Author Archives: diff

GLACIER PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTION (GPC)

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Global collection of photographs of glaciers, taken from both the air and the ground. The dates of the photographs range from the mid 1800s to present day. These photographs constitute an important historical record, as well as a data collection of interest to those studying the response of glaciers to climate change.

Creator: US National Snow and Ice Data Center

Publisher: US National Snow and Ice Data Center

First Publication Year: 2002

(Last) Publication Year: 2021

Release Date: na

Update Intervals: ad hoc

Citation: Each image in the digital GPC has its own citation. To cite individual photographs, please use the following citation:
Photographer’s name. Year photograph was taken. Name of glacier: From the Glacier Photograph Collection. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center. Digital media.
If using many images, you may simply cite the entire collection:
National Snow and Ice Data Center (comp.). 2002, updated 2021. Glacier Photograph Collection, Version 1. [Indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA. NSIDC: National Snow and Ice Data Center. doi: https://doi.org/10.7265/N5/NSIDC-GPC-2009-12.

Related Publication: na

Contributors: scientists and others

Language: English

Data Format: .jpg, .tif, .txt (metadata)

Data Size: na

Rights: Open access for scientific and educational purposes under requirement of correct citation (see above)

Spatial Coverage: global

Temporal Coverage: mid-1800s to today

Identifier (DOI): 10.7265/N5/NSIDC-GPC-2009-12

Related Identifier (DOI): na

GLACIER THICKNESS DATABASE (GlaThiDa)

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Index dataset: Glacier Thickness Database (GlaThiDa) 3.1.0

(A) Citation recommendation

Citation: GlaThiDa Consortium (2020): Glacier Thickness Database 3.1.0. World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. DOI: 10.5904/wgms-glathida-2020-10

To cite a subset of the data, refer to the investigators and references listed in the database. For example: Dowdeswell et al. (2002), in: GlaThiDa Consortium (2020): Glacier Thickness Database 3.1.0. World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. DOI: 10.5904/wgms-glathida-2020-10

Related publication:

Welty, E., Zemp, M., Navarro, F., Huss, M., Fürst, J.J., Gärtner-Roer, I., Landmann, J., Machguth, H., Naegeli, K., Andreassen, L.M., Farinotti, D., Li, H., and GlaThiDa Contributors (2020): Worldwide version-controlled database of glacier thickness observations. Earth System Science Data 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2020-87

Gärtner-Roer, I., Naegeli, K., Huss, M., Knecht, T., Machguth, H., Zemp, M. (2014): A database of worldwide glacier thickness observations. Global and Planetary Change. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2014.09.003

(B) Digital object identifier and related metadata of the current database version

Scientific data identifier for version 2020: DOI 10.5904/wgms-glathida-2020-10

Title: Glacier Thickness Database (GlaThiDa) 3.1.0

Publisher: World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)

Publication year: 2020

Release date: 2019-10-06

Language: English

Data format: csv-file, zipped

Data size: 46 MB

Rights: All data submitted to GTN-G are considered public domain for non-commercial use and are made digitally available through the operational services at no cost. The date are open access for scientific and educational purposes under the requirement of correct citation (see above), which corresponds to a CC BY 4.0 license by Creative Commons.

Description: Internationally collected, standardized dataset on glacier thickness from in-situ and remotely sensed observations, based on data submissions, literature review and airborne data from NASA’s Operation IceBridge.

The latest (development) version of GlaThiDa is available from GitLab. Since the data may contain errors, we strongly suggest performing quality checks and, in case of ambiguities, to contact us as well as the original investigators and agencies. Bug reports, data submissions, and other issues should be posted to the issue tracker at https://gitlab.com/wgms/glathida/-/issues.

GlaThiDa is a contribution to the working group on “Glacier ice thickness estimation“, which was formed under the auspices of the International Association of Cryospheric Sciences (IACS).

