Mass balance observations at Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland 1995–2006

Abstract

Geografisk Tidsskrift, Danish Journal of Geography 108(1):111–120, 2008 Measurements of mass balance were made at Mittivakkat Glacier, Ammassalik Island, Southeast Greenland during the period 1995–2006 using the stake method, usually called the direct glaciological method, for determining the net accumulation and ablation of snow and ice during the accumulation(September—May) and ablation (June-August) period, and the net mass balance year (September—August). For the period 1995–2006, mean values of measured winter, summer and net balance were 1.19 m, -1.96 m and–0.78 m, respectively. The measurements showed that 9 out of 11 balance years had a negative balance and 2 balance years had a slightly positive balance. The cumulative mass balance during the period 1995—2006 was -8.1 m w. eq., corresponding to a mass loss of about 7% of the total glacier ice volume determined in 1994. The observations also showed that during 4 balance years the mass balance was negative on the entire glacier. A comparison between modelled surface mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) and mass balance at Mittivakkat Glacier showed the same tendency during individual years for the period 1991–2004.