Rikeva Glacier, Novaya Zemlya 2000-2025 Retreat Releases New Island

**Rikeva Glacier retreat in Landsat images from 2020 and 2025. Illustrates new island at Point A and retreat of land terminus at Point B and from headland at Point C.**

Rikeva (Rykacheva) Glacier flows from the Northern Novaya Zemlya Ice Cap to the west coast and the Barents Sea. The glacier has been retreating rapidly like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya (Pelto, 2016) (Carr et al 2014 ) identified an average retreat rate of 52 m/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010. Maraldo and Choi (2025) identified frontal retreat rate of Novaya Zemlya glaciers from 1931-2021 and found an increased each decade since the early 1970s, reaching a peak retreat rate of 65 m/year between 2011 and 2021. We have observed the impact at Vilkitskogo Glacier and Krayniy Glacier,

In 2000 Rikeva Glacier extended beyond the island that would emerge at Point A. The landbased terminus lobe extended just beyond Point B. By 2013 the glacier had retreated adjacent to the island, with the island acting as a stabilizing point for the terminus. The terminus lobe had retreated just south and east of Point B.

**Rikeva Glacier in Landsat images from 2000 and 2013 illustrating retreat to island at Point A and retreat of land terminus at Point B.**

In 2018 Rikeva Glacier terminus rested on an island at Point A that acted as a buttress for the glacier terminus. By 2025 the glacier had retreated from the island with 4.5 km² of glacier retreat since 2018 and 8 km² of retreat since 2000.

**Rikeva Glacier in Sentinel images from 2018 and 2025 illustrates retreat from Island at Point A**.

Nizkiy Glacier, Novaya Zemlya Embayment Drains via Terminus Breach

On September 20, 2022April 20, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat1 Comment

Nizkiy Glacier in Sentinel images from July 15 and Sept. 17 2022, before and after the breach of the terminus. Point A-D indicate emerging land due to falling water level as the embayment drains. The former outlet (O) is also noted.

Nizkiy Glacier is on the west coast of the island reaching the Barents Sea Coast. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. Pelto, (2016) noted the contined expansion of an empbayment between the central teminus and a peninsula.

Nizkiy Glacier in Landsat images from 1990, 2015 and 2022 indicating the reduction in width of the terminus ice dam for the embayment. Red arrows=1990 terminus, yellow arrow the 2015 terminus.

In 1990 the Nizkiy Glacier has several termini in lakes and one in the Barents Sea. The main terminus extends north beyond the end of a peninsula in 1990, with an embayment developing from the peninsula across to the northern edge of the terminus. The middle terminus ends in a proglacial lake and in 1990 the terminus largely envelops an island in the lake. The southernmost terminus is in a proglacial lake shown is indicated by a red arrow as well. The 2015 Landsat image indicates the continued reduction in Nizkiy Glacier width reaching the peninsula at the yellow arrow, from 4 km in 1990 to 1.5 km in 2015, having retreated 1200 m from the 1990 position on the northern edge. Hence, it will likely be quite soon when the proglacial lake with the island joins with the Barents Sea. In early July 2022 the terminus tongue width impounding the lake had been reduced to 600 m, the embayment water level was higher than sea level indicating limited drainage under the glacier tongue with the main outlet still being at the southern end of the embayment, Point O. By early September the glacier tongue had been breached and the embayment had drained lowering water level. The drainage channgel is 200 m wide. This has exposed ~2 km² of new land after embayment drainage. The glacier has lost 15 km² of area from 1990-2022. The retreat of this glacier has been less than at Vilkitskogo Glacier, will the loss of this pinning point accelerate retreat now?

Closeup view in Sentinel 2 image from 2022. The breach is 200 m wide and has lowered water level in the embayment exposing 2 km² of new land.

Vilkitskogo Glacier, Novaya Zemlya Retreat Releases Islands 1990-2020

On June 12, 2020April 24, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Vilkitskogo Glacier North (VN) and South (VS) terminus in 1990 and 2020 Landsat images. Terminus in 1990 ends on an island forming. Red arrow is 1990 terminus, yellow arrow is the 2020 terminus. The 2020 image is from early June and shows low snowpack for so early in summer.

