Summarized glacier mass balance measurements, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica (1993-2020, ongoing)

As part of the Long Term Ecological Research (LTER) project in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica, a systematic sampling program has been undertaken to monitor glacial mass balance and meltwater flow. This data package contains total mass balance changes at each stake measured on six glaciers (Canada, Commonwealth, Hughes, Suess, Howard, and Taylor) in Taylor Valley and one glacier (Adams) in Miers Valley, all of which are located in the McMurdo Dry Valleys region of Antarctica. These values are the result of an analysis of the raw data presented in other data files (glacier stake heights, snow depths, and snow densities). Included here for each stake is the total water equivalent mass change. The standard deviation or the range for each total is given. Most measurements began during the 93-94 field season. Adams measurements were established during the 14-15 field season. Measurements are ongoing except at Hughes and Suess Glaciers where monitoring ceased following the 08-09 field season. Monitoring the changes in these measurements over time provides a record of mass balance, and aids in determining the role of glaciers in the polar hydrologic cycle.

作为南极洲麦克默多干谷长期生态研究（Long Term Ecological Research, LTER）项目的组成部分，科研团队已实施系统性采样计划，用于监测冰川物质平衡（glacial mass balance）与融水径流（meltwater flow）过程。本数据包包含泰勒谷内6座冰川（加拿大冰川（Canada Glacier）、联邦冰川（Commonwealth Glacier）、休斯冰川（Hughes Glacier）、苏斯冰川（Suess Glacier）、霍华德冰川（Howard Glacier）与泰勒冰川（Taylor Glacier））以及迈尔斯谷（Miers Valley）内1座冰川（亚当斯冰川（Adams Glacier））的各测杆总物质平衡变化数据，所有冰川均坐落于南极洲麦克默多干谷（McMurdo Dry Valleys）区域。该类数值源自对其他数据文件中原始观测数据（冰川测杆（glacial stake）高度、积雪深度与积雪密度）的分析处理。本数据包中收录了各测杆对应的总水当量物质变化量（water equivalent mass change），并同步提供了各总变化量的标准差（standard deviation）或取值范围。绝大多数观测始于1993-1994年野外考察季；亚当斯冰川的观测则启动于2014-2015年野外考察季。除休斯冰川与苏斯冰川外，其余冰川的监测工作仍在持续——后两座冰川的监测已于2008-2009年野外考察季结束后终止。对上述观测数据的时序变化进行长期监测，可获取冰川物质平衡的完整记录，有助于厘清冰川在极地水文循环（hydrologic cycle）中所发挥的作用。