Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements

The Aldegonda (Aldegondabreen) Glacier, located on the Nordenskjold Land, West Spitsbergen, covers the area of about 6  km2 (in 2018) and does constantly retreat since the very first observations of 1936. In August 2018, a topographic survey of the glacier was carried out. By comparing the results w...

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Main Authors: A. V. Terekhov, G. V. Tarasov, O. R. Sidorova, V. E. Demidov, M. A. Anisimov, S. R. Verkulich
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Nauka 2020-05-01
Series:Лëд и снег
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Online Access:https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/799
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author A. V. Terekhov
G. V. Tarasov
O. R. Sidorova
V. E. Demidov
M. A. Anisimov
S. R. Verkulich
author_facet A. V. Terekhov
G. V. Tarasov
O. R. Sidorova
V. E. Demidov
M. A. Anisimov
S. R. Verkulich
author_sort A. V. Terekhov
collection DOAJ
description The Aldegonda (Aldegondabreen) Glacier, located on the Nordenskjold Land, West Spitsbergen, covers the area of about 6  km2 (in 2018) and does constantly retreat since the very first observations of 1936. In August 2018, a topographic survey of the glacier was carried out. By comparing the results with the ArcticDEM model, built from space images of 2015, the difference in heights of the surface over three years had been calculated. Comparison of this difference with in situ data of glaciological measurements by the ablation stakes, made during the same period 2015–2018, demonstrated a high correlation between them. Considering the almost complete absence of snow cover on the glacier at the end of the summer season, the difference was recalculated into the spatial distribution of the specific mass balance by multiplying the ice density (0.88 g cm−3). Using the empirical dependence of the specific mass balance on the altitude above sea level, the obtained values were extrapolated to that part of the glacier which was not surveyed in 2018. The total loss of the Aldegonda Clacier mass for 2015–2018, calculated on the basis of topographic survey and the ArcticDEM, was estimated as 30.3 million tons (about 10.1 million tons per year). This magnitude gives the value of mean annual specific balance of approximately −1.76 m w.e, which is almost 2.5 times larger modulo than the previously published mean for the period 1936–1990, but close to the values of the early 2000s. Despite the small difference in the values obtained by geodetic and glaciological methods, the measurements does not show a systematic shift relative to each other and demonstrate approximately the same intervals of specific balance from the glacier tongue to its upper reaches (−1.08 ÷ −3.01 m w.e). This makes possible to conclude that the ArcticDEM model has the satisfactory vertical accuracy (both relative and absolute) to study on its basis changes in the surface height of an individual glacier.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2076-6734
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publishDate 2020-05-01
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series Лëд и снег
spelling doaj-art-44f43d80820c45edac52bdecd7c47e5f2025-08-20T03:38:15ZrusNaukaЛëд и снег2076-67342412-37652020-05-0160219220010.31857/S2076673420020033607Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurementsA. V. Terekhov0G. V. Tarasov1O. R. Sidorova2V. E. Demidov3M. A. Anisimov4S. R. Verkulich5Arctic and Antarctic Research InstituteArctic and Antarctic Research InstituteArctic and Antarctic Research InstituteArctic and Antarctic Research InstituteArctic and Antarctic Research InstituteArctic and Antarctic Research InstituteThe Aldegonda (Aldegondabreen) Glacier, located on the Nordenskjold Land, West Spitsbergen, covers the area of about 6  km2 (in 2018) and does constantly retreat since the very first observations of 1936. In August 2018, a topographic survey of the glacier was carried out. By comparing the results with the ArcticDEM model, built from space images of 2015, the difference in heights of the surface over three years had been calculated. Comparison of this difference with in situ data of glaciological measurements by the ablation stakes, made during the same period 2015–2018, demonstrated a high correlation between them. Considering the almost complete absence of snow cover on the glacier at the end of the summer season, the difference was recalculated into the spatial distribution of the specific mass balance by multiplying the ice density (0.88 g cm−3). Using the empirical dependence of the specific mass balance on the altitude above sea level, the obtained values were extrapolated to that part of the glacier which was not surveyed in 2018. The total loss of the Aldegonda Clacier mass for 2015–2018, calculated on the basis of topographic survey and the ArcticDEM, was estimated as 30.3 million tons (about 10.1 million tons per year). This magnitude gives the value of mean annual specific balance of approximately −1.76 m w.e, which is almost 2.5 times larger modulo than the previously published mean for the period 1936–1990, but close to the values of the early 2000s. Despite the small difference in the values obtained by geodetic and glaciological methods, the measurements does not show a systematic shift relative to each other and demonstrate approximately the same intervals of specific balance from the glacier tongue to its upper reaches (−1.08 ÷ −3.01 m w.e). This makes possible to conclude that the ArcticDEM model has the satisfactory vertical accuracy (both relative and absolute) to study on its basis changes in the surface height of an individual glacier.https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/799arcticarcticdem modeldigital elevation modelglacier mass balancesvalbard
spellingShingle A. V. Terekhov
G. V. Tarasov
O. R. Sidorova
V. E. Demidov
M. A. Anisimov
S. R. Verkulich
Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
Лëд и снег
arctic
arcticdem model
digital elevation model
glacier mass balance
svalbard
title Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
title_full Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
title_fullStr Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
title_full_unstemmed Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
title_short Estimation of mass balance of Aldegondabreen (Spitsbergen) in 2015–2018 based on ArcticDEM, geodetic and glaciological measurements
title_sort estimation of mass balance of aldegondabreen spitsbergen in 2015 2018 based on arcticdem geodetic and glaciological measurements
topic arctic
arcticdem model
digital elevation model
glacier mass balance
svalbard
url https://ice-snow.igras.ru/jour/article/view/799
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