Badania glacjologiczne współczesnych zmian Lodowca Ireny, Svalbard

Badania glacjologiczne przeprowadzono na Lodowcu Ireny, o powierzchni 4,1 km2 (2009), zlokalizowanym na Kaffioyrze na północno-zachodnim Spitsbergenie. Obejmowały one zagadnienia topnienia lodowca, zmienności akumulacji śniegu w sezonie wiosennym i letnim oraz zmian bilansu masy, powierzchni i położenia czoła lodowca. Szczegółowo przeanalizowano lata 2008 i 2009. Różniły się one wyraźnie warunkami pogodowymi, zwłaszcza w okresie letnim, co miało istotny wpływ na poszczególne elementy określające wielkość zmian i dynamiki lodowca. W dłuższym przedziale czasowym (2002-2009), lodowiec Ireny charakteryzuje się wyraźnie negatywnymi zmianami, zwłaszcza ujemnym bilansem masy, jak również cofaniem się czoła i zmniej-szaniem powierzchni. Jednakże występują lata, które wyraźnie różnią się od ogólnego negatywnego kierunku zmian. Przykładowo sytuacja taka miała miejsce w roku 2008.

The glaciological investigations of the Irene Glacier changes, a 4.1 km2 glacier located in NW Spitsbergen, Svalbard, were undertaken. Traditional glaciological mass balance measurements by stake readings and snow surveying have been conducted annually since 2002. In this paper 2008 and 2009 mass balance years were analyzed in details.. Glaciological research of the Irene Glacier refers to the following issues: glacier's melting, changes in the snow accumulation during the spring and summer seasons, and the changes of the area and the position of the glacier’s tongue. The years 2008 and 2009 were distinct in terms of the weather conditions, especially during the summer season. This significantly influenced the individual elements which describe the changes and dynamics of the glacier. Glaciological methods of mass balance estimation involve repeated stake measurements at the glacier surface to determine the rates of ablation and accumulation. These methods involve estimation of local mass balance using ablation poles, supplemented with studies of the snow cover in pits. At the end of the 2008 ablation season snow cover occured on about half of the glacier surface. In 2009 in the same time snow was visible only in the upper part of the accumulation zones of this glacier and at the foot of the mountain slopes. The 2008 winter balance of the Irene Glacier was 55 cm w.e, and 65 cm e.w.in 2009. In the balance year 2009, in spite of the winter snow accumulation higher than the average, the annual net mass balance of the Irene Glacier was definitely negative. In 2008 mean annual mass balance of the Irene Glacier was -38 cm w.e. In 2009 mean annual mass balance of the Irene Glacier was -63 cm w.e. and was very similar to the mean multi-annual value of the annual net mass balance of this glacier. Spatial diversity of mass balance of the Irene Glacier is mainly influenced by weather conditions over a specific part of the glacier and by local morphology. In 2009, the spatial diversity of the net mass balance of the Irene Glacier was mostly influenced by its negative value in the ablation area. The net mass balance in the ablation area of the glacier was up to -250 cm w.e. The zone of the negative net balance covered a larger area if compared to the previous years and especially to the year 2008. Such a situation predominantly resulted from a higher ablation. In 2009 mean annual mass balance of the Irene Glacier was similar to the mean multi-annual value of the net mass balance of this glacier. In the balance year 2009, in spite of the winter snow accumulation, higher than the average, the annual mass balance of the Irene Glacier was definitely negative. This was the result of intensive ablation during the summer season. The negative net mass balance of the Kaffiřyra region glaciers recorded in recent years influences their geometry, especially shrinking the area and lowering the surface, as well as changing their front positions. Between 2000 and 2009, the area of the Irene Glacier decreased by about 3%. In the years 2002-2009 the Irene Glacier showed negative tendencies, especially in its mass balance. Moreover, the retreat of the tongue and the decrease of the glacier’s area were recorded. However, there were also years which differed a lot from the general negative trend of changes. For instance, such a situation was recorded in 2008. It must be stressed that large winter snow accumulation does not necessarily influence the lower negative mass balance. Similarly, intensive melting during the summer season does not necessarily mean significant negative mass balance value. It is connected with the weather conditions in a given year and seasonal balance, as well as with other local conditions of the glacier. As a result, the inter-dependency between climate and mass balance may be slightly distorted. Nevertheless, mass balance of a glacier remains one of the most important indexes of modern climate changes. Glaciological studies of the Irene Glacier pose an important element in the estimation of modern changes in the cryosphere of the Kaffiřyra Region, which is an example of changes in the environment of the NW Spitsbergen.