Modern and Little Ice Age Equilibrium-line Altitudes on Outlet Valley Glaciers from Jostedalsbreen, Western Norway: An Evaluation of Different Approaches to their Calculation

Abstract

The modern and Little Ice Age (LIA) equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) of 20 outlet valley glaciers from Jostedalsbreen, western Norway, has been calculated using different approaches. Using an accumulation area ratio (AAR) of 0.6 ± 0.05 gave a mean Little Ice Age ELA depression of 70 m. A method developed by M. Kuhle, taking the influence by topography into account, gave a mean ELA depression of 35 to 255 m, the median elevation of glaciers (MEG) 115 m, and the toe-to-headwall altitude ratio (THAR) 140 m. Differences in the ELA estimates can be attributed to differences in topography and morphology of the glaciers. The AAR method appears to provide the most reliable results.