Remote sensing of glacier change (1965 - 2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic

Wytiahlowsky, Holly; Stokes, Chris R.; Evans, David J.A.

Abstract

Glaciers in the Russian High Arctic have undergone accelerated mass loss due to atmospheric and oceanic warming in the Barents-Kara Seas 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 & 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.

Citation

Wytiahlowsky, H., Stokes, C. R., & Evans, D. J. (2023). Remote sensing of glacier change (1965 - 2021) and identification of surge-type glaciers on Severnaya Zemlya, Russian High Arctic. Journal of Glaciology, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.60

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 6, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
• Publication Date: Aug 17, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 2, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2023
• Journal: Journal of Glaciology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1430
• Electronic ISSN: 1727-5652
• Publisher: International Glaciological Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.60
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1710446