Change in geometry of a high Arctic glacier to 1948 to 2013 (Austre Lovénbreen, Svalbard)

• Published in: Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography
• Main Authors: Marlin, Christelle, Tolle, Florian, Griselin, Madeleine, Bernard, Eric, Saintenoy, Albane, Quenet, Mélanie, Friedt, Jean Michel
• Other Authors: Géosciences Paris Sud (GEOPS), Université Paris-Sud - Paris 11 (UP11)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Théoriser et modéliser pour aménager (UMR 6049) (ThéMA), Université de Bourgogne (UB)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC), Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC)-Université Bourgogne Franche-Comté COMUE (UBFC), Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique, Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies (UMR 6174) (FEMTO-ST), Université de Technologie de Belfort-Montbeliard (UTBM)-Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)-Université de Franche-Comté (UFC)
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: HAL CCSD 2017
• Subjects: Svalbard; DEM; Arctic; mass balance; glacier; Austre Lovénbreen; [SHS.GEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Geography; Spitsbergen
• Online Access: https://hal.science/hal-01470085; https://hal.science/hal-01470085/document; https://hal.science/hal-01470085/file/Marlin2017.pdf; https://doi.org/10.1080/04353676.2017.1285203

International audience The change of Austre Lovénbreen, a 4.5 km2 land-based glacier along the west coast of Spitsbergen, is investigated using geodetic methods and mass balance measurements over 1948–2013. For 2008−2013, annual mass balances computed on 36-stake measurements were obtained, in addition to annual mass balances reconstructed from the neighbouring glaciers, Midtre Lovénbreen (1968−2007) and Austre Brøggerbreen (1963−1967). The mean rate of glacier retreat for 1948–2013 is −16.7 ± 0.3 m a−1. Fluctuations in area (1948–2013 mean, −0.027 ± 0.002 km2 a−1) showed a slowing as the glacier recedes within its valley from 1990 to 1995. For 1962–2013, the average volume loss calculated by digital elevation model subtraction of −0.441 ± 0.062 m w.e. a−1 (or −0.54 ± 0.07% a−1) is similar to the average annual mass balance (−0.451 ± 0.007 m w.e. a−1), demonstrating a good agreement between the loss rates computed by both methods over 1962−2013. When divided in two periods (1962−1995 and 1995−2013), an increase in the rate of ice mass loss is statistically significant for the glacier volume change. The 0°C isotherm elevation (based on mean May–September air temperatures) is estimated to have risen by about 250 m up to the upper parts of the glacier between 1948 and 2013. The glacier area exposed to melting during May to September almost increased by 1.8-fold while the area reduced by a third since 1948. Within a few years, the glacier area exposed to melting will decrease, leading the upper glacier parts under the 0°C isotherm while the snout will keep on retreating.