Inventory methodology of periglacial lakes in Spitzbergen (Svalbard)

• Main Authors: K. V. Romashova, R. A. Chernov, К. В. Ромашова, Р. А. Чернов
• Other Authors: The development of the search and inventory methodology of the Spitzbergen (Svalbard) periglacial lakes and data analysis were supported by the Russian Science Foundation grant No. 23-27-00312. «Formation of periglacial lakes of the Svalbard under the conditions of climate change»., Разработка методики поиска и инвентаризации приледниковых озер Шпицбергена и анализ данных выполнены при поддержке гранта РНФ № 23-27-00312 «Формирование приледниковых озер архипелага Шпицберген в условиях изменения климата».
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: Russian
• Published: Государственный научный центр Российской Федерации Арктический и антарктический научно-исследовательский институт 2023
• Subjects: Шпицберген; remote methods; Spitzbergen (Svalbard); type of periglacial lake; озерность; тип приледникового озера; Svalbard; Arctic; glacier; Norwegian Polar Institute; Spitzbergen; The Cryosphere; The Cryosphere Discussions; Thermokarst
• Online Access: https://www.aaresearch.science/jour/article/view/528; https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2023-69-2-157-170

The paper discusses periglacial lakes, which were formed after the Little Ice Age due to the reduction of Spitzbergen (Svalbard) glaciation. A method for inventorying the periglacial lakes in Spitzbergen (Svalbard) is proposed based on the Norwegian Polar Institute cartographic materials and remote sensing methods. Such lakes have been formed due to deglaciation in Svalbard since the beginning of the 20th century after the Little Ice Age. Three morphological features of the periglacial lake were used as selection criteria: the lake is in contact with the glacier, the lake is located within the terminal moraine or borders on it, each of which is sufficient.As a result of the inventory, 705 periglacial lakes have been found in Spitzbergen (Svalbard). The largest number of lakes is located in the northeastern part of the archipelago, where the relief is poorly dissected. The largest clusters of lakes are found on the moraines of mountain-valley glaciers located on the warmer western coasts. The periglacial lakes were divided into 5 types: glacier-dammed lakes (19 %), lakes in contact with the glacier front (30 %), thermokarst lakes on the moraine (27 %), moraine-dammed lakes (15 %) and lakes in contact with the terminal moraine (9 %). The most numerous were periglacial lakes adjoining the glacier (about 50 %). Their total area is 162 km2 and accounts for 87 % of the total area of all periglacial lakes. The other half of the lakes have formed shores, and their transformation is likely to be much slower in the future. The quantitative ratio of lake types testifies to the active phase of the process of lake expansion in the archipelago. This ratio of lakes by groups can be a clear indicator of climate change in the archipelago. На основе картографических материалов Норвежского полярного института предложена методика поиска и инвентаризации приледниковых озер архипелага Шпицберген. Их формирование обусловлено дегляциацией, продолжающейся с начала ХХ в. Инвентаризация приледниковых озер архипелага позволяет ...