Spatial coverage: global

Temporal coverage: 1935-2018 AD

Creator: GlaThiDa consortium
Authors
Data compiled and maintained by:
– Ethan Welty, University of Colorado: Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, United States
– Francisco Navarro, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT), Spain
– Johannes Fürst, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg (FAU): Department of Geography, Germany
– Isabelle Gärtner-Roer, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Johannes Landmann, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Kathrin Naegeli, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
– Matthias Huss, University of Fribourg: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW),
Switzerland
– Thomas Knecht, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Horst Machguth, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Michael Zemp, University of Zürich, Switzerland

Contributors
People who have performed measurements, processed data, and/or submitted data to GlaThiDa:
Names listed in alphabetical order by last name. This list does not include authors of published datasets which were added to GlaThiDa, without consultation, by the authors of GlaThiDa.
– Jakob Abermann, Asiaq Greenland Survey, Greenland
– Songtao Ai, Wuhan University, China
– Brian Anderson, Victoria University of Wellington: Antarctic Research Centre, New Zealand
– Liss Marie Andreassen, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Serguei M. Arkhipov, Russian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Geography, Russia
– Izumi Asaji, Hokkaido University, Japan
– Andreas Bauder, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)–Zürich: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology
and Glaciology (VAW), Switzerland
– Jostein Bakke, University of Bergen: Department of Earth Sciences, Norway
– Toby J. Benham, Scott Polar Research Institute, United Kingdom
– Douglas I. Benn, University of Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
– Daniel Binder, Central Institute for Meteorology and Geodynamics (ZAMG), Austria
– Elisa Bjerre, Technical University of Denmark: Arctic Technology Centre, Denmark
– Helgi Björnsson, University of Iceland, Reykjavik
– Norbert Blindow, Institute for Geophysics, University of Münster, Germany
– Pascal Bohleber, Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW): Institute for Interdisciplinary Mountain Research
(IGF), Austria
– Eliane Brändle, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
– Gino Casassa, University of Magallanes: GAIA Antarctic Research Center (CIGA), Chile
– Jorge Luis Ceballos, Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM), Colombia
– Julian A. Dowdeswell, Scott Polar Research Institute, United Kingdom
– Felipe Andres Echeverry Acosta
– Hallgeir Elvehøy, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Rune Engeset, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Daniel Farinotti, Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research (WSL), Switzerland
– Andrea Fischer, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Mauro Fischer, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
– Gwenn E. Flowers, Simon Fraser University: Department of Earth Sciences, Canada
– Erlend Førre, University of Bergen: Department of Earth Sciences, Norway
– Yoshiyuki Fujii, National Institute of Polar Research, Japan
– Johannes Fürst, University of Erlangen–Nuremberg (FAU): Department of Geography, Germany
– Isabelle Gärtner-Roer, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Mariusz Grabiec, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
– Jon Ove Hagen, University of Oslo, Norway
– Svein-Erik Hamran, University of Oslo, Norway
– Lea Hartl, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Robert Hawley, Dartmouth College, United States
– Kay Helfricht, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Matthias Huss, University of Fribourg: Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW),
Switzerland
– Elisabeth Isaksson, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
– Jacek Jania, University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
– Robert W. Jacobel, Saint Olaf College: Physics Department, United States
– Michael Kennett, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Bjarne Kjøllmoen, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Thomas Knecht, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Jack Kohler, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
– Vladimir Kotlyakov, Russian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Geography, Russia
– Steen Savstrup Kristensen, Technical University of Denmark: Department of Space Research and Space
Technology (DTU Space), Denmark
– Stanislav Kutuzov, University of Reading, United Kingdom
– Johannes Landmann, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Javier Lapazaran, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
– Tron Laumann, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Ivan Lavrentiev, Russian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Geography, Russia
– Huilin Li, Chinese Academy of Sciences: Tianshan Glaciological Station, China
– Katrin Lindbäck, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
– Peter Lisager, Asiaq Greenland Survey, Greenland
– Horst Machguth, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Francisco Machío, Universidad Internacional de La Rioja (UNIR), Spain
– Gerhard Markl, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Enrico Mattea, University of Fribourg: Department of Geography, Switzerland
– Kjetil Melvold, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE), Norway
– Laurent Mingo, Blue System Integration Ltd., Canada
– Christian Mitterer, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Andri Moll, University of Zürich, Switzerland
– Kathrin Naegeli, University of Fribourg, Switzerland
– Francisco Navarro, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid: Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería de Telecomunicación (ETSIT), Spain
– Ian Owens, University of Canterbury: Department of Geography, New Zealand
– Finnur Pálsson, University of Iceland, Reykjavik
– Rickard Pettersson, Uppsala University, Sweden
– Rainer Prinz, University of Graz: Department of Geography and Regional Science, Austria
– Ya.-M.K. Punning, Estonian Academy of Sciences (USSR Academy of Sciences-Estonia): Institute of
Geology, Estonia
– Antoine Rabatel, University Grenoble Alpes, France
– Ian Raphael, Dartmouth College, United States
– David Rippin, University of York, United Kingdom
– Andrés Rivera, Center for Scientific Studies (CECs), Chile
– José Luis Rodríguez Lagos**, Center for Scientific Studies (CECs), Chile
– John Sanders, University of California, Berkeley: Department of Earth and Planetary Science, United States
– Albane Saintenoy, University of Paris-Sud, France
– Arne Chr. Sætrang, Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
– Marius Schaefer, Austral University of Chile: Institute of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (ICFM), Chile
– Stefan Scheiblauer, Environmental Earth Observation Information Technology (ENVEO IT GmbH), Austria
– Thomas V. Schuler, University of Oslo, Norway
– Heïdi Sevestre, University of Saint Andrews, United Kingdom
– Bernd Seiser, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Ingvild Sørdal, University of Oslo: Department of Geosciences, Norway
– Jakob Steiner, University of Utrecht: Faculty of Geosciences, Netherlands
– Peter Alexander Stentoft, Technical University of Denmark: Arctic Technology Centre (ARTEK), Denmark
– Martin Stocker-Waldhuber, Technical University of Denmark: Arctic Technology Centre (ARTEK), Denmark
– Bernd Seiser, Institute of Interdisciplinary Mountain Research (IGF), Austria
– Shin Sugiyama, Hokkaido University: Institute of Low Temperature Science, Japan
– Rein Vaikmäe, Tallinn University of Technology, Estonia
– Evgeny Vasilenko, Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan
– Nat J. Wilson, Simon Fraser University: Department of Earth Sciences, Canada
– Victor S. Zagorodnov, Russian Academy of Sciences: Institute of Geography, Russia
– Rodrigo Zamora, Center for Scientific Studies (CECs), Chile
– Michael Zemp, University of Zürich, Switzerland

