Post-Little Ice Age Development of Coast in the Locality of Kapp Napier, Central Spitsbergen, Svalbard Archipelago

Abstract

Changes in the position of the shore in the vicinity of Kapp Napier in central Svalbard was described. The overall advance of the shore was probably related to high input of the sediment material originating from erosion of the coastal areas south of the Kapp Napier locality and high input of material from adjacent glacifluvial system of Nordenskiöld glacier with its marginal water streams. Fast evolution of glacier retreat related processes after the Little Ice Age was a secondary driver of the dynamic changes in the central Svalbard coastal areas especially in the first half of the 20th century. The highly dynamic longshore currents in the area altogether with still ongoing glacio-isostatic uplift played an important role in the process as well. The most active parts of the shore experienced advance of almost 100 m since 1908 to 2009. On the other hand, a small part of the coast retreated of about 20 m. Most of the study area experienced aggradation (65%), 30% of the coast was stable and about 5% of the coast has undergone minor retreat. The maximum aggradation rate of 0.96 m/year corresponds well with similar sites in the vicinity.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Climate change
• coast evolution
• glacier
• historic photographs
• Svalbard

Acknowledgments

Many thanks also belong to the staff of the Adam Mickiewicz University polar station for its logistic support. Help of two anonymous reviewers on improving the manuscript is highly appreciated as well.

Additional information

Funding

The research was financially supported by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sports grant number LM2015078, Masaryk University grant MUNI/A/1251/2017 and the Research Council of Norway Arctic Field Grant number 282536.