Surface mass balance of small glaciers on James Ross Island, north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula, during 2009–2015

• Published in: Journal of Glaciology
• Main Authors: ZBYNĚK ENGEL, KAMIL LÁSKA, DANIEL NÝVLT, ZDENĚK STACHOŇ
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge University Press 2018
• Subjects: Antarctic glaciology; climate change; glacier mass balance; ice cap; mountain glaciers; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Meteorology. Climatology; QC851-999; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; South Shetland Islands; Ross Island; Vega Island; Whisky Glacier; Davies Dome; Antarc*; Ice cap; James Ross Island; Journal of Glaciology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.17; https://doaj.org/article/60a839916398469897028939e98a6bf3

Two small glaciers on James Ross Island, the north-eastern Antarctic Peninsula, experienced surface mass gain between 2009 and 2015 as revealed by field measurements. A positive cumulative surface mass balance of 0.57 ± 0.67 and 0.11 ± 0.37 m w.e. was observed during the 2009–2015 period on Whisky Glacier and Davies Dome, respectively. The results indicate a change from surface mass loss that prevailed in the region during the first decade of the 21st century to predominantly positive surface mass balance after 2009/10. The spatial pattern of annual surface mass-balance distribution implies snow redistribution by wind on both glaciers. The mean equilibrium line altitudes for Whisky Glacier (311 ± 16 m a.s.l.) and Davies Dome (393 ± 18 m a.s.l.) are in accordance with the regional data indicating 200–300 m higher equilibrium line on James Ross and Vega Islands compared with the South Shetland Islands. The mean accumulation-area ratio of 0.68 ± 0.09 and 0.44 ± 0.09 determined for Whisky Glacier and Davies Dome, respectively, is similar to the value reported for Vega Island and within the range of typical values for high-latitude glaciers.