The Role of Winter Rain in the Glacial System on Svalbard

Water

Jacek Jania¹  Aleksander Uszczyk¹  Michał Laska¹  Katarzyna Cielecka-Nowak¹  Mariusz Grabiec¹  EwaB. Łupikasza¹  Tomasz Budzik¹  Dariusz Ignatiuk¹  Bartłomiej Luks² 

[1] Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice, Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland;Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Księcia Janusza 64, 01-452 Warsaw, Poland;

关键词: precipitation;    winter rain;    mass balance;    Hansbreen;    glacier dynamics;    Arctic;    rain-on-snow;   

DOI  :  10.3390/w11020334

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Rapid Arctic warming results in increased winter rain frequencies, which may impact glacial systems. In this paper, we discuss climatology and precipitation form trends, followed by examining the influence of winter rainfall (Oct⁻May) on both the mass balance and dynamics of Hansbreen (Svalbard). We used data from the Hornsund meteorological station (01003 WMO), in addition to the original meteorological and glaciological data from three measurement points on Hansbreen. Precipitation phases were identified based on records of weather phenomena and used—along with information on lapse rate—to estimate the occurrence and altitudinal extent of winter rainfall over the glacier. We found an increase in the frequency of winter rain in Hornsund, and that these events impact both glacier mass balance and glacier dynamics. However, the latter varied depending on the degree of snow cover and drainage systems development. In early winter, given the initial, thin snow cover and an inefficient drainage system, rainfall increased glacier velocity. Full-season winter rainfall on well-developed snow was effectively stored in the glacier, contributing on average to 9% of the winter accumulation.

【 授权许可】

Unknown