.png)
.png)
.png)
Email this article 
Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673420020033
Abstract
The Aldegonda (Aldegondabreen) Glacier, located on the Nordenskjold Land, West Spitsbergen, covers the area of about 6 km2 (in 2018) and does constantly retreat since the very first observations of 1936. In August 2018, a topographic survey of the glacier was carried out. By comparing the results with the ArcticDEM model, built from space images of 2015, the difference in heights of the surface over three years had been calculated. Comparison of this difference with in situ data of glaciological measurements by the ablation stakes, made during the same period 2015–2018, demonstrated a high correlation between them. Considering the almost complete absence of snow cover on the glacier at the end of the summer season, the difference was recalculated into the spatial distribution of the specific mass balance by multiplying the ice density (0.88 g cm−3). Using the empirical dependence of the specific mass balance on the altitude above sea level, the obtained values were extrapolated to that part of the glacier which was not surveyed in 2018. The total loss of the Aldegonda Clacier mass for 2015–2018, calculated on the basis of topographic survey and the ArcticDEM, was estimated as 30.3 million tons (about 10.1 million tons per year). This magnitude gives the value of mean annual specific balance of approximately −1.76 m w.e, which is almost 2.5 times larger modulo than the previously published mean for the period 1936–1990, but close to the values of the early 2000s. Despite the small difference in the values obtained by geodetic and glaciological methods, the measurements does not show a systematic shift relative to each other and demonstrate approximately the same intervals of specific balance from the glacier tongue to its upper reaches (−1.08 ÷ −3.01 m w.e). This makes possible to conclude that the ArcticDEM model has the satisfactory vertical accuracy (both relative and absolute) to study on its basis changes in the surface height of an individual glacier.
About the Authors
A. V. TerekhovRussian Federation
St.Petersburg
G. V. Tarasov
Russian Federation
St.Petersburg
O. R. Sidorova
Russian Federation
St.Petersburg
V. E. Demidov
Russian Federation
St.Petersburg
M. A. Anisimov
Russian Federation
St.Petersburg
S. R. Verkulich
Russian Federation
St.Petersburg
References
1. Kohler J., James T.D., Murray T., Nuth C., Brandt O., Barrand N.E., Aas H.F., Luckman A. Acceleration in thinning rate on western Svalbard glaciers. Geophys. Research Letters. 2007, 34 (18): L18502. doi: 10.1029/2007GL030681.
2. Hagen J.O., Kohler J., Melvold K., Winther J.G. Glaciers in Svalbard: Mass balance, runoff and freshwater flux. Polar Research. 2003, 22 (2): 145–159. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-8369.2003.tb00104.x.
3. Chernov R.A., Muraviev A.Ya. Contemporary changes in the area of glaciers in the western part of the Nordenskjold Land (Svalbard). Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2018, 58 (4): 462–472. [In Russian]. doi: 10.15356/2076-6734-2018-4-462-472.
4. Porter C., Morin P., Howat I, Noh M.-J., Bates B., Peterman K., Keesey S., Schlenk M., Gardiner J., Tomko K., Willis M., Kelleher C., Cloutier M., Husby E., Foga S., Nakamura H., Platson M., Wethington M., Willamson C., Bauer G., Enos J., Arnold G., Kramer W., Becker P., Doshi A., D’Souza C., Cummens P., Laurier F., Bojensen M. 2018, «ArcticDEM». https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/OHHUKH. Harvard Dataverse. V1. [20.08.2018].
5. Von Albedyll L., Machguth H., Nussbaumer S.U., Zemp M. Elevation changes of the Holm Land Ice Cap, northeast Greenland, from 1978 to 2012–2015, derived from high-resolution digital elevation models. Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research. 2018, 50 (1): e1523638. doi: 10.1080/15230430.2018.1523638.
6. Bushueva I.S., Glazovsky A.F., Nosenko G.A. Surge development in the western sector of the Vavilov Ice Cap, Severnaya Zemlya, 1963–2017. Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2018, 58 (3): 293–306. [In Russian]. doi: 10.15356/2076-6734-2018-3-293-306.
7. Rastner P., Strozzi T., Paul F. Fusion of Multi-Source Satellite Data and DEMs to Create a New Glacier Inventory for Novaya Zemlya. Remote Sensing. 2017, 9: 1122. doi: 10.3390/rs9111122.
8. Barr I.D., Dokukin M.D., Kougkoulos I., Livingstone S.J., Lovell H., Małecki J., Muraviev A.Y. Using ArcticDEM to Analyse the Dimensions and Dynamics of Debris-Covered Glaciers in Kamchatka, Russia. Geosciences (Switzerland). 2018, 8 (6): 216. doi: 10.3390/geosciences8060216.