(C) Disclaimer
The data might be subject to errors and inaccuracies. Hence, we strongly suggest to perform data quality checks and, in case of ambiguities, to contact us as well as the investigators and sponsoring agencies of the glaciers.

versionsrelease datedoimetadatadata downloadonline access
GlaThiDa 3.1.0 (current)202010.5904/wgms-glathida-2020-10websitezip filecoming soon
GlaThiDa 3.0.1201910.5904/wgms-glathida-2019-03infozip filecoming soon
GlaThiDa 3.0201910.5904/wgms-glathida-2019-02infozip filecoming soon
GlaThiDa 2.1201610.5904/wgms-glathida-2016-07infozip filegtn-g global glacier browser
GlaThiDa 1.0201410.5904/wgms-glathida-2014-09infozip filenot available

WORLD GLACIER INVENTORY (WGI)

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Internationally collected, standardized dataset on glacier distribution, mainly based on aerial photographs and maps. Data organized as tabular information linked to geographical coordinates of a glacier label point.

Creator: World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)

Publisher: US National Snow and Ice Data Center

First Publication Year: 1989

(Last) Publication Year: 2012

Release Date: 2012-02-15

Update Intervals: ad hoc

Citation: WGMS and NSIDC. 1989, updated 2012. World Glacier Inventory. Compiled and made available by the World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland, and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder CO, U.S.A. doi: 10.7265/N5/NSIDC-WGI-2012-02.

Related Publication: WGMS (1989): World Glacier Inventory – Status 1988. Haeberli, W., Bösch, H., Scherler, K., Østrem, G. and Wallén, C. C. (eds.), IAHS (ICSI) / UNEP / UNESCO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland: 458 pp.

