Polish Polar Research 

About: Polish Polar Research is an academic journal published by De Gruyter Open. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Arctic & Bay. It has an ISSN identifier of 0138-0338. It is also open access. Over the lifetime, 794 publications have been published receiving 10749 citations. The journal is also known as: Polskie Badania Polarne.

Tidewater glaciers of Svalbard: Recent changes and estimates of calving fluxes

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to describe the current state of tidewater glaciers in Svalbard as an extension of the inventory of Hagen et al. (1993). The ice masses of Svalbard cover an area of ca 36 600 km 2 and more than 60% of the glaciated areas are glaciers which terminate in the sea at calving ice−cliffs. Recent data on the geometry of glacier tongues, their flow velocities and front position changes have been extracted from ASTER images acquired from 2000-2006 using automated methods of satellite image analysis. Analyses have shown that 163 Svalbard glaciers are of tidewater type (having contact with the ocean) and the total length of their calving ice−cliffs is 860 km. When compared with the previous inventory, 14 glaciers retreated from the ocean to the land over a 30-40 year period. Eleven formerly land−based glaciers now terminate in the sea. A new method of assessing the dy− namic state of glaciers, based on patterns of frontal crevassing, has been developed. Tide− water glacier termini are divided into four groups on the basis of differences in crevasse pat− terns and flow velocity: (1) very slow or stagnant glaciers, (2) slow−flowing glaciers, (3) fast−flowing glaciers, (4) surging glaciers (in the active phase) and fast ice streams. This classification has enabled us to estimate total calving flux from Svalbard glaciers with an accuracy appreciably higher than that of previous attempts. Mass loss due to calving from the whole archipelago (excluding Kvitoya) is estimated to be 5.0-8.4 km 3 yr −1 (water equiv− alent - w.e.), with a mean value 6.75 ± 1.7 km 3 yr −1 (w.e.). Thus, ablation due to calving con− tributes as much as 17-25% (with a mean value 21%) to the overall mass loss from Svalbard glaciers. By implication, the contribution of Svalbard iceberg flux to sea−level rise amounts to ca 0.02 mm yr −1 . Also calving flux in the Arctic has been considered and the highest an− nual specific mass balance attributable to iceberg calving has been found for Svalbard. Key wor ds: Arctic, Svalbard, tidewater glaciers, calving flux, ASTER.

Fluctuations of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund Fjord (Southern Svalbard) since the beginning of the 20th century

Abstract: Significant retreat of glaciers terminating in Hornsund Fjord (Southern Spits− bergen, Svalbard) has been observed during the 20 th century and in the first decade of the 21 st century. The objective of this paper is to present, as complete as possible, a record of front positions changes of 14 tidewater glaciers during this period and to distinguish the main factors influencing their fluctuations. Results are based on a GIS analysis of archival maps, field measurements, and aerial and satellite images. Accuracy was based on an as− sessment of seasonal fluctuations of a glacier's ice cliff position with respect to its mini− mum length in winter (November-December) and its maximum advance position in June or July. Morphometric features and the environmental setting of each glacier are also pre− sented. The total area of the glacier cover in Hornsund Fjord in the period of 1899-2010 diminished approximately 172 km 2 , with an average areal retreat rate of 1.6 km 2 a −1 .T he recession rate increased from ~1 km 2 a −1 in first decades of the 20 th century up to ~3 km 2 a −1 in years 2001-2010. The latest period was more thoroughly studied using optical satellite images acquired almost every year. The importance of glacier morphology and hypso− metry, as well as fjord bathymetry and topography is analyzed. Large glacier systems with low slopes terminating in deeper waters are retreating faster than small steep glaciers ter− minating in shallower water. A relation between mean annual air temperature and aerial retreat rate of tidewater glaciers was found for long time scales. A sudden temperature in− crease, known as the early 20 th century warming in Svalbard, and an increase in tempera− tures during recent decades are well reflected in deglaciation rate. Influence of sea water temperatures on calving and retreat of glaciers was considered and is significant in short−time intervals of the last decade. Surge events are non−climatic factors which com− plicate the record. They are reflected in front advance or fast retreat due to a massive calv− ing depending on the relation between ice thickness and water depth. Despite the influ− ence of many factors, the response of tidewater glaciers to climate change is evident. The average linear retreat rate of all the tidewater glaciers in Hornsund amounted to ~70 ma −1 in 2001-2010 and was higher than the average retreat of other Svalbard tidewater glaciers (~45 ma −1 ). Thus, glaciers of this basin can be considered as more sensitive to climate than glaciers of other regions of the archipelago.

Post−"Little Ice Age" retreat rates of glaciers around Billefjorden in central Spitsbergen, Svalbard

Abstract: Twelve glaciers, representing various types, were investigated between 2000 and 2005, in a region adjacent to the northern reaches of Billefjorden, central Spitsbergen (Svalbard). On the basis of measurements taken using reference points, DGPS and GPS sys− tems, analyses of aerial photographs and satellite images, geomorphological indicators and archival data their rates of deglaciation following the "Little Ice Age" (LIA) maximum were calculated variously on centennial, decadal and annual time scales. As most Svalbard glaciers have debris−covered snouts, a clean ice margin was measured in the absence of de− bris−free ice front. The retreat rates for both types of ice fronts were very similar. All studied glaciers have been retreating since the termination of the Little Ice Age at the end of 19th century. The fastest retreat rate was observed in the case of the Nordenskioldbreen tidewater glacier (mean average linear retreat rate 35 m a -1 ). For land−terminating glaciers the rates were in range of 5 to 15 m a -1 . Presumably owing to climate warming, most of the glacier re− treat rates have increased several fold in recent decades. The secondary factors influencing the retreat rates have been identified as: water depth at the grounding line in the case of tide− water glaciers, surging history, altitude, shape and aspect of glacier margin, and bedrock re− lief. The retreat rates are similar to glaciers from other parts of Spitsbergen. Analyses of available data on glacier retreat rates in Svalbard have allowed us to distinguish four major types: very dynamic, surging tidewater glaciers with post−LIA retreat rates of between 100 and 220 m a -1 , other tidewater glaciers receding of a rate of 15 to 70 m a -1 , land terminating valley polythermal glaciers with an average retreat of 10 to 20 m a -1 and small, usually cold, glaciers with the retreat rates below 10 m a -1 .

Weather patterns of the coastal zone of Petuniabukta, central Spitsbergen in the period 2008–2010

Abstract: This paper presents the first results of measurements of global solar radiation, albedo, ground surface and 2-m air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction carried out in the central part of Spitsbergen Island in the period 2008-2010. The study site was located on the coastal ice-free zone of Petuniabukta (north-western branch of Billefjorden), which was strongly affected by local topography, character of the ground surface, and sea ice extent. Temporal analysis of the selected meteorological parameters shows both strong seasonal and interdiurnal variation affected by synoptic-scale weather systems, channelling and drainage effects of the fjords and surrounding glaciers. The prevailing pattern of atmospheric circulation primarily determined the variation in global solar radiation, wind speed, ground surface and 2-m air temperatures. Furthermore, it was found that thermal differences between Petuniabukta and the nearest meteorological station (Svalbard Lufthavn) differ significantly due to differences in sea ice concentrations and ice types in the fjords during the winter and spring months.