From Glaciated Landscape to Unglaciated Seascape: Transformation of the Hambergbreen–Hambergbukta Area, SE Spitsbergen, 1900–2017

Abstract

In 1900 the present Hambergbukta fjord did not exist and its basin was filled with the huge Hambergbreen glacier. The glacier then experienced progressive recession during a period of climate warming. The retreat of its front was perhaps the most spectacular expression of this recession. Eventually, a small bay named Hambergbukta appeared in 1936. By the 1950s the bay had become transformed into a new fjord 6 to 7 km long and 3 to 4 km wide. Its basin was progressively abandoned by the glacier and flooded by the sea. After 1961, the glacier surged and refilled the fjord basin with a fissured glacier tongue, and the fjord coastline became occupied by lateral ice-moraine ridges. Since 1970, the Hambergbreen glacier has undergone progressive recession again, resulting in the formation of the present-day Hambergbukta fjord. There exist significant differences in the landforms found between the northern and southern fjord coastlines: The former consists mainly of preserved lateral ice moraine ridges, whereas in the latter the ice cores have melted and low coastal plains have formed. This transformation continues to the present day. The Hamberbukta fjord has currently achieved its largest dimensions (including length), while being closed off from more inland areas by two tidewater glaciers: remnants of the Hambergbreen and Sykorabreen glaciers, the latter being a tributary glacier of the former in the 1980s.

1900年, 挪威的Hambergbukta峡湾并不存在, 它的盆地充满了巨大的Hambergbreen冰川。在气候变暖时期, 冰川逐渐消退。冰川前缘后退, 可能是冰川消退的最壮观表现。最终, 在1936年出现了一个名为Hambergbukta的小海湾。到20世纪50年代, 海湾变成一个长6至7公里、宽3至4公里的新峡湾。盆地逐渐被冰川遗弃, 海水淹没了盆地。1961年后, 冰川涌动, 裂开的冰舌重新填满峡湾盆地, 峡湾海岸线被侧向冰碛岭占据。自1970年以来, Hambergbreen冰川再次经历了渐进式消退, 形成了今天的Hambergbukta峡湾。北部和南部峡湾海岸线的地貌存在着显著差异。北部主要由遗留的侧冰碛脊组成, 而南部冰芯融化, 形成低海岸平原。这种变化一直持续到现在。Hamberbukta峡湾目前已达到最大范围（包括长度）。两个潮水冰川将峡湾和内陆地区分割开来：Hambergbreen和Sykorabreen残余冰川, 其中后者是前者在1980年代的支流冰川。

En 1900 no existía el fiordo Hambergbukta y su cuenca estaba ocupada por el enorme glaciar Hambergbreen. Luego, el glaciar experimentó recesión progresiva durante un período de calentamiento climático. La retirada de su frente fue quizás la más espectacular expresión de su proceso recesivo. Eventualmente en 1936 aparecería una pequeña bahía a la que se dio el nombre de Hambergbukta. En los años 1950 la bahía se había transformado en un nuevo fiordo de 6 a 7 km de largo por 3 a 4 km de ancho. Su cuenca fue progresivamente abandonada por el glaciar e inundada por el mar. Después de 1961, el glaciar aumentó repentinamente y volvió a llenar la cuenca del fiordo con una lengua glaciaria fisurada, y la costa del fiordo llegó a ser ocupada por crestas de morenas laterales. Desde 1970, el glaciar Hambergbreen nuevamente ha estado sometido a recesión progresiva, de lo cual ha resultado el actual fiordo Hambergbukta. Se presentan significativas diferencias en las geoformas entre las líneas costeras septentrionales y meridionales del fiordo: Las primeras consisten principalmente de las crestas de morrenas laterales preservadas, en tanto que en las segundas los núcleos de hielo de han derretido y se han formado planicies litorales bajas. Tal transformación continúa hasta nuestros días. Actualmente el fiordo Hambergbukta ha alcanzado sus mayores dimensiones (incluyendo la longitud), al tiempo que su conexión con áreas más interiores ha sido cortada por dos glaciares de marismas: restos de los glaciares Hambergbreen y Sykorabreen, este último un glaciar tributario del primero en los años 1980.

Key Words:

• climate warming
• glacial recession
• landscape–seascape transformation
• marine transgression
• Svalbard

关键词:

• 气候变暖
• 冰川消退
• 陆地景观-海洋景观转换
• 海侵
• 斯瓦尔巴特群岛。

Palabras clave:

• calentamiento climático
• recesión glacial
• transformación de paisajes terrestres y marinos
• transgresión marina
• Svalbard

Acknowledgments

Field observations were made by W. Ziaja during the Jagiellonian University expeditions in 2005 and 2016. W. Maciejowski and K. Ostafin also participated in them. Two anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments on an earlier version of this article. G. Zebik is thanked for his assistance in proofreading the text. Thanks to K. Ostafin for correction of three figures.

Additional information

Funding

The second expedition and thus some parts of the article were supported by the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation. Their contents are the sole responsibility of the Jagiellonian University in Cracow and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the Foundation.

Notes on contributors

Anna Cygankiewicz-Truś

ANNA CYGANKIEWICZ-TRUŚ is a PhD Student in the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management at Jagiellonian University, Cracow 31-007, Poland. E-mail: [email protected]. Her research interests include glacial recession, changes in mountain and arctic landscapes due to climate change, peatland fires, and peat self-ignition.

Wieslaw Ziaja

WIESLAW ZIAJA is a Professor and Head of the Department of Physical Geography at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Management, Jagiellonian University, Cracow 30-387, Poland. E-mail: [email protected]. His research interests include physical geography and landscape ecology, and especially arctic landscape transformations under contemporary climate warming.