Selected methods in mass balance estimation of Waldemar Glacier, Spitsbergen

• Main Author: Ireneusz Sobota
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arctic; Breen; Svalbard; Waldemarbreen; glacier; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.596.996; http://www.polish.polar.pan.pl/ppr28/PPR28-249.pdf

Abstract: Traditional mass balance measurements by stake readings and snow surveying have been conducted annually since 1996 on the Waldemar Glacier ( = Waldemarbreen) in northwest Spitsbergen, Svalbard. Several indirect methods were also used for estimating its mass balance. These methods were divided into two major groups: climatological and geo− detic. A comparison of the latest map (2000) with that of 1978 and climatological records enable us to calculate the change in the mass balance of Waldemarbreen over 34 years. These methods include air temperature and degree−day (PDD) models. The average mass balance of Waldemarbreen, computed by climatological methods, was −0.42 m a−1 of water equivalent (w.e.) for the period 1970–2004, and −0.51 m w.e. for 1996–2004. These bal− ances were compared with the glaciological balance for the period 1996–2004, −0.53 m w.e. The mass balance was also computed using geodetic method, giving −0.52 m of w.e. from 1978 to 2000. It is suggested that, from these results, the approach used for Waldemar− breen might be also useful for estimation the mass balances of other small Svalbard glaciers which terminate on land. Key words: Arctic, Svalbard, mass balance, glacier.