Ireneusz Sobota

Short-term mass changes and retreat of the Ecology and Sphinx glacier system, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula

Abstract This study investigated the mass balance, melting, near-surface ice thermal structure and meteorological conditions of the Ecology and Sphinx glacier system (ESGS), located on King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. The study also analysed the role of climate change in glacial retreat of the ESGS in the long (1979–2012) and short term, with a particular focus on the impact on the 2012–13 mass balance of the ESGS. In 2012–13, the glaciers had a mean annual net mass balance of +17.8 cm w.e., but over the long term the glaciers have been receding in this region. The area loss of the ESGS between 1979 and 2012 amounted to 41%. This investigation of mass balance is especially important as it offers one of only a few records available on King George Island. The mean near-surface ice temperature (February to June 2012) for the Ecology and Sphinx glaciers was -0.3°C and -1.0°C at 10 m depth, respectively. From 1948–2012, the air temperature on King George Island increased by 1.2°C (0.19°C per decade).

Changes in The Dynamics And Thermal Regime of The Permafrost and Active Layer of The High Arctic Coastal Area in North‐West Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Abstract In this paper changes in the active layer of the high arctic coastal area in north‐west pitsbergen, valbard are described. Analysis includes both the ground thawing depth and its near‐surface thermal structure. The study was conducted on the affiøyra lain (valbard) at several fixed sites, which represent places typical of the region: a sandy beach, a tundra plain and a moraine ridge. The results show that in recent years, at two measurement points a significantly deeper thawing was observed. In 1996–2012 on the beach and on the moraine the trend of active layer thickness change was +1.3 cm yr−1 and +2.5 cm yr−1, respectively. Generally, in the years 2008–2012 the mean thickness of the active layer in the affiøyra region increased by 3% to 6%. Even at the spatially close sites, within similar environments, there are significant differences in the thickness of the active layer. Measurements show that significant changes also occurred in the thawed ground temperature. Mean values of the observed near‐surface temperature in recent years (2007–2011) were higher by more than 1.0°C, in comparison to the mean in the late 1970s.

GROUND TEMPERATURE AT THE HENRYK ARCTOWSKI STATION (KING GEORGE ISLAND, ANTARCTIC) – CASE STUDY FROM THE PERIOD JANUARY 2012 TO FEBRUARY 2013

Abstract The article presents the results of measurements of ground temperature in the context of general meteorological conditions at the Henryk Arctowski Station (King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic) from the period of 20 January 2013 to 22 February 2013. The measurements were taken using a Vantage Pro+ automatic weather station and the thermal conditions of the ground were measured by means of a HOBO automatic data logger. The variability of ground temperature was analysed in an annual and diurnal cycle. A clear recurrent diurnal pattern was observed in the summer season, resulting from more favourable insolation conditions in that part of the year. In the winter, on the other hand, no major differences in the diurnal cycle of ground temperature were found, particularly with a dense snow cover.

Short-term changes in thermal conditions and active layer thickness in the tundra of the Kaffiøyra region, NW Spitsbergen

This article describes and discusses the results of observations concerning short-term changes in the thermal conditions and the thickness of the active layer in a test field located in the tundra of the Kaffioyra (NW Spitsbergen) during the summer season of 2015. One of the objectives was to find a correlation between the dynamic of the changes and the local topography. In recent years, thawing of the active layer in the Kaffioyra region has been considerably varied in individual summer seasons. The test field area was 100 square meters, comprised 36 measurement points and was situated at approximately 3 m a.s.l. in the tundra. The measurements of the thickness and temperature of the active layer were carried out in July, August and early September of 2015. The greatest thickness of the active layer in the tundra was found near the moraine, in the area with the sharpest slope (156 cm to 212 cm). Ground temperatures were observed to follow the prevailing weather conditions with a delay, which amounted to about 24 h at a depth of 25 cm, and as much as 48 h at a depth of 75 cm. A greater thickness of the active layer was found in the western part of the test field, in the vicinity of a tidal channel, and in the eastern part of the field, bordering on the foot of the Aavatsmarkbreen’s moraine. A considerable sloping of the land, combined with increased surface runoff and infiltration at the time of precipitation, makes the water penetrating into the active layer increase its temperature. This demonstrates that the local land forms (tidal channels and terminal moraines) have a substantial influence on the extent and rate of changes which occur in the active layer.

Icings and their role as an important element of the cryosphere in High Arctic glacier forefields

Abstract This study investigates icings and their role as an important element of the glacier forefields observed in the Kaffiøyra region in Svalbard. The emergence or disappearance of icings is one of the effects of changes observed in the area of a glacier and its catchment in the High Arctic. Icings were observed both in summer and spring in 1996–2015. The main objective was focused on the location and surface changes of the icings, as this is important for their responses to changes which occur across the cryosphere. In the forefields of most glaciers in the Kaffiøyra region, a generally declining trend is observed in the size of icing fields, with only occasional periods in which it increased. During the last five years, they have not been so large as they were in the preceding years. The degradation of High Arctic icings mainly occurs in summer, generally as a result of surface and mechanical ablation. The reach of icings is rather variable and their surface and thickness tend to change year by year, depending on hydrological conditions in the glacier’s system. Regardless of the causes of icings’ formation, their size, range and reach are related to the intensity of melting during a given season, which is conditioned by the weather, and especially by the winter outflow from a glacier.

