1 Background - mountain.PROJECTS

TURKU UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY PUBLICATIONS B Nr 4The deliverables 11 (glacier infomation and monitoring system) and 12 (glacier database) arepresented in Appendix 13 and 14 of the Omega Final Report.Omega Browser+NORUT InformaationNorwegian Water Resourceand Energy DirectorateCatalog ServerOmega ServerRS_dataAirborne_UIBKNORUT InformationOmega ServerRS_dataSatellite_NOVOSATNOVOSATOmega ServerRS_dataAirborne_UTUOmega ServerTerrestrialMeasurements_UTUUniversity of TurkuFigure 40. Example of relations inside OMEGA System. All OMEGA Servers that contain data areconnected to Catalog Server that keeps track of the OMEGA Servers. The OMEGA Browser connectsto Catalog Server firstly to retrieve information about all OMEGA Servers and their data. This is justan example with feature servers in Novosat and NORUT. University of Turku and NVE are clientsbrowsing the data on the feature servers.4.6 Considerations and scenarios of using glaciers as indicators of climatechangeGlacier changesGlaciers in Europe and worldwide as well have experienced spectacular fluctuations duringthe two last centuries. Many glaciers reached their modern maximum around 1850. From thenon they have retreated at a fast rate, temporarily returning to minor advances like 1890, 1920and 1980. These changes led contemporary scientists to the concept of ice ages and to the firstthoughts about the influence climate exerts on present day ice masses.During the past 20 years European glaciers have shown a diverse behaviour: while glaciers inthe Pyrenees, Alps and Caucasus Mountains receded at high rates, those in Southern Norwaywere advancing. Observed rates of mass loss or thinning of Hintereisferner are shown inTable 5. The mean specific mass balance of Hintereisferner 1952/53 to2002/03 is presented inFigure 41.60