The Cryosphere Discussions www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net 1994-0432 1994-0440 3 2 2009 10.5194/tcd-3-323-2009 http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/323/2009/ http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/323/2009/tcd-3-323-2009.html http://www.the-cryosphere-discuss.net/3/323/2009/tcd-3-323-2009.pdf 323 350 2009-05-19 Forecasting temperate alpine glacier survival from accumulation zone observations M. S. Pelto mspelto@nichols.edu Nichols College Dudley, MA 01571, USA For temperate alpine glaciers survival is dependent on the consistent presence of an accumulation zone. The lack of a consistent and persistent accumulation zone leads to substantial thinning of the glacier in the accumulation zone. Accumulation zone thinning is evident in satellite imagery or field observation based the emergence of new rock outcrops or the recession of the margin of the glacier in the accumulation zone along a substantial portion of its perimeter. 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