Small Glaciers as Sensitive Indicators of Climatic Fluctuations

ABSTRACT

Mass balance measurements for the balance years 1985/86, 1986/87 and 1987/88 and calculations of the volume changes since the last maximum around 1915 have been carried out for Sydöstra Kaskasatjäkkoglaciären and Tarfalaglaciären in the Kebnekaise massif, Northern Sweden. A measure of the sensibility to climatic changes is given by the relationship between the mass balance volumes and the volumes of the glaciers. A comparison with Storglaciären and Rabots glaciär shows that Sydöstra Kaskasatjåkkoglaciären and Tarfalaglaciären are much more sensitive to climatic changes.