Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard
Icing fields are common in Svalbard and very diverse with respect to shape. The occurrence and spatial structure of icing fields in front of glaciers were analysed using aerial photographs (at a scale of 1:50000) taken from 19 July to 25 August 1990–a unique set of images covering the whole archipel...
Published in: | Polar Research |
---|---|
Main Authors: | , |
Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Norwegian Polar Institute
2005
|
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059 https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 |
id |
ftjpolarres:oai:journals.openacademia.net:article/2059 |
---|---|
record_format |
openpolar |
spelling |
ftjpolarres:oai:journals.openacademia.net:article/2059 2024-09-15T18:31:21+00:00 Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard Bukowska-Jania, Elzbieta Szafraniec, Joanna 2005-07-01 application/pdf https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059 https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 eng eng Norwegian Polar Institute https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059/5310 https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059 doi:10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 Polar Research; Vol 24, No 1-2 (2005); 41-53 1751-8369 info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion 2005 ftjpolarres https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 2024-06-28T03:10:15Z Icing fields are common in Svalbard and very diverse with respect to shape. The occurrence and spatial structure of icing fields in front of glaciers were analysed using aerial photographs (at a scale of 1:50000) taken from 19 July to 25 August 1990–a unique set of images covering the whole archipelago in one summer season. Icing fields were observed in front of 217 glaciers. A total area of 12.3 km2 appeared to be covered by the icings. This value, from late in the ablation season, is likely to be near the seasonal minimum. Of the 217 glaciers, 192 were selected for further analysis, carried out by stereoscopic observation of the aerial photographs. Striking difference in brightness of the icing fields in comparison to the surrounded terrain combined with field experience of the geomorphic setting of its occurrence made possible the complete inventory of the icing phenomena for the whole of Svalbard. Morphometric features were measured directly on photographs and on scanned portions of them. Results from field studies of melting and the decrease of the area of icing fields at the front of two glaciers are also presented. The shape and distribution of icings depend on a set of glaciological factors and on the glacial and geomorphologic setting. The duration of frigid temperatures in the winter when the icing fields were formed is also important. Results show that oval and circular shapes are characteristic for icing fields after surviving the ablation season. These fields have an important geomorphological influence on the outwash plains that currently develop in Svalbard. Article in Journal/Newspaper Polar Research Svalbard Polar Research Polar Research 24 1-2 41 53 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Polar Research |
op_collection_id |
ftjpolarres |
language |
English |
description |
Icing fields are common in Svalbard and very diverse with respect to shape. The occurrence and spatial structure of icing fields in front of glaciers were analysed using aerial photographs (at a scale of 1:50000) taken from 19 July to 25 August 1990–a unique set of images covering the whole archipelago in one summer season. Icing fields were observed in front of 217 glaciers. A total area of 12.3 km2 appeared to be covered by the icings. This value, from late in the ablation season, is likely to be near the seasonal minimum. Of the 217 glaciers, 192 were selected for further analysis, carried out by stereoscopic observation of the aerial photographs. Striking difference in brightness of the icing fields in comparison to the surrounded terrain combined with field experience of the geomorphic setting of its occurrence made possible the complete inventory of the icing phenomena for the whole of Svalbard. Morphometric features were measured directly on photographs and on scanned portions of them. Results from field studies of melting and the decrease of the area of icing fields at the front of two glaciers are also presented. The shape and distribution of icings depend on a set of glaciological factors and on the glacial and geomorphologic setting. The duration of frigid temperatures in the winter when the icing fields were formed is also important. Results show that oval and circular shapes are characteristic for icing fields after surviving the ablation season. These fields have an important geomorphological influence on the outwash plains that currently develop in Svalbard. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Bukowska-Jania, Elzbieta Szafraniec, Joanna |
spellingShingle |
Bukowska-Jania, Elzbieta Szafraniec, Joanna Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
author_facet |
Bukowska-Jania, Elzbieta Szafraniec, Joanna |
author_sort |
Bukowska-Jania, Elzbieta |
title |
Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
title_short |
Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
title_full |
Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
title_fullStr |
Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
title_full_unstemmed |
Distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in Svalbard |
title_sort |
distribution and morphometric characteristics of icing fields in svalbard |
publisher |
Norwegian Polar Institute |
publishDate |
2005 |
url |
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059 https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 |
genre |
Polar Research Svalbard |
genre_facet |
Polar Research Svalbard |
op_source |
Polar Research; Vol 24, No 1-2 (2005); 41-53 1751-8369 |
op_relation |
https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059/5310 https://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/2059 doi:10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v24i1.6252 |
container_title |
Polar Research |
container_volume |
24 |
container_issue |
1-2 |
container_start_page |
41 |
op_container_end_page |
53 |
_version_ |
1810472992292995072 |