Energy balance calculations from five years' meteorological records at Vernagtferner, Oetztal Alps
During the months May to September, global radiation, longwave radiation, air temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind speed and direction are continuously recorded at the Pegelstation Vernagtbach (2640 m a. s. 1.). Based on this material, monthly means of global radiation, air temperature and monthly sums of precipitation for the years 1978 to 1982 are discussed with respect to their influence on shortwave radiation balance and sensible heat flux of Vernagtferner. As the Albedo, which is derived from daily photographs of the glacier increases while global radiation decreases during summer, shortwave radiation balance usually rises from May to August; the lowest value was observed in June 1982 with 48 Wm-2, the highest one in August 1980 with 96 W/m2. The Variation of sensible heat flux follows the change of air temperatures, as wind speed does not vary much during summer. Meltwater production as calculated from the energy balance, lies between 5 % and 30 % below the total measured runoff.