Surface mass balance and ice flow of the glaciers Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen, Svalbard, Arctic

Abstract

The glaciersAustre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are located at Nylesund, Svalbard. The surface mass balance and ice flow velocity of both glaciers have been determined from the first year of observations (2005/2006), while the front edge of Austre Lovenbreen was also surveyed. The results are as follows：(1) The net mass balances of Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are -0.44 and -0.20 m w.e., the annual ablation is -0.99 and -0.94 m w.e., and the corresponding equilibrium line altitudes are 478.10 and 494.87 m, respectively. (2) Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are characterized as ice flow models of surge type glaciers in Svalbard. The horizontal vectors of the ice flow velocities are parallel or converge to the central lines of both glaciers, with lower velocities in the lower ablation areas and higher velocities in the middle and upper reaches of the glaciers. The vertical vectors of ice flow velocities show that there is a mass loss in the ablation areas, which reduces with increasing altitude, while there is a mass gain near the equilibrium line of Austre Lovenbreen. (3) The front edge of Austre Lovenbreen receded at an average rate of 21.83 m?a -1 , with remarkable variability a maximum rate of 77.30 m?a -1 and a minimum rate of 2.76 m?a -1 .