Abstract
Glacial forefields areas are dynamic landscapes, and due to the glacier frontal position changes, they are sensitive to climatic fluctuations. The results of the analysis of aerial photos, satellite imagery, archival maps, and terrestrial laser scanning surveys are presented. These investigations reveal that the ice surface decreased during the period 1989–2001, when almost the entire current forefield was already uncovered. Moreover, it is shown that, since 1969, there has been a relationship between the changes in air temperature and the changes of the annual front position rate of Baranowski Glacier. Specifically, the results demonstrate that during the cooling observed for the Antarctic Peninsula Regions since 2000, there is a deceleration of the recession rate and ice surface elevation changes of Baranowski Glacier. It is also shown that the fluctuation of the areal extent of the glacier as well as ice surface elevation changes are closely associated with proglacial relief. Moreover, it is shown that the difference in the retreat of the northern and southern tongue of the glacier can be explained by the presence of relatively warm water in the shallow bay, which can enhance the melting process of the northern part. In addition, existence of long flutes and crevasse fill ridges on the analyzed forefield of Baranowski Glacier suggest that the former episodes of its surge, which could happen at least in the northern part of the forefield and middle part of the southern forefield of the glacier.
Highlights
Melting glaciers and changes in the frozen ground conditions, primarily controlled by climate changes, strongly influence the geomorphological processes occurring in ice-free areas [1] defined here as glacial forefields
Since the 1950’s, regional warming has been observed on the Antarctic Peninsula [8,9,10,11,12] with an increased in air temperature of 0.32 ◦ C/decade from 1979 to 1997 [13]
The Baranowski Glacier is located on the Western shore of Admiralty Bay on King George Island (KGI)
Summary
Melting glaciers and changes in the frozen ground conditions, primarily controlled by climate changes, strongly influence the geomorphological processes occurring in ice-free areas [1] defined here as glacial forefields. Studies on the reaction of glaciers to climate fluctuations [4,5,6] and their impacts on the regional environment are exceptionally important [7]. Several authors [13,14] have reported a cooling trend over the last 20 years, with a decreased air temperature of −0.47 ◦ C/decade over the period 1999–2014 [13]. For Bellingshausen Station on King George Island (KGI), the air temperature reached a maximum in 1989 and the relatively stable fluctuations of air temperature were observed until 2009
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