.

AU - Wheate, R.

AU - Wolken, G. J.

AU - Wu, L. Z.

AU - Wyatt, F. R.

PY - 2014/6

Y1 - 2014/6

N2 - The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a globally complete collection of digital outlines of glaciers, excluding the ice sheets, developed to meet the needs of the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for estimates of past and future mass balance. The RGI was created with limited resources in a short period. Priority was given to completeness of coverage, but a limited, uniform set of attributes is attached to each of the ~198 000 glaciers in its latest version, 3.2. Satellite imagery from 1999-2010 provided most of the outlines. Their total extent is estimated as 726 800±34 000km2. The uncertainty, about ±5%, is derived from careful single-glacier and basin-scale uncertainty estimates and comparisons with inventories that were not sources for the RGI. The main contributors to uncertainty are probably misinterpretation of seasonal snow cover and debris cover. These errors appear not to be normally distributed, and quantifying them reliably is an unsolved problem. Combined with digital elevation models, the RGI glacier outlines yield hypsometries that can be combined with atmospheric data or model outputs for analysis of the impacts of climatic change on glaciers. The RGI has already proved its value in the generation of significantly improved aggregate estimates of glacier mass changes and total volume, and thus actual and potential contributions to sea-level rise.

AB - The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI) is a globally complete collection of digital outlines of glaciers, excluding the ice sheets, developed to meet the needs of the Fifth Assessment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change for estimates of past and future mass balance. The RGI was created with limited resources in a short period. Priority was given to completeness of coverage, but a limited, uniform set of attributes is attached to each of the ~198 000 glaciers in its latest version, 3.2. Satellite imagery from 1999-2010 provided most of the outlines. Their total extent is estimated as 726 800±34 000km2. The uncertainty, about ±5%, is derived from careful single-glacier and basin-scale uncertainty estimates and comparisons with inventories that were not sources for the RGI. The main contributors to uncertainty are probably misinterpretation of seasonal snow cover and debris cover. These errors appear not to be normally distributed, and quantifying them reliably is an unsolved problem. Combined with digital elevation models, the RGI glacier outlines yield hypsometries that can be combined with atmospheric data or model outputs for analysis of the impacts of climatic change on glaciers. The RGI has already proved its value in the generation of significantly improved aggregate estimates of glacier mass changes and total volume, and thus actual and potential contributions to sea-level rise.

KW - Antarctic glaciology

KW - Arctic glaciology

KW - Glacier delineation

KW - Glacier mapping

KW - Remote sensing

KW - Tropical glaciology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84904499285&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3189/2014JoG13J176

DO - 10.3189/2014JoG13J176

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:84904499285

SN - 0022-1430

VL - 60

SP - 537

EP - 552

JO - Journal of Glaciology

JF - Journal of Glaciology

IS - 221

ER -

The randolph glacier inventory: A globally complete inventory of glaciers

Abstract

Funding

Keywords

UN SDGs

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