Contributors: WGMS scientific collaboration network as listed in WGMS (1989) and in the database: https://www.wgms.ch/pub_wgms.html

Language: English

Data Format: csv-file, zipped

Data Size: 37 MB

Rights: Open access for scientific and educational purposes under requirement of correct citation (see above)

Spatial Coverage: global

Temporal Coverage: 1900-2003

Identifier (DOI): 10.7265/N5/NSIDC-WGI-2012-02

Related Identifier (DOI): na

RANDOLPH GLACIER INVENTORY (RGI)

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The Randolph Glacier Inventory (RGI 6.0) is a global inventory of digital vector outlines for glaciers and glacier complexes with a limited number of attributes. The dataset combines available outlines from the GLIMS, DCW, and WGI datasets as well as from many other (often unpublished) sources by using the highest quality version in each region.

Creator: Randolph Working Group/RGI Consortium

Publisher: US National Snow and Ice Data Center

First Publication Year: 2012

(Last) Publication Year: 2017

Release Date: 2017-07-28

Update Intervals: ad hoc

Citation: RGI Consortium (2017). Randolph Glacier Inventory – A Dataset of Global Glacier Outlines: Version 6.0: Technical Report, Global Land Ice Measurements from Space, Colorado, USA. Digital Media. DOI: https://doi.org/10.7265/N5-RGI-60

Related Publication: na

Contributors: IPCC AR5 contributing authors and other scientists (RGI Consortium)

Language: English

Data Format: ESRI Shapefile

Data Size: 420 MB

Rights: Open access for scientific and educational purposes under requirement of correct citation (see above)

Spatial Coverage: global

Temporal Coverage: 1950-recent

Identifier (DOI): https://doi.org/10.7265/N5-RGI-60

Related Identifier (DOI): na

GLOBAL LAND ICE MEASUREMENTS FROM SPACE (GLIMS) GLACIER INVENTORY

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Internationally collected, standardized dataset on glacier distribution, mainly based on satellite observations (e.g. Terra/ASTER, LANDSAT/ETM+). Data organized as tabular information linked to digital vector outlines of individual glaciers.

Creator: Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) Glacier Inventory

Publisher: US National Snow and Ice Data Center

First Publication Year: 2005

(Last) Publication Year: 2013

Release Date: 2013-03-13

Update Intervals: periodically

Citation: GLIMS, and NSIDC. 2005, updated 2012. GLIMS Glacier Database. [indicate subset used]. Boulder, Colorado USA: National Snow and Ice Data Center.

Related Publication: Kargel, J.S., M. J. Abrams, M. P. Bishop, A. Bush, G. Hamilton, H. Jiskoot, A. Kääb, H. H. Kieffer, E. M. Lee, F. Paul, F. Rau, B. Raup, J. F. Shroder, D. Soltesz, L. Stearns, R. Wessels and the GLIMS Consortium (2005): Multispectral imaging contributions to Global Land Ice Measurements from Space, Remote Sensing of Environment, 99 (1/2): 187–219.

Contributors: GLIMS scientific collaboration network as listed on the GLIMS website and in the database: https://www.glims.org/About/

Language: English

Data Format: ESRI Shapefile

Data Size: 130 MB

Rights: Open access for scientific and educational purposes under requirement of correct citation (see above)

Spatial Coverage: global

Temporal Coverage: 1870-2010

Identifier (DOI): 10.7265/N5V98602

Related Identifier (DOI): na

FLUCTUATIONS OF GLACIERS (FoG) DATABASE

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Internationally collected, standardized dataset on changes in glaciers (length, area, volume, mass), based on in-situ and remotely sensed observations, as well as on reconstructions.

DOI for scientific data (Identifier): 10.5904/wgms-fog-2022-09

Creator: World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)

Title: Fluctuations of Glaciers Database

Publisher: World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS)

PublicationYear: 2022

Release date: 2022-09-14

Citation: WGMS (2022): Fluctuations of Glaciers Database. World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. DOI:10.5904/wgms-fog-2022-09. Online access: https://dx.doi.org/10.5904/wgms-fog-2022-09

Related publications:

WGMS (2021): Global Glacier Change Bulletin No. 4 (2018-2019). Zemp, M., Nussbaumer, S.U., Gärtner-Roer, I., Bannwart, J., Paul, F., and Hoelzle, M. (eds.), ISC(WDS)/IUGG(IACS)/UNEP/UNESCO/WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland, 278 pp. Based on database version: doi: 10.5904/wgms-fog-2021-05.