9. Johannesson T., Thrastarson R., Morin P., Howat I. The potential of the ArcticDEM satellite-based digital elevation models for mapping glacier change in Iceland. Geophys. Research. Abstracts. 2017, 19: EGU2017-14797.
10. Fürst, J.J., Gillet-Chaulet F., Benham T.J., Dowdeswell J.A., Grabiec M., Navarro F., Pettersson R., Moholdt G., Nuth C., Sass B., Aas K., Fettweis X., Lang C., Seehaus T., Braun M. Application of a two-step approach for mapping ice thickness to various glacier types on Svalbard. The Cryosphere. 2017, 11: 2003–2032. doi: 10.5194/tc-11-2003-2017.
11. Izuchenie meteorologicheskogo rezhima i klimaticheskikh izmeneniy v raione arkhipelaga Shpitsbergen: otchet o NIR (itogoviy za 2015 g.) The study of meteorological regime and climatic changes in Svalbard archipelago region: scientific report (concluding, 2015). Scientific Report. Scientific supervisor L.M. Savatyugin. Saint Petersburg, 2015: 187 p. (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Repository ID № Р-6289). [In Russian].
12. Issledovanie mnogoletnikh izmeneniy gidrometeorologicheskogo rezhima i sostoyaniya prirodnoy srediy arkhipelaga Shpitsbergen: otchet o NIR (zaklyuchitelniy za 2016 god) The study of multiannual changes of hydro-meteorological regime and environment state of Svalbard archipelago: scientific report (concluding, 2016). Scientific Report. Scientific supervisor L.M. Savatyugin. Saint Petersburg, 2016: 204 p. (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Repository ID № Р-6394). [In Russian].
13. Issledovaniya sovremennogo sostoyaniya i analiz predshestvovavshikh izmeneniy kharakteristik prirodnoy sredy arkhipelaga Shpitsbergen: otchet o NIR (promezhutochniy) The study of present-day state and the analysis of past changes of characteristics of Svalbard archipelago environment: Scientific report (progress report). Scientific Report. Scientific supervisor L.M. Savatyugin. Saint Petersburg, 2017: 237 p. (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Repository ID № Р-6458). [In Russian].
14. Issledovaniya sovremennogo sostoyaniya i analiz predshestvovavshikh izmeneniy kharakteristik prirodnoy sredy arkhipelaga Shpitsbergen: otchet o NIR (promezhutochniy) The study of present-day state and the analysis of past changes of characteristics of Svalbard archipelago environment: Scientific report (progress report). Scientific Report. Saint Petersburg, 2018: 337 p. (Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute Repository ID № Р-6546). [In Russian].
15. Chernov R.A., Kudikov A.V., Vshivtseva T.V., Osokin N.I. Estimation of the surface ablation and mass balance of Eustre Grønfjordbreen (Spitsbergen). Led i Sneg. Ice and Snow. 2019. 59 (1): 59–66. [In Russian]. https://doi.org/10.15356/2076-6734-2019-1-59-66.
16. Mavlyudov B.R., Solovyanova I.Yu. Water-ice balance of Aldegonda glacier in 2002/03. Materialy Glatsiologicheskikh Issledovaniy. Data of Glaciological Studies. 2007, 102: 206–208. [In Russian].
17. Solovyanova I.Y., Mavlyudov B.R. Mass balance observations on some glaciers in 2004/2005 and 2005/2006 balance years, Nordenskjold Land, Spitsbergen. The Dynamics and Mass Budget of Arctic Glaciers. 2007: 115–120.
18. Guskov A.S., Gordeychik A.V. Water-ice balance of Svalbard glaciers in 1975/76 balance year. Materialy Glatsiologicheskikh Issledovaniy. Data of Glaciological Studies. 1978, 33: 207–211. [In Russian].
19. Navarro F.J., Glazovsky A.F., Macheret Yu.Ya., Vasilenko E.V., Corcuera M.I., Cuadrado M.L. Ice-volume changes (1936–1990) and structure of Aldegondabreen, Spitsbergen. Annals of Glaciology. 2005, 42: 158–162. doi: 10.3189/172756405781812646.
Supplementary files
For citation: Terekhov A.V., Tarasov G.V., Sidorova O.R., Demidov V.E., Anisimov M.A., Verkulich S.R. Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements. Ice and Snow. 2020;60(2):192-200. https://doi.org/10.31857/S2076673420020033
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
ISSN 2076-6734 (Print)
ISSN 2412-3765 (Online)