Selected problems of snow accumulation on glaciers during long-term studies in north-western Spitsbergen, Svalbard

ABSTRACT

The primary objective of this work is to present the essential conditions and characteristics of changes in the dynamics of snow accumulation on glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region, an area of Svalbard, located in north-western Spitsbergen. Most of the research consisted in direct field measurements carried out in 1997–2014. The glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region have a large spatial diversity of snow cover thickness, and distinct changeability with change of altitude. Snow cover on the glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region shows some specific physical properties. Numerous ice layers were also found, as results prove seasonal warming to above 0°C. The mean snow density was 380 kg m⁻³ on the Waldemarbreen, 363 kg m⁻³ on the Irenebreen and 405 kg m⁻³ on the Elisebreen. The mean annual winter balance of the Waldemarbreen for the years 1996–2014 was 0.50 m w.e. The mean snow accumulation on the Irenebreen from 2002 to 2014 was 0.55 m w.e., and on the Elisebreen, the mean value amounted to 0.67 m w.e. in 2006–2009. In the case of the Waldemarbreen, a slight increase in snow accumulation has been noted since 1997, and from the beginning of the twenty-first century the increase has been even more pronounced for glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region. This is the result of more frequent warmer periods during the winter season, which favours higher snowfall. The investigations of glacier snow accumulation and its properties in the Kaffiøyra region are especially important, being some of only a few long-term data series for snow on Svalbard.

KEYWORDS:

• Snow accumulation
• snow density
• ice layer
• glacier
• Svalbard

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank all members of the Nicolaus Copernicus University expeditions to Svalbard for their assistance in fieldwork. The authors would also like to thank Wilfried Haeberli and an anonymous reviewer for their valuable comments and suggestions that helped improve the quality of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes on contributor

Ireneusz Sobota is a glaciologist, hydrologist, Polar researcher and academic staff member at the Faculty of Earth Sciences of the Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, and author of several dozen scientific papers on glaciology, hydrology, cryology and other geographical sciences. The results of his research have been presented at national and international conferences. He has participated in 28 research expeditions to Spitsbergen, often as leader. He has also carried out research work in other parts of the world, such as at the Henryk Arctowski Polar Station in the Antarctic (twice). He has been involved in domestic and international research and scientific projects. Ireneusz Sobota has been the manager of the Nicolaus Copernicus University Polar Station on Spitsbergen for many years.