WGMS (2013): Glacier Mass Balance Bulletin No. 12 (2010-2011). Zemp, M., Nussbaumer, S.U., Naegeli, K., Gärtner-Roer, I., Paul, F., Hoelzle, M. and Haeberli, W. (eds.), ICSU (WDS) / IUGG (IACS) / UNEP / UNESCO / WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland: 106 pp., publication based on database version:doi:10.5904/wgms-fog-2013-11.

WGMS (2012): Fluctuations of Glaciers 2005-2010 (Vol. X): Zemp, M., Frey, H., Gärtner-Roer, I., Nussbaumer, S.U., Hoelzle, M., Paul, F. & W. Haeberli (eds.), ICSU (WDS)/ IUGG (IACS)/ UNEP/ UNESCO/ WMO, World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. Based on database version doi: 10.5904/wgms-fog-2012-11.

Contributors: WGMS scientific collaboration network of national correspondents and principal investigators as listed in the related publications above.

Language: English

Data format: csv-file, zipped

Data size: 686 MB

Rights: Open access under requirement of correct citation (see above)

Spatial coverage: global

Temporal coverage: 1127-2021 AD

Versionsdoimetadatadata download
2022 (current)10.5904/wgms-fog-2022-09websitezip file
202110.5904/wgms-fog-2021-05infozip file
202010.5904/wgms-fog-2020-08infozip file
201910.5904/wgms-fog-2019-12infozip file
201810.5904/wgms-fog-2018-11infozip file
201810.5904/wgms-fog-2018-06infozip file
201710.5904/wgms-fog-2017-10infozip file
201710.5904/wgms-fog-2017-06infozip file
201610.5904/wgms-fog-2016-08infozip file
201510.5904/wgms-fog-2015-11infozip file
201410.5904/wgms-fog-2014-09infozip file
201310.5904/wgms-fog-2013-11infozip file
201210.5904/wgms-fog-2012-11infozip file
200810.5904/wgms-fog-2008-12infozip file

data catalogue

OVERVIEW

After exploring the different data sets in the databrowser, you may order data for a specific glacier or region. You can obtain the desired data set(s) and related meta-data from the following operational databases and data reports, respectively:

  • WGMS (2014): Fluctuations of Glaciers database. World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland. Digital media. Data access from: https://www.wgms.ch/fogbrowser
  • GLIMS (2015): GLIMS Glacier Inventory. Armstrong, R., B. Raup, S.J.S. Khalsa, R. Barry, J. Kargel, C. Helm, and H. Kieffer. 2013 (eds.), U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, Colorado, USA: Digital media. Online available from: https://www.glims.org
  • Arendt et al. (2015): Randolph Glacier Inventory 5.0: A dataset of global glacier outlines. Global Land Ice Measurements from Space, U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder Colorado, USA. Digital Media. Online available from:https://www.glims.org/RGI/index.html
  • WGMS and NSIDC (1989, updated 2012): World Glacier Inventory. Compiled and made available by the World Glacier Monitoring Service, Zurich, Switzerland, and the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder CO, USA. Digital Media. Online available from: https://nsidc.org/data/glacier_inventory/index.html
  • Gärtner-Roer, I., Naegeli, K., Huss, M., Knecht, T., Machguth, H. & M. Zemp (2014): A database of worldwide glacier thickness observations. Global and Planetary Change 122: 330-344. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloplacha.2014.09.003
  • NSIDC (2002, updated 2009): Glacier Photograph Collection. U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, Colorado, USA. Digital media. Online available from: https://nsidc.org/data/glacier_photo/

For questions about the available data sets and for general information on the global distribution and changes of glaciers and ice caps, please contact: mail@gtn-g.org.