You are browsing the archive for South Georgia Glacier Retreat Archives - From a Glacier's Perspective.
May 23, 2023
Turnback Glacier, South Georgia, Retreats from Tidewater
Retreat of Turnback Glacier (T) from the shore of Fortuna Bay (FB) and retreat of Compass and Crean Glacier (A,B,C) exposing new terrain along the shore of Antarctic Bay (AB) in Landsat images. Also note the expansion of bedrock nunatks at Point E-H. Turnback Glacier terminated on the west shore of Fortuna Bay on the northwest coast of South Georgia Island. In 1989 the glacier extended the shore of Fortuna …
April 7, 2022
Novosilski Glacier, South Georgia Retreat Causes Separation
Novosilski Glacier in Landsat images from 2020 and 2022. Note the retreat near Point A in particular. The terminus that extended from Point B-C developed an embayment reaching Point A. Novosilski Glacier is a large tidewater outlet glacier on the west (cloudier) coast of South Georgia terminating in Novosilski Bay It shares a divide with the rapidly retreating Ross and Hindle Glacier on the east coast. Gordon et al. (2008) observed that larger …
December 20, 2021
Hindle Glacier Retreat Causes Rapid Opening of Fjord, South Georgia
Hindle Fjord opening comparison in 2009, 2015 and 2021 Landsat images. Point A is the northern tributary, Point B the middle tributary, Point C separates the eastern and western tributary and Point D is Ross Glacier. Hindle Glacier enters Royal Bay on the east coast of South Georgia Island. The British Antarctic Survey (BAS) has been the examining glacier change on South Georgia Island, Cook et al (2010) noted a …
May 13, 2021
Herz Glacier, South Georgia Loses 25% of its Length 1989-2021
Landsat images from 1989-2021 of Herz Glacier. Red arrow is 1989 terminus location, yellow arrows the 2021 terminus location. I=Iris Bay. Herz Glacier is on the southeast coast of South Georgia Island, and is adjacent to the Twitcher Glacier. The terminus change of this tidewater glacier ending in Iris Bay was completed by the British Antarctic Survey for the 1960-2011 period, see map below (Gordon et al, 2008). This map …
January 15, 2021
Weddel Glacier Retreats from Tidewater, South Georgia Island
Weddel Glacier in 1989 and 2020 Landsat images.Red arrow marks the 1989 NW terminus, orange dots the terminus location, purple arrows locations of ice spilling over a ridge, pink arrow a tributary glacier and yellow arrow the base of an icefall. Weddel Glacier is on the southeast coast of South Georgia Island terminating in Beaufoy Cove just north of Gold Harbor. The change in glacier terminus position was documented by …
April 16, 2020
Neumayer Glacier 8.8 km retreat 1999-2020 Fjord Expansion
Neumayer Glacier (N) in 1999 and 2020 Landsat images. Red arrow is 1999 terminus position, pink arrow 2016 terminus location and yellow arrow March 2020 terminus location. K=Konig and T=Three Brothers Tributary, L=glacial lake. Neumayer Glacier, South Georgia is a calving glacier that has been retreating rapidly since 1993 that was dynamically connected to the Konig Glacier along its southern margin just where the glacier turns northeast The glacier ends …
October 18, 2019
Nordenskjold Glacier, South Georgia Retreat Accelerates
Nordenskjold Glacier in 1993 and 2019 Landsat images. Red arrow is the 1989 terminus location, yellow arrows the 2019 terminus location. Purple arrow is a tributary that has separated. Point #1 and #3 is expanding bedrock ribs. Point #2 is an impounded glacial lake. Nordenskjold Glacier is a tidewater glacier flowing into Cumberland East Bay on the east coast of South Georgia, Island. Cook et al (2010) and Gordon et al (2008) noted …
April 24, 2019
Twitcher Glacier, South Georgia, 40% of Length Lost 1989-2019
Twitcher Glacier in Landsat images from 1989 and 2019. The red arrow is the 1989 terminus and yellow arrow is the 2019 terminus. 1, 2 and 3 are tributaries. Twitcher Glacier is the next glacier south of Herz Glacier on the east coast of South Georgia. Until 1989 the glacier ended at the tip of a peninsula, the ensuing retreat has led to the opening of a new fjord. Twitcher …
February 22, 2019
Hindle Glacier Retreat, South Georgia 2 km 2015-2019
Hindle Glacier comparison in 2017 and 2019 Landsat images. Red arrow is 1989 terminus, pink arrow the 2015 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus location and green arrow the 2019 terminus location. South Georgia is south of the Polar Front preventing any truly warm season, with the cool maritime climate leading to numerous glaciers covering a majority of the island. Hindle Glacier enters Royal Bay on the east coast of South Georgia …
January 20, 2019
Novosilski Glacier, South Georgia 2.5 km Retreat 2001-2018
Novosilski Glacier in Landsat images from 2001 and 2018. Red arrow indicates 2001 terminus location, yellow arrow the 2018 terminus location, pink arrows the fringing grounded sections of marginal ice. Novosilski Glacier is a large tidewater outlet glacier on the west (cloudier) coast of South Georgia terminating in Novosilski Bay It shares a divide with the rapidly retreating Ross and Hindle Glacier on the east coast. Gordon et al. (2008) observed that …
Dean of Academic Affairs at Nichols College and Professor of Environmental Science at Nichols College in Massachusetts since 1989. Glaciologist directing the North Cascade Glacier Climate Project since 1984. This project monitors the mass balance and behavior of more glaciers than any other in North America.