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You are browsing the archive for Norway glacier retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.

February 29, 2020

Ålfotbreen, Norway Mass Balance Large Loss in 2019

Ålfotbreen (A) in August 2003 and 2019 Landsat images.  The yellow line marks the divide between Ålfotbreen and Hansebreen (H). Pink dots indicate the 2003 margin.  There is no retained snowpack in 2003.  In 2019 there are two small patches near the divide  on Aug. 26 that melt away by the end of the summer. The Ålfotbreen Ice Cap , Norway (61°45’N, 5°40’E; area=17 km2) is the westernmost and most …

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August 24, 2018

Flatisen Glacier, Norway Retreats from Lake & Separates

Flatisen Glacier in Landsat images from 1990 and 2018.  The glacier terminates in the proglacial lake in 1990 at the red arrow and in 2018 at the yellow arrow no longer terminating in the lake.  The pink arrows indicate three connections of the ice cap to the terminus tongue in 1990, with two lost by 2018.  Flatisen is the primary outlet glacier on the southern side of the second largest …

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July 5, 2018

Harbardsbreen, Norway Margin Retreat and Separation

Harbardsbreen (H) the 13th largest ice cap in Norway in 1988 and 2014 Landsat images.  Red arrows indicate the main terminus on the east side that has separated since 1988. Point 1 is the sole nunatak in 1988 now there are more.  The Pink arrow is the location of the narrowing connection with the northern section of the icecap.  The east side of the ice cap feeds the hydropower system …

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November 3, 2017

Gråfjellsbrea, Norway Retreat Forms New Lake

Gråfjellsbrea Retreat in Landsat images from 1999 to 2017.  Red arrow indicates 1999 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus location.  Gråfjellsbrea is an outlet glacier on the northwest side of the Folgefonna  Icefield that drains into Mysevatnet.  The 2012 Norwegian Glacier Inventory notes the glacier having an area of 8.77 square kilometers in 2002.  In 2016 the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) reported this glacier to have the greatest retreat …

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September 28, 2016

Storglombreen Glacier Loss, Norway

Landsat images from 199, 2002 and 2016 comparing glaciers draining into Storglomvatnet.  Red arrows indicate 1999 terminus locations, purple dots the snowline.  Storglomvatnet has several glacier that terminated in the lake in 1999, Storglombreen Nord, Sorglombreen Sud and Tretten. This lake is the main reservoir, 3.5 billion cubic meters that feeds the 350 MW Svartisen Hydropower plant. The lake has an elevation of 585 m, while the power plant is at …

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October 15, 2015

Engabreen Glacier, Norway Retreat

Engabreen is an outlet glacier of the Svartisen ice cap in northern Norway. It has an area of 40 km2. Most of the area lies between 1200 and 1450 m the high plateau of the ice cap. This glacier has been the focus of attention from the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) for over 50 years.  Google Earth image of Engabreen Glacier, 2014.  NVE maintains the most extensive …

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April 16, 2015

Langfjordjokulen, Norway Retreat-Thinning

Langfjordjokulen is in the Finnmark region of northern Norway. This is a plateau glacier with a valley glacier extending east toward Langfjordhamm. The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate has monitored the length change and mass balance of this glacier from 1989-2014. The mean mass balance has been significantly negative averaging -0.7 m/year, with every year being a net loss since 1997. This is no way to sustain a glacier …

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January 12, 2015

Spørteggbreen Separation and Retreat, Norway

Spørteggbreen is a small ice cap just east of Jostdalsbreen, Norway’s largest ice cap.  The Norway Glacier atlas chronicles the area of the 10 glaciers that comprise the ice cap at 23.8 square kilometers in 2006 (Andreassen and Winsvold, 2012). The Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate (NVE) has an excellent glacier monitoring program that monitors 10 glaciers that drain Jostedalsbreen from 2008-2013 the net change was retreat on all 10. This is …

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