A New Advance of the Jan Mayen Glaciers and a Remarkable Increase of Precipitation

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: Lamb, H. H., Probert-Jones, J. R., Sheard, J. W.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press (CUP) 1962
• Subjects: Earth-Surface Processes; Greenland; Jan Mayen; Beerenberg; Greenland Sea; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/s0022143000027684; https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S0022143000027684

Abstract A new advance since about 1954 of the glaciers descending on all sides of the great volcanic mountain Beerenberg (2,277 m.) on the island of Jan Mayen (lat. 71° N., long. 8° W.) has been reported. Annual precipitation in the area appears to have risen fairly steadily and in the 1950’s had almost doubled as compared with the 1920’s. Other places around the Greenland Sea show substantial increases of precipitation after 1920 as compared with the 1910–20 rate, but mostly attained a maximum in the 1930’s or around 1940. Periodicities are briefly discussed as well as secular change. Temperatures at Jan Mayen have fallen somewhat since the 1930’s but they have not altered much since the 1940’s. The likely causes in terms of changes of the atmospheric circulation and other circumstances, including lag in the glaciers’ response, are briefly discussed. The increase of precipitation seems to be the main, almost the sole, causative factor in the glacial advance.