Chinese Journal of Polar Research

ADVANCES IN POLAR SCIENCE ›› 2010, Vol. 21 ›› Issue (2-English): 147-159.DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1085.2010.00147

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

Xu Mingxing(徐明星)1,2, Yan Ming(闫明)1*, Ren Jiawen(任贾文)3, Ai Songtao(艾松涛)4, Kang Jiancheng(康建成)2 and E Dongchen(鄂栋臣)4   

  1. 1 SOA Key Laboratory for Polar Science, Polar Research Institute of China, Shanghai 200136, China;
    2 Urbanecology and Environmental Restore Central of Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234, China;
    3 Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China;
    4 Chinese Antarctic Center of Surveying and Mapping, School of Geodesy and Geomatics, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Received:2010-07-13 Revised:2010-11-17 Online:1960-06-30 Published:1960-06-30
  • Contact: Xu Mingxing

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Abstract:

The glaciersAustre Lovénbreen 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 Lovénbreen was also surveyed. The results are as follows：(1) The net mass balances of Austre Lovénbreen 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 Lovénbreen 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 Lovénbreen. (3) The front edge of Austre Lovénbreen 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.

Key words: Svalbard, Glacier, Mass balance, Ice flow