guidelines

Guidelines for glacier fluctuation data

Measurement of glacier front variations

  • Forel, F.A. (1895): Instructions pour l’observation des variations des glaciers. Discours préliminaire. Archives des Sciences physiques et naturelles, XXXIV: 209-229.
  • PSFG (1967): Fluctuations of Glaciers 1959-1965 (Vol. I). P. Kasser (ed.), IAHS (ICSI) / UNESCO, Permanent Service on Fluctuations on Glaciers, Zurich, Switzerland: 52 pp.
  • WMO (T. Thorsteinsson, J. Abermann, L.M. Andreassen, C. Fierz and M. Huss) 2025: The Measurement of Glaciers, Chapter 3 of Volume II – Measurement of Cryosphere Variables. Publication WMO No.-8, Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations. World Meteorological Organization: 74-76 [pdf]

Measurement of glacier mass balance from glaciological and geodetic methods

  • Francou, B., Pouyaud, B. and 12 others (2004). Métodos de observación de glaciares en los Andes opicales. Mediciones de terreno y procesamiento de datos. Versión 1, Great Ice, IRD, France: 238pp. [pdf]
  • Kaser, G., Fountain, A., and Jansson, P. (2003): A manual for monitoring the mass balance of mountain glaciers with particular attention to low latitude characteristics. A contribution from the International Commission on Snow and Ice (ICSI) to the UNESCO HKH-Friend programme. IHP-VI, Technical Documents in Hydrology, No. 59, UNESCO, Paris. 107 p. + Appendices. [pdf]
  • Østrem, G. and Stanley, A. (1969): Glacier mass balance measurements. A manual for field and office work. Canadian Department of Energy, Mines and Resources, Norwegian Water Resources and Electricity Board. 125 pp.
  • Østrem, G. and Brugman, M. (1991): Glacier mass-balance measurements: a manual for field and office work, NHRI Science Report. 224 pp. [pdf]
  • Stumm, D., Joshi, S.P., Salzmann, N. and S. MacDonell (2017): In situ monitoring of mountain glaciers: Experiences from mountain ranges around the world and recommendations for the Hindu Kush Himalaya. ICIMOD Working Paper 2017/7. Kathmandu: ICIMOD. [pdf]
  • UNESCO 1970/73. Combined heat, ice and water balances at selected glacier basins. Part I: A guide for compilation and assemblage of data for glacier mass balance measurements. Part II: Specifications, standards and data exchange. UNESCO/ IAHS Technical Papers in Hydrology 5. [pdf]
  • WMO (T. Thorsteinsson, J. Abermann, L.M. Andreassen, C. Fierz and M. Huss) 2025: The Measurement of Glaciers, Chapter 3 of Volume II – Measurement of Cryosphere Variables. Publication WMO No.-8, Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations. World Meteorological Organization: 81-100 [pdf]
  • Zemp, M., Thibert, E., Huss, M., Stumm, D., Rolstad Denby, C., Nuth, C., Nussbaumer, S.U., Moholdt, G., Mercer, A., Mayer, C., Joerg, P.C., Jansson, P., Hynek, B., Fischer, A., Escher-Vetter, H., Elvehøy, H. and L.M. Andreassen (2013): Reanalysing glacier mass balance measurement series. The Cryosphere 7, 1227-1245, doi: 10.5194/tc-7-1227-2013. [pdf]

Mass balance terminology

  • Anonymous (1969): Mass-balance terms. Journal of Glaciology, 8 (52): 3-7.
  • Cogley, J.G. (2010): Mass-balance terms revisited. Journal of Glaciology, 56 (200): 997-1001. [pdf]
  • Cogley, J.G., Hock, R., Rasmussen, L.A., Arendt, A.A., Bauder, A., Braithwaite, R.J., Jansson, P., Kaser, G., Möller, M., Nicholson, L. and Zemp, M. (2011): Glossary of Glacier Mass Balance and Related Terms. IHP_VII Technical Documents in Hydrology No. 86, IACS Contribution No. 2, UNESCO-IHP, Paris. [pdf]
  • WMO (T. Thorsteinsson, J. Abermann, L.M. Andreassen, C. Fierz and M. Huss) 2025: The Measurement of Glaciers, Chapter 3 of Volume II – Measurement of Cryosphere Variables. Publication WMO No.-8, Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations. World Meteorological Organization: 76-81 [pdf]

More guidelines on glacier fluctuations as well as the current data submission form can be found on the WGMS website!

Measurement of glacier thickness and volume

  • WMO (T. Thorsteinsson, J. Abermann, L.M. Andreassen, C. Fierz and M. Huss) 2025: The Measurement of Glaciers, Chapter 3 of Volume II – Measurement of Cryosphere Variables. Publication WMO No.-8, Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations. World Meteorological Organization: 69-73 [pdf]

Guidelines for the World Glacier Inventory (mainly based on aerial photography and maps)

  • Müller, F., Caflisch, T. and Müller, G. (eds.). 1977. Instructions for the compilation and assemblage of data for a world glacier inventory. IAHS(ICSI)/UNESCO report, Temporal Technical Secretariat for the World Glacier Inventory (TTS/WGI), ETH Zurich, Switzerland. [pdf]
  • Müller, F. (ed.). 1978. Instructions for the compilation and assemblage of data for a world glacier inventory; Supplement: Identification/glacier number IAHS(ICSI)/UNEP/UNESCO report, Temporal Technical Secretariat for the World Glacier Inventory (TTS/WGI), ETH Zurich, Switzerland. [pdf]
  • Scherler, K. (ed.). 1983. Guidelines for preliminary glacier inventories. IAHS(ICSI)/ UNEP/UNESCO report, Temporal Technical Secretariat for the World Glacier Inventory (TTS/WGI), ETH Zurich, Switzerland. [pdf]
  • UNESCO (1970): Perennial ice and snow masses – a guide for compilation and assemblage of data for the World Glacier Inventory. Technical Papers in Hydrology No. 1. [pdf]

Guidelines for the Glacier Inventory of the GLIMS initiative (mainly based on satellite images)

  • Bishop, M.P., Barry, R.G., Bush, A.B.G., Copeland, L., Dwyer, J.L., Fountain, A.G., Haeberli, W., Hall, D.K., Kääb, A., Kargel, J.S., Molnia, B.F., Olsenholler, J.A., Paul, F., Raup, B.H., Shroder, J.F., Trabant, D.C., and Wessels, R. (2004): Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS): Remote sensing and GIS investigations of the Earth’s cryosphere. Geocarto International, 19 (2), 57-85.
  • GLIMS Algorithm Working Group. (2006): GLIMS algorithm document. [link]
  • Kargel, J.S., Abrams, M.J., Bishop, M.P., Bush, A., Hamilton, G., Jiskoot, H., Kääb, A., Kieffer, H.H., Lee, E.M., Paul, F., Rau, F., Raup, B., Shroder, J.F., Soltesz, D., Stearns, L., Wessels, R., and the GLIMS Consortium (2005): Multispectral imaging contributions to Global Land Ice Measurements from Space. Remote Sensing of Environment, 99, 187-219.
  • Rau, F., Mauz, F., Vogt, S., Khalsa, J.S., and Raup B. (2005): Illustrated GLIMS glacier classification manual. Glacier classification guidance for the GLIMS inventory. NSIDC: 36 pp. [pdf]
  • Raup, B.H., Kieffer, H.H., Hare, T.M., and Kargel, J.S. (2000): Generation of Data Acquisition Requests for the ASTER Satellite Instrument for Monitoring a Globally Distributed Target: Glaciers. IEEE Transactions On Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 38 (2), 1105-1112. [pdf]
  • Raup, B.H., and Khalsa, J.S. (2007). GLIMS analysis tutorial. Draft, 20070522. 15 p. [pdf]
  • Raup, B.H., Kääb, A., Kargel, J.S., Bishop, M.P., Hamilton, G., Lee, E., Paul, F., Rau, F., Soltesz, D., Khalsa, S.J.S., Beedle, M., and Helm, C. (2007): Remote Sensing and GIS technology in the Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (GLIMS) Project. Computers and Geosciences, 33, 104-125. [pdf]
  • Raup, B.H., Racoviteanu, A., Khalsa, S.J.S., Helm, C., Armstrong, R., and Arnaud, Y. (2007): The GLIMS Geospatial Glacier Database: a new tool for studying glacier change. Global and Planetary Change, 56, 101-110. [pdf]
  • WMO (T. Thorsteinsson, J. Abermann, L.M. Andreassen, C. Fierz and M. Huss) 2025: The Measurement of Glaciers, Chapter 3 of Volume II – Measurement of Cryosphere Variables. Publication WMO No.-8, Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observations. World Meteorological Organization: 60-69 [pdf]

More GLIMS literature can be found on the GLIMS website!

Based on the glacier inventory standards above, recommendations and requirements for satellite-based components of cryospheric monitoring have been derived, published, and updated in:

  • GCOS (2006): Systematic observation requirements for satellite-based products for climate. Supplemental details to the satellite-based component of the “Implementation Plan for the Global Observing System for Climate in Support of the UNFCCC”, Report GCOS-107 (WMO/TD No. 1338), September 2006. 90p. [pdf]
  • GTOS (2006): Global Terrestrial Observing System Biennial Report 2004-2005. GTOS-40. [pdf]
  • GTOS (2008): Terrestrial essential climate variables for climate change assessment, mitigation and adaptation. GTOS-52. [pdf]
  • IGOS (2007): IGOS Cryosphere theme For the Monitoring of our Environment from Space and from Earth. May 2007. 122p. [pdf]
  • WMO (2023): Guide to instruments and methods of observation. Vol II – measurement of cryospheric variables. World Meteorological Organization, Geneva, Switzerland: 96. [pdf]
  • WMO (2024): Guide to Instruments and Methods of Observation Volume II – Measurement of Cryospheric Variables. WMO-No. 8 [pdf]

 

last change 17/12/2025