Spatial distribution and change in the surface ice‐velocity field of vestfonna ice cap, nordaustlandet, svalbard, 1995–2010 using geodetic and satellite interferometry data

Abstract

Pohjola, V.A., Christoffersen, P., Kolondra, L., Moore, J.C., Pettersson, R.S., Schäfer, M., Strozzi, T. and Reijmer, C.H., 2011. Spatial distribution and change in the surface ice‐velocity field of Vestfonna ice cap, Nordaustlandet, Svalbard, 1995–2010 using geodetic and satellite interferometry data. Geografiska Annaler: Series A, Physical Geography. 93, 323–335. DOI: 10.1111/j.1468‐0459.2011.00441.xDuring 2007 we launched a geodetic campaign on the Svalbard ice cap Vestfonna in order to estimate the velocity field of the ice cap. This was done within the frame of the IPY project KINNVIKA. We present here the velocity measurements derived from our campaigns 2007–2010 and compare the geodetic measurements against InSAR velocity fields from satellite platforms from 1995/96 and 2008. We find the spatial distribution of ice speeds from the InSAR is in good agreement within the uncertainty limits with our geodetic measurements. We observe no clear indication of seasonal ice speed differences, but we find a speed‐up of the outlet glacier Franklinbreen between the InSAR campaigns, and speculate the outlet is having a surge phase.