Vilkitskogo Glacier has two termini that had just separated in Vilkitsky Bay in 1990. The glacier flows from the Northern Novaya Zemlya Ice Cap to the west coast and the Barents Sea. The glacier has been retreating rapidly like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya (LEGOS, 2006;)(Pelto, 2016), Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. For Vilkitskogo they indicate retreat into a widening fjord, and that the south arm has a potential bathymetric pinning point. The increased retreat rate has occured synchronously with sea ice cover depletion in the Barents Sea and sea surface temperature increases. Both factors would lead to increased calving due to more frontal ablation.

The north and south glaciers both terminated at the mouth of their respective fjords in 1990, with the southern arm ending on a small island/peninsula extension. In 1994 there is limited evident retreat. By 2001 embayments had developed particularly along the peninsula separating them and the south terminus still ended on a developing island. By 2015 Vilkitskogo North has retreated 5000 m along the northern side of the fjord and 4000 m along the south side since 1990. This fjord has no evident pinning points, and the rapid calving retreat should continue. Vilkitskogo South has retreated 1000 m on the west side and 1800 m on the east side. The retreat had exposed a new island in the center of the glacier. The glacier in 2015 terminates on another island. Retreat from this pinning point will allow more rapid retreat to ensue.

In 2020 the northern arm has retreated 5500 m since 1990 a rate of ~180 m/year. The southern arm has retreated from the island with an overall retreat of 2300 m, a rate of ~75 m/year.

The front of the terminus in each case remains heavily crevassed indicating high frontal velocity and ablation. This indicates the calving retreat will be ongoing. The retreat has the same unfolding story as Krivosheina, Nizkiy and Glasova Glacier and Krayniy Glacier.

Vilkitskogo Glacier terminus in 2020 Landsat image showing two new islands. Terminus in 1990 ends on an island forming. Red arrow is 1990 terminus, yellow arrow is the 2020 terminus.

Vilkitskogo Glacier terminus in 2001 and 2015 Landsat images. Terminus in 2001 ends on an island to be. Terminus in 2015 ends on a second island forming. Red arrow is 1990 terminus, yellow arrow is the 2015 terminus. Purple arrows show areas of expanding bedrock.

Kropotkina, Novaya Zemlya Retreat Opens 12 km2 Embayment 1988-2019

On November 23, 2019April 24, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat1 Comment

Kropotkina Glacier, Novaya Zemlya in 1988 and 2019 Landsat images. Red arrow marks the 1988 terminus location and yellow arrow the 2019 terminus location. Point A and B mark nunataks in 1988.

Kropotkina Glacier is a tidewater glacier on the southeast coast of Novaya Zemlya that drain into Vlaseva Bay. The glaciers terminate in the Kara Sea and has been retreating like all tidewater glaciers in Novaya Zemlya LEGOS, 2006 . The map shown below from this project indicates the lack of an embayment in 1952, red dashed line and limited retreat from 1952-1988. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. Carr et al (2017) found that between 2000 and 2013, retreat rates were significantly higher on marine-terminating outlet glaciers than during the previous 27 years. Here we examine Landsat imagery from 1988 to 2019 to identify changes in Kropotkina Glacier.

In 1988 the southern terminus is at the red arrow indicating a peninsula on the east side of the terminus, while the northern terminus is at the margin of a proglacial lake. Point A and B are nunataks. In 1998 the southern terminus has not changed significantly. The northern terminus has not retreated significantly, but the proglacial lake has drained. By 2015 the terminus tongue in the embayment has largely collapsed, though a tongue of ice reaches across this embayment. An area of more 7 km² has gone from glacier ice to embayment since 1998. Point A is no longer a nunatak as marginal retreat has reached this point. The snowline in 2015 is also higher than is typically observed extending beyond the image area and is above 800 m.

By 2019 the main embayment is free of ice, having expanded by 12 km², as the result of terminus retreat. The terminus is now oriented north-south with a 6 km long calving front. The 2019 snowline is at 750 m.Point B remains a nunatak, but not for long with the continued high snowlines seen in 2015, 2018 and 2019. The retreat has mainly been via calving, and with an expanding calving front and reduced pinning points along the margin, the rapid retreat and area loss is not over. How deep the water is at the calving front will determine how limited calving will be going forward. The retreat of this glacier is substantial as has been the norm for tidewater glaciers such as Inostrantseva Glacier, Vera Glacier, Mack and Velkena Glacier or Chernysheva Glacier, with the formation of new islands and glacier separation common place Pelto (2017) and GlacierHub.

