Post−“Little Ice Age ” retreat rates of glaciers around Billefjorden in central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

• Main Authors: Grzegorz Rachlewicz, Witold Szczuciński, Marek Ewertowski
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Key words; Arctic; Svalbard; deglaciation; retreat rate; glacial geomorphology; “Little Ice Age”; Billefjorden; Bris; Nordenskiöldbreen; glacier; Tidewater; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.595.4059; http://www.polish.polar.pan.pl/ppr28/PPR28-159.pdf

Abstract: Twelve glaciers, representing various types, were investigated between 2000 and 2005, in a region adjacent to the northern reaches of Billefjorden, central Spitsbergen (Svalbard). On the basis of measurements taken using reference points, DGPS and GPS sys− tems, analyses of aerial photographs and satellite images, geomorphological indicators and archival data their rates of deglaciation following the “Little Ice Age ” (LIA) maximum were calculated variously on centennial, decadal and annual time scales. As most Svalbard glaciers have debris−covered snouts, a clean ice margin was measured in the absence of de− bris−free ice front. The retreat rates for both types of ice fronts were very similar. All studied glaciers have been retreating since the termination of the Little Ice Age at the end of 19th century. The fastest retreat rate was observed in the case of the Nordenskiöldbreen tidewater glacier (mean average linear retreat rate 35 m a–1). For land−terminating glaciers the rates were in range of 5 to 15 m a–1. Presumably owing to climate warming, most of the glacier re− treat rates have increased several fold in recent decades. The secondary factors influencing the retreat rates have been identified as: water depth at the grounding line in the case of tide− water glaciers, surging history, altitude, shape and aspect of glacier margin, and bedrock re−