Glacier changes in southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard,1901–2000

Abstract

AbstractHigh-resolution ground-penetrating radar surveys at 50 MHz on the polythermal glaciers Hornbreen, Hambergbreen and several surrounding glaciers in southern Spitsbergen, Svalbard, are presented and interpreted. Accurate positioning was obtained using differential global positioning system (DGPS). Digital elevation models (DEMs) of the bedrock and surface were constructed. Comparison of DGPS data and surface DEMs with data from the topographic mappings from 1936 oblique stereoscopic aerial photographs and from Mission Russe in 1899–1901 shows that the Hornbreen and Hambergbreen surfaces are about 60–100 m thinner today in the upper part than at the beginning of the 20th century. Hornbreen has retreated by 13.5 km from the central part of the front, and Hambergbreen by 16 km. All the fronts of the nearby east-coast glaciers in this area have retreated. The bedrock DEM shows that the Hornbreen and Hambergbreen beds lie at –25 to 25 m a.s.l. The combination of sub-sea-level fronts and increasing steepness of the glaciers suggests that the low-lying glaciated valley filled by Hornbreen and Hambergbreen may become a partially inundated ice-free isthmus within perhaps 100 years.