Kropotkina Glacier, Novaya Zemlya in 1998 and 2015 Landsat images. Red arrow marks the 1988 terminus location and yellow arrow the 2019 terminus location. Point A and B mark nunataks in 1988.

Map of the region from LEGOS, 2006 with elevations indicated.

Sulmeneva Bay Glacier Retreat 1990-2018, Novaya Zemlya

On May 28, 2019April 25, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Sulmeneva Bay Glacier in Landsat images from 1990 and 2018. Red arrow is the 1990 terminus location, yellow arrow the 2018 terminus location and pink dots the snowline.

Here we examine an unnamed glaciers, referred to here as Sulmeneva Bay Glacier, that terminated in a piedmont lobe near the northern shore of Sulmeneva Bay and just east of Lednikovoye Lake in central Novaya Zemlya. Sulmeneva Bay is on the west coast of Novaya Zemlya and is the southern most extent of the continuous glaciation that extends along the northern half of the island. LEGOS (2006) identified a 1.24 km² reduction in area of this glacier from 1990-2000. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. The glacier is retreating like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya, though they are not specifically tidewater the lake terminating glaciers were retreating at a similar rate of ~40 m/year from 1986-2015 (Carr et al., 2017). Here we use Landsat images to examine changes from 1990 to 2018.

In 1990 Sulmeneva Bay Glacier terminates in a proglacial lake at the southern end of what will become an island in the lake. The lake is 1.1 km wide from the calving front to the southern shore, red arrow. The snowline in 1990 is at 550 m, while the head of the glacier is at 650 m. By 2001 the glacier has retreated 700 m and the snowline is at 600 m reaching the ice divide in some areas. In 2015 the snowline is at 400 m and the lake has continued to expand with a north-south reach of 1.7 km. The glacier terminates at the northern end of the developing island.

In August of 2018 the snowline is at 550 m, again leaving a limited accumulation zone. By mid-September snowfall has lowered the snowline back to 200 m. The glacier has now retreated from the central island in the proglacial lake. This should lead to an increase in calving. The glacier has retreated 1.2 km since 1990 and the lake is now 2.2 km from the calving front to the southern shore.

The retreat here is similar to the glaciers of Lednikovoye Lake and to Sulmeneva Glacier which retreated less, but across a broader front. What is evident is that the persistent high snowlines are leading to negative mass balances that will drive continued retreat. At Lednikovoye Lake high snowlines in 2000 and 2016 further indicate the spatial extent and temporal frequency of high snowlines in recent years.

Sulmeneva Bay Glacier in Landsat images from 2010 and 2015. Red arrow is the 1990 terminus location, yellow arrow the 2018 terminus location and pink dots the snowline.

Novaya Zemlya map produced by Christoph Hormann with Sulmeneva Bay Glacier (SSG) shown just west of Lednikovoye Lake.

Vera Glacier, Novaya Zemlya Retreat

On October 10, 2018April 26, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Vera Glacier in Landsat images from 1990 and 2018. Red arrow is the 1990 terminus and yellow arrow the 2018 terminus location. Purple dots indicate the snowline, E indicates the eastern tributary and S the bedrock step.

Vera Glacier is on the west coast of Northern Noyaya Zemlya terminating in a fjord Carr et al (2017) examined Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat between 1973/76 and 2015, finding that between 2000 and 2013, retreat rates were significantly higher on marine-terminating outlet glaciers than during the previous 27 years. Here we examine changes in Vear Glacier from 1990-2018 using Landsat imagery.

In 1990 the glacier terminated at the red arrow 1 km beyond a tributary entering from the east. There is a marked rib at the yellow arrow in the 1990 image, suggesting a bedrock step beneath the glacier. In 1995 the tributary from the east no longer reaches the main glacier, the terminus front has retreated several hundred meters and the snowline is at 300 m. By 2016 the terminus has retreated well south of the eastern tributary nearly doubling the length of the fjord. The terminus is now close to the bedrock step seen in the 1990 image. By 2018 the glacier has retreated The snowline is again at 300 m. By 2018 Vera Glacier has retreated 3500 m since 1990, including past a second eastern tributary. The fjord is now over10 km long. The glacier is at the bedrock step with another bedrock step 500-1000 m upglacier. Each step should indicate a reduced water depth and reduced calving. The snowline in early August in 2018 is at 300 m, but rises to 600 m by the end of the month on neighboring Inostrantseva Glacier. Pelto (2017) and Carr et al (2017) discuss the role reduced Barents Sea Ice duration played in the retreat. The retreat here is similar to that of other nearby Novaya Zemlya glaciers such as Mack and Velkena Glacier or Inostrantseva Glacier.