SUBMARINE EVIDENCE OF THE LATE WEICHSELIAN MAXIMUM EXTENT AND THE LITTLE ICE AGE (LIA) GLACIER LIMITS IN THE ST. JONSFJORDEN REGION (SVALBARD)

The paper presents the results of bathymetric mapping of selected tidewater glaciers in the St. Jonsfjorden (Svalbard) between 2004 and 2007. We also used the bathymetric data collected by the Norwegian Hydrographic Service (NHS) as well as the shaded relief images based on them. The most clearly visible traces in submarine marginal zones of the glaciers come from the Little Ice Age (LIA), i.e. the cooling period which in the area of St. Jonsfjorden might have ended no later than about 1900. At the beginning of the 20th century, i.e. during a warm period, the glaciers of St. Jonsfjorden reached their maximums. The youngest traces in the seafloor of the fjord and the bays date from this period, similar to the case of the land marginal zones. In front of the cliff of the Dahl Glacier there is a clearly visible zone of submarine moraines. It finishes exactly along the line of the LIA maximum. The sea-floor relief of the fjord and bays shows traces which we interpret as having been formed during the Late Weichselian (13–10 ka B.P.). At that time, the Dahl Glacier advanced onto the northern part of Hermansenoya; its main stream passed to the north of the island. Simultaneously, the Konow-Osborne Glacier terminated 2 to 4 km from the fjord mouth, leaving about 15 km2 of the fjord ice-free.

Selected problems of snow accumulation on glaciers during long-term studies in north-western Spitsbergen, Svalbard

ABSTRACT The primary objective of this work is to present the essential conditions and characteristics of changes in the dynamics of snow accumulation on glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region, an area of Svalbard, located in north-western Spitsbergen. Most of the research consisted in direct field measurements carried out in 1997–2014. The glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region have a large spatial diversity of snow cover thickness, and distinct changeability with change of altitude. Snow cover on the glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region shows some specific physical properties. Numerous ice layers were also found, as results prove seasonal warming to above 0°C. The mean snow density was 380 kg m−3 on the Waldemarbreen, 363 kg m−3 on the Irenebreen and 405 kg m−3 on the Elisebreen. The mean annual winter balance of the Waldemarbreen for the years 1996–2014 was 0.50 m w.e. The mean snow accumulation on the Irenebreen from 2002 to 2014 was 0.55 m w.e., and on the Elisebreen, the mean value amounted to 0.67 m w.e. in 2006–2009. In the case of the Waldemarbreen, a slight increase in snow accumulation has been noted since 1997, and from the beginning of the twenty-first century the increase has been even more pronounced for glaciers of the Kaffiøyra region. This is the result of more frequent warmer periods during the winter season, which favours higher snowfall. The investigations of glacier snow accumulation and its properties in the Kaffiøyra region are especially important, being some of only a few long-term data series for snow on Svalbard.

Morphology and surficial sediments of the Waldemar River confined outwash fan (Kaffiøyra, Svalbard)

The development and evolution of confined outwash fans in high Arctic regions depend on the rate of meltwater discharge which is directly related to the glacier ablation rate associated with climate conditions. Another factor controlling outwash fan morphology (e.g. distributive channels depth and width) are processes of fluvial erosion, transport and sediments deposition. All these factors have not previously been considered in relation to the evolution of confined outwash fans incised into the top of permafrost which commonly occur in the forefield of a subpolar glacier and mountains in the high Arctic regions. Morphology and surficial sediments of a confined outwash fan of the Waldemar River (NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard) were analysed on the basis of geomorphological and sedimentological researches. Results of our investigations show multiple relations between the depth and width of distributary channels, fan slope and textural features of glaciofluvial surficial sediments supplied into the fluvial system from glacier and as a result of lateral fluvial erosion of permafrost.

Icings and their role as an important element of High Arctic glacier forefields

This study investigates the icings and their role as an important element of glacier forefields which are observed in the Kaffioyra region in Svalbard. The emergence or disappearance of icings is one of the effects of changes observed in the area of a glacier and its catchment in the High Arctic. Icings have been examined with the observations carried out both in summer and from winter to spring in 1996-2015. The main objective was focused on the location and surface changes of the icings, as this is important for their responses to changes which occur across the cryosphere. In the forefields of most glaciers in the Kaffioyra region, a generally falling trend is observed as regards the size of icing fields, with single periods when it increased. During the most recent five years, they were not so large as in the preceding years. The degradation of High Arctic icings mainly occurs in summer, generally as a result of surface and mechanical ablation. The reach of icings is rather variable and their surface and thickness tend to change year by year, depending on hydrological conditions in the glacier’s system. One of the effects of changes observed within a glacier and its catchment in the High Arctic is an emergence or disappearance of icings. Regardless of the causes of their formation, their size, range and reach are related to the intensity of melting during a given season, which is conditioned by the weather, and especially by the winter outflow from a glacier.