Faculty Publications

Synoptic-Scale Atmospheric Circulation Over British Columbia In Relation To The Mass Balance Of Sentinel Glacier

Document Type

Article

Keywords

British Columbia, glacier mass balance, synoptic climatology

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Annals of the Association of American Geographers

Volume

74

Issue

3

First Page

375

Last Page

392

Abstract

An objective synoptic climatology of daily 500mb pressure patterns for the International Hydrologlcal Decade (1965-1974) for southwestern Canada is presented. The climatological characteristics of the synoptic types are examined in terms of the natural glacier seasons of Sentinel Glacier, British Columbia. Although the number of years available for analysis is limited, a significant statistical relationship between the mass balance of Sentinel Glacier and the small-scale synoptic types is present. Glacier accumulation appears to be controlled mainly by the number of synoptic types associated with heavy precipitation that occur during the fall, winter, and spring. Summer melt is largely a function of the frequency of those synoptic-scale patterns bringing high temperatures and clear skies to the region. © 1984 Taylor & Francis Group All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Geography

Original Publication Date

1-1-1984

DOI of published version

10.1111/j.1467-8306.1984.tb01461.x

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