A Heat-Balance Study on Sørbreen, Jan Mayen

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Author: Dibben, P. C.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1965
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Jan Mayen; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000018852; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000018852

Abstract The techniques and results of a heat-balance programme on Sørbreen, Jan Mayen, are presented and discussed. Estimates of 24 hr. heat-transfer totals under frontal and non-frontal weather conditions are then made. Transfer is found to be higher during frontal conditions, due to an increase in latent and to a lesser extent sensible heat transfer. Consideration of upper air temperatures and humidities suggests this higher transfer is experienced by the glacier as a whole. It is then proposed that summer rainfall totals will provide an index of frontal activity which may be used to indicate relative ablation from one summer to another. A statistical comparison of ablation measured on the glacier and rainfall recorded at the Jan Mayen meteorological station supports this suggestion.