Accumulation and climate at Peyto Glacier, Canada

The eight-year record of mass balance of Peyto Glacier is correlated to meteorological data measured near the glacier and at Lake Louise 30 km to the south. The period investigated includes the llighest and lowest accumulations for the past 40 years. The primar'y controls of net annual balance are seen to be the depth of the 'winter sno,y pack and the temperature record during the summer. Extensive summer snowfalls in the ablation area can slow down melt rates very considerably and affect the net annual balance positively. The variable nature of winter accumulation and its influence on snowline retreat and ice melt is illustrated by three years' data.

佩托冰川（Peyto Glacier）的八年物质平衡（mass balance）记录，与该冰川附近以及向南30公里处路易斯湖（Lake Louise）测得的气象数据具有相关性。本次研究的时段涵盖了过去40年间的最大与最小积雪积累事件。研究表明，年净物质平衡的主要控制因素为冬季积雪厚度与夏季气温观测记录。消融区（ablation area）内出现的大范围夏季降雪可显著降低冰川消融速率，并对年净物质平衡产生正向影响。三年的观测数据阐明了冬季积雪积累的变化特性，及其对雪线后退与冰川消融的影响。