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Abstract
Braun, M., Pohjola, V.A., Pettersson, R., Möller, M., Finkelnburg, R., Falk, U., Scherer, D. and Schneider, C., 2011. Changes of glacier frontal positions of Vestfonna (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard). Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography, 93, 301–310. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468‐0459.2011.00437.x
Abstract
Glaciers in Svalbard have shown considerable mass loss in recent years with a reported acceleration in the western and southern parts of the archipelago. However, for the ice cap Vestfonna, in northeastern Svalbard, climatic mass balance modelling has suggested almost balanced conditions over a period of nine years (2000–2009). A slightly positive geodetic mass balance (1990–2005) has been reported from a comparison of laser altimetry to older DEMs. A heterogeneous situation has been depicted for the various catchments, and hence changes in glacier extent can reveal additional information of glacier status, in particular when dealing with surge‐type glaciers. We analysed a 34‐year data record of multi‐spectral satellite imagery in order to study changes in glacier frontal positions of the ice cap Vestfonna. A consistent pattern of almost steady retreat of the southern and north‐eastern outlet glaciers of the ice cap is observed while Franklinbreen, the only major outlet glacier draining towards the north‐west shows re‐advance. This is consistent with an observed speed up and potential upcoming surge of this outlet. The glacier retreat on the southern coast also agrees with ICESat elevation change measurements. However, due to the glacier response time no direct relations between frontal retreat and surface mass balance can be drawn from the short observation period. The heterogeneous pattern of changes with on‐going dynamic adjustments in some areas make the ice cap Vestfonna an ideal test site for future monitoring activities including novel techniques like differential interferometry from bi‐static SAR systems.
Acknowledgements
The comments by the anonymous reviewers greatly contributed to the improvements of the manuscript. The authors would like to thank the German Research Foundation (contracts BR 2108/6‐1, SCHE 750/3‐1, SCHN 680/2‐1), the University of Bonn and the University of Alaska Fairbanks for funding. V.P. acknowledges funds from the Swedish Research Council. Without the logistical support of the IPY‐KINNVIKA team this work could have never been accomplished. The logistical support from the Swedish Polar Research Secretariat, the ship and personnel of RV Horyzont II of the Polish Marine Academy, University Centre of Svalbard and the Norwegian Polar Institute as well as the Alfred‐Wegener‐Institute are kindly acknowledged. The Governor of Svalbard kindly permitted the research activities during IPY. Satellite data and derived products were partly provided under ESA IPY AO 4032, DLR AO LAN_0013, the GLIMS program and NASA. LANDSAT images were accessed through USGS. SPOT image was provided by SPIRIT Program (CNES) and Spot Image.
Additional information
Notes on contributors
Matthias Braun
Matthias Braun, Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 903 Koyukuk Drive, Fairbanks, AK99775‐7320, USA
Email: [email protected]
Veijo A. Pohjola
Veijo A. Pohjola, Department of Earth Sciences, Air, Water and Landscape Science, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE‐752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Email: [email protected]
Rickard Pettersson
Rickard Pettersson, Department of Earth Sciences, Air, Water and Landscape Science, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE‐752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
Email: [email protected]
Marco Möller
Marco Möller, Department of Geography, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 55, D‐52056 Aachen, Germany
Email: [email protected]‐aachen.de
Roman Finkelnburg
Roman Finkelnburg, Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, D‐12165 Berlin, Germany
Ulrike Falk
Ulrike Falk, Centre for Remote Sensing of Land Surfaces, Bonn University, D‐53113 Bonn, Germany
Email: ulrike.falk@uni‐bonn.de
Dieter Scherer
Dieter Scherer, Department of Ecology, Technische Universität Berlin, Rothenburgstr. 12, D‐12165 Berlin, Germany
Email: Dieter.Scherer@TU‐Berlin.de
Christoph Schneider
Christoph Schneider, Department of Geography, RWTH Aachen University, Templergraben 55, D‐52056 Aachen, Germany
Email: [email protected]‐aachen.de