Study of the glacial flow of rivers in the Grønfjord bay basin (Western Svalbard)
https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2019-65-1-34-45
Abstract
The melting of glaciers in the Arctic archipelagoes provides glacier runoff, which must be considered when assessing river flow. Glacial runoff, as a component of the total river flow, directly affects the thermal and ice conditions of the bays, the productivity and species composition of the marine biota. Also, this process is broadly related to the livelihoods of the Arctic villages. Furthermore, it acts as the important factor for the development of transport and tourism. Melted water of Svalbard glaciers is a significant contribution in total runoff of the local rivers. The issue of this study is to assess this contribution. Grønfjord Bay was selected for assessment because of the fact of regular measurements of water discharge in the river estuaries from June to October. Among 7 rivers flowing into the bay, 6 have glacial runoff. Despite the fact that only small mountain glaciers are common in this area, its melting largely determines the water regime of the rivers. The value of the glacier runoff in Grønfjord Bay was calculated based on an estimation of the glaciers melting by average summer air temperature in 2017 and 2018. Comparison of the amount of glacial and total flow was carried out on the rivers flowing into the Grønfjord Bay.The comparative analysis of the glacial and total river flows size along the 6 rivers of the Grønfjord Bay: Grøndalselva, Grønfjorddalselva, Bretjørna, Aldegonda, Brydebekken, Vasstakelva showed significant differences in the glacier runoff content depending on the area of glaciation in the catchment of rivers. The content of glacial runoff in the total freshwater discharge by rivers into the bay in 2017 and 2018 vary from 20 to 90 %. The largest glacier runoff is observed on the Bretjørna river — 90 %, the Grøndalselva, Brydebekken and Vasstakelva have the smallest glacier runoff — 20 %. The average total glacial runoff of the rivers varied from 41 to 53 % of the total discharge of the rivers of the gulf.
Supporting agencies: Hydrological works were carried out with the seasonal expeditions “Spitsbergen” organized by Russian Scientific Arctic Expedition on the Spitsbergen Archipelago (RAE-S), AARI. Glaciological works were supported by the RFBR Arctic grant No. 18-05-60067 “Current State and Dynamics of Snow Cover and Glaciation archipelagoes and the mainland of the Eurasian Arctic and their impact on the environment”.
About the Authors
K. V. Romashova
State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
R. A. Chernov
FSBI “Institute of Geography”, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
I. I. Vasilevich
State Scientific Center of the Russian Federation Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
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Review
For citations:
Romashova K.V., Chernov R.A., Vasilevich I.I. Study of the glacial flow of rivers in the Grønfjord bay basin (Western Svalbard). Arctic and Antarctic Research. 2019;65(1):34-45. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.30758/0555-2648-2019-65-1-34-45
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