Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic
Glaciers in the Russian High Arctic have undergone accelerated mass loss due to atmospheric and oceanic warming in the Barents–Kara Sea region. Most studies have concentrated on the western Barents–Kara sector, despite evidence of accelerating mass loss as far east as Severnaya Zemlya. However, long...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023000606/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797742176097009664 |
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| author | Holly Wytiahlowsky Chris R. Stokes David J. A. Evans |
| author_facet | Holly Wytiahlowsky Chris R. Stokes David J. A. Evans |
| author_sort | Holly Wytiahlowsky |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Glaciers in the Russian High Arctic have undergone accelerated mass loss due to atmospheric and oceanic warming in the Barents–Kara Sea region. Most studies have concentrated on the western Barents–Kara sector, despite evidence of accelerating mass loss as far east as Severnaya Zemlya. However, long-term trends in glacier change on Severnaya Zemlya are largely unknown and this record may be complicated by surge-type glaciers. Here, we present a long-term assessment of glacier change (1965–2021) on Severnaya Zemlya and a new inventory of surge-type glaciers using declassified spy-satellite photography (KH-7/9 Hexagon) and optical satellite imagery (ASTER, Sentinel-2A, Landsat-4/5 TM and 8 OLI). Glacier area reduced from 17 053 km2 in 1965 to 16 275 in 2021 (−5%; mean: −18%, max: −100%), with areal shrinkage most pronounced at land-terminating glaciers on southern Severnaya Zemlya, where there is a recent (post-2010s) increase in summer atmospheric temperatures. We find that surging may be more widespread than previously thought, with three glaciers classified confirmed as surge-type, eight as likely to have surged and nine as possible, comprising 11% of Severnaya Zemlya's 190 glaciers (37% by area). Under continued warming, we anticipate accelerated retreat and increased likelihood of surging as basal thermal regimes shift. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:38:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6de9183529e64868a5421070e9d3d008 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T14:38:14Z |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj.art-6de9183529e64868a5421070e9d3d0082023-08-17T02:45:38ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-565212110.1017/jog.2023.60Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High ArcticHolly Wytiahlowsky0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5631-3677Chris R. Stokes1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3355-1573David J. A. Evans2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1840-2513Department of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UKDepartment of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UKDepartment of Geography, Durham University, Durham DH1 3LE, UKGlaciers in the Russian High Arctic have undergone accelerated mass loss due to atmospheric and oceanic warming in the Barents–Kara Sea region. Most studies have concentrated on the western Barents–Kara sector, despite evidence of accelerating mass loss as far east as Severnaya Zemlya. However, long-term trends in glacier change on Severnaya Zemlya are largely unknown and this record may be complicated by surge-type glaciers. Here, we present a long-term assessment of glacier change (1965–2021) on Severnaya Zemlya and a new inventory of surge-type glaciers using declassified spy-satellite photography (KH-7/9 Hexagon) and optical satellite imagery (ASTER, Sentinel-2A, Landsat-4/5 TM and 8 OLI). Glacier area reduced from 17 053 km2 in 1965 to 16 275 in 2021 (−5%; mean: −18%, max: −100%), with areal shrinkage most pronounced at land-terminating glaciers on southern Severnaya Zemlya, where there is a recent (post-2010s) increase in summer atmospheric temperatures. We find that surging may be more widespread than previously thought, with three glaciers classified confirmed as surge-type, eight as likely to have surged and nine as possible, comprising 11% of Severnaya Zemlya's 190 glaciers (37% by area). Under continued warming, we anticipate accelerated retreat and increased likelihood of surging as basal thermal regimes shift.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023000606/type/journal_articleArctic glaciologyclimate changeglacial geomorphologyglacier mappingglacier surges |
| spellingShingle | Holly Wytiahlowsky Chris R. Stokes David J. A. Evans Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic Journal of Glaciology Arctic glaciology climate change glacial geomorphology glacier mapping glacier surges |
| title | Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic |
| title_full | Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic |
| title_fullStr | Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic |
| title_short | Remote sensing of glacier change (1965–2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic |
| title_sort | remote sensing of glacier change 1965 2021 and identification of surge type glaciers on severnaya zemlya russian high arctic |
| topic | Arctic glaciology climate change glacial geomorphology glacier mapping glacier surges |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023000606/type/journal_article |
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