The glaciers in this region are also a potential source for radiation from nuclear weapons testing by Russia from 1957-1962.

Vera Glacier in Landsat images from 1995 and 2016. Red arrow is the 1990 terminus and yellow arrow the 2018 terminus location. Purple dots indicate the snowline and E indicates the eastern tributary.

Inostrantseva Glacier, Novaya Zemlya Retreat Drives Separation

On October 5, 2018April 26, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Inostrantseva Glacier (I) and Pavlova Glacier (P), Novaya Zemlya in 1995 and 2017 Landsat images. Red arrow indicates the 1995 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus and purple dots the snowline.

Inostrantseva Glacier is on the west coast of Northern Noyaya Zemlya terminating in Inostrantseva Bay along with Pavlova Glacier. Carr et al (2017) examined Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat between 1973/76 and 2015, finding that between 2000 and 2013, retreat rates were significantly higher on marine-terminating outlet glaciers than during the previous 27 years. Here we examine changes in Inostrantseva Glacier from 1995-2018 using Landsat imagery.

In 1995 the glacier terminated at the red arrow, just beyond the junction with a tributary joining from the west. The snowline is at 400-450 m, with the divide of the icefield at ~600 m. Pavlova Glacier terminus is at outer margin of its embayment. In 2000 there is limited terminus change, and the snowline in this July image is at 250-300 m. By 2013 Inostrantseva Glacier has separated has separated from the western tributary and has retreated 2800 m since 2000. The snowline is at 350-400 m. Pavlova Glacier has retreated creating an embayment that is 1.5-2.0 km long. In 2017 the terminus has retreated 2800-3000 m since 1995. The snowline is at 300 m. In 2018 there is not a clear view of the terminus of the Inostrantseva Glacier, what is noteworthy is that the melt zone/snow line for the first time I have seen crosses the entire icefield, being higher than the divide at 600 m. On August 8, there is still some snowpack remaining along the divide. By August 31 the melt zone extends across the entire icefield. The high snowline indicates 2018 will be a year of significant mass loss on this portion of the Novaya Zemlya ice cap. Pelto (2017) and Carr et al (2017) discuss the role reduced Barents Sea Ice duration played in the retreat. Carr et al (2017) indicate the fastest retreat of Inostrantseva was from 2005-2010. The retreat here is similar to that of other nearby Novaya Zemlya glaciers such as Vera Glacier, Mack and Velkena Glacier or Chernysheva Glacier.

Inostrantseva Glacier (I) , Novaya Zemlya 8/8/2018 and 8/31/2018 Landsat images. Red arrow indicates the 1995 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus and purple dots the snowline. Note the east margin of the icefield is shown and that the snowline/melt zone extends across the entire icefield.

Inostrantseva Glacier (I) and Pavlova Glacier (P), Novaya Zemlya in 2000 and 2013 Landsat images. Red arrow indicates the 1995 terminus, yellow arrow the 2017 terminus and purple dots the snowline.

Mityushikha Ice Caps Separation, Novaya Zemlya

On April 10, 2018April 27, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Mityushikha Ice Cap (M) and West Mityushikha Ice Cap (WM) arrows indicating locations of glacier separation or glacier margin change.

Mityushikha Ice Caps are a group of small ice caps near the southern end of the glaciated mountains of Novaya Zemlya. Here we examine two of these ice caps using Landsat imagery from 1994-2017. Much attention has focused on the retreat of the larger tidewater glaciers of Novaya Zemlya, that between 1992 and 2010 retreat rates were an order of magnitude higher for tidewater glaciers outlets (52.1 m/year than for land-terminating glaciers 4.8m/year Stokes et al (2017). Carr et al (2017 ) observed that glacier retreat between 1973/76 and 2015 in Novaya Zemlya terminating into lakes or the ocean receded 3.5 times faster than those that terminate on land. Both studies focus on terminus retreat, here we also can observed the accumulation area ratio and area losses.

A comparison of the two ice caps Mityushikha (M) and West Mityushikha (WM), at nine locations between 1994 and 2016 indicate a consistent pattern. The most striking aspect is the lack of retained snowpack on the WM ice cap in 2016, while M ice cap has limited retained snowpack. This pattern of snowpack loss is evident in other years and has led to the changes observed between 1994 and 2016.

Point 1: The northern glacier has disconnected from the ice cap.
Point 2: A significant expansion of bedrock leading to reduced glacier connection.
Point 3: The ridge has extended west toward the ice cap margin.
Point 4: The two outlet glaciers have separated.
Point 5: The southern glacier has separated from the rest of the ice cap.
Point 6: Separation of the southern glacier from the WM.
Point 7: Expansion of bedrock exposed areas.
Point 8: Expansion of bedrock area amidst ice cap.
Point 9: Separation of northern glacier from ice cap.

A comparison of Landsat images from 2001 and 2017 indicate retreat of outelt glaciers fro the Mityushikha Ice Cap at six locations.

Arrow 1: A 300 m retreat
Arrow 2: A 600 m retreat
Arrow 3: Separation from #2 and 600 m retreat.
Arrow 4: A 150 m retreat.
Arrow 5: A 500 m retreat
Arrow 6: A distributary terminus of #1 a 500 m retreat

The rate of retreat of these small ice cap glaciers is higher than reported by Stokes et al, (2017) or Carr et al, (2017) What is also evident is the significant area and volume losses. Mass losses indicate that climate change is not just affecting glaciers via increased calving losses. The changes are not as eye catching as the retreat of large outlet glaciers, leading to new island formation, Nizkiy Glacier, but is similar to that seen at Lednikovoye Glaciers.

Mityushikha Ice Cap with red arrows indicating six glacier terminus that have retreated from 2001 to 2017 in Landsat images.

Nizkiy Glacier Embayment Expands Island Forms, Novaya Zemlya

On May 25, 2017April 28, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Nizkiy Glacier in 1990 and 2016 Landsat images. red arrows indicate locations of the 1990 terminus and yellow arrows the 2016 terminus. Purple arrow indicates an expanding bedrock rib amidst the glacier and purple dots indicate the snowline.

Nizkiy Glacier is on the west coast of the island reaching the Barents Sea Coast. The glaciers of northern Novaya Zemlya, Russia are truly generally out of sight out of mind. There remoteness and lack of importance as a water resource being the key reasons. It is particularly important to pay attention to these glaciers due to the recent changes in sea ice cover that have left a much longer duration of open water around the island particularly to the west in the Barents Sea. Nizkiy lost 1.2 km² in area from 1990-2000 (LEGOS, 2006). Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. Here we compare a Landsat image from 1990 and 2016.

The Nizkiy Glacier has several termini in lakes and one in the Barents Sea. The main terminus juts north out to the end of a peninsula in 1990, with an embayment developing from the peninsula across to the northern edge of the terminus. The middle terminus ends in a proglacial lake and in 1990 the terminus largely envelops an island in the lake. The southernmost terminus is in a proglacial lake shown is indicated by a red arrow as well. The 2016 Landsat image indicates the continued reduction in Nizkiy Glacier width reaching the peninsula at the yellow arrow, having retreated 1200 m from the 1990 position. Hence, It will likely be quite soon when the proglacial lake with the island joins with the Barents Sea. The northern edge of the terminus has retreated little, but the size of the embayment between the northern edge and the peninsula has doubled since 1990. A new island has been exposed in the proglacial lake between the main terminus and the peninsula. The expansion of the proglacial lake on the north side of the glacier just inland of the main terminus has retreated 600 m. The southernmost terminus has retreated 1100 m in an expanding proglacial lake. The purple arrow in the comparison image indicates an expanding rib of bedrock amidst the glacier. In 1990 the snowline is at 550 m. In 2015 the snowline is at 450 m. In July of 2016 the snowline is at 525 and in September is at 600 m. This glacier fits the pattern of other Novaya Zemlya glaciers (Pelto, 2016), such as Krayniy and Tasija. The lack of sea ice off the west coast of Novaya Zemlya in April of 2017, seen below, is a continuation of the pattern of open water early in the melt season, enhancing frontal melt. Note the pattern of sea ice in mid-April of 2004-2012 below

2015 Landsat Image, pink arrows indicate a bedrock rib that thinning ice is making evident. Purple dots indicate the snowline.

September 2016 Landsat image indicating the snowline is at a high elevation late in the summer. Pink arrows are proglacial lakes.

April 2017 Landsat image, note the lack of sea ice in front of the glacier.

April Sea ice around Novaya Zemlya 2004-2012.

Sulmeneva Glacier Retreat from Lakes, Novaya Zemlya

On February 21, 2017May 1, 2024 By mspeltoIn Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Sulmeneva Glacier retreat in comparison of 1999 and 2016 Landsat images. Red arrow indicate the 1999 terminus position and yellow arrows 2016 terminus location.

Sulmeneva Bay is on the west coast of Novaya Zemlya and is the southern most extent of the continuous glaciation that extends along the northern half of the island. Here we examine an unnamed glaciers that terminates in a piedmont lobe near the shore of Sulmeneva Bay. The glacier flows south from a shared accumulation zone with glaciers of the Lednikovoye Lake area, which are retreating like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya (LEGOS, 2006). The glacier in 1999 had a terminus front that measured 9.5 km. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers.Here we use Landsat images to examine changes from 1999 to 2016.

The terminus of the glacier in 1999 terminates in three substantial and two smaller proglacial lakes, the three larger lakes were all 1 to 1.5 km across. In 2000 the ablation season is further along and the lake levels somewhat higher, causing most of the expansion from 1999. By 2015 the glacier has retreated from the easternmost lake, which has also expanded to 2 km long and 1.7 km wide. In 2016 there is only a minor connection to the northeastern lake of the group that is now 2.1 km wide and 1.8 km long. Retreat of the terminus ranges from 600 m to 900 m along the terminus front that now measures 7.8 km, equating to an area loss of 4 square kilometers in the terminus lobe alone. A supralglacial lake has also formed at purple arrow in 2016 indicating substantial melting at an elevation of 400 m.

Red dots indicate the terminus of the glacier in 2000 Landsat.

Yellow dots indicate the terminus in 2015 Landsat.

Lednikovoye Glaciers, Novaya Zemlya 1999-2016 retreat

On August 29, 2016May 2, 2024 By mspeltoIn glacier climate change, Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat, russia glacier retreat

Comparison of glaciers terminating in Lednikovoye Lake in central Svalbard in 2000 and 2016. Red arrow is the 2000 terminus location and yellow arrows the 2016 terminus location.

Lednikovoye Lake in central Novaya Zemlya has four glaciers terminating in it. Here we examine the two unnamed glaciers that discharge into the northwest portion of the lake. The glaciers are retreating like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya, though they are not specifically tidewater (LEGOS, 2006). LEGOS (2006) identified a 2.7 square kilometer reduction in area of the two glaciers from 1990-2000. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers.Here we use Landsat images to examine changes from 1999 to 2016.

In 1999 and 2000 the western Lednikovoye Glacier ended on an island, the eastern Lednikovoye Glacier extended past the exit of a glacier filled valley entering from the east. By 2016 the western terminus had retreated 800 meters from the newly developed island. The eastern terminus had retreated a similar amount now ending near the center of the valley entering on the east. The glacier in that eastern valley has retreated 600 m from 1999 to 2016. The snowline in 2000 and 2016 is at ~500 m, with a significant remaining accumulation zone. There is limited upglacier thinning suggesting that retreat will not become rapid. The reduced rate of retreat of the Lednikovoye Glacier’s versus tidewater glacier of Novaya Zemlya suggests the importance of both sea ice reduction and sea surface temperature increase to the retreat rate of the latter such as Krayniy Glacier, Tasija Glacier and Chernysheva Glacier.

Krayniy Glacier Retreat, Novaya Zemlya

On April 28, 2016May 2, 2024 By mspeltoIn glacier climate change, Glacier Observations, Novaya Zemlya glacier retreat

Krayniy Glacier (Ky) comparison in 1990 and 2015 Landsat images. Red arrow is 1990 terminus and yellow arrow is the 2015 terminus. Purple arrows indicate upglacier thinning and green arrow a location of a glacier dammed lake.

Krayniy Glacier is an outlet glacier that drains the northern side of the Novaya Zemlya Ice Cap into the Barents Sea. This outlet glacier is just southwest of Tasija Glacier (T) and like that glacier has retreated over 1.2 km since 1988. Krayniy Glacier has been retreating like all tidewater glaciers in northern Novaya Zemlya (LEGOS, 2006). The terminus of the glacier has a pinning point on an island at present. Carr et al (2014) identified an average retreat rate of 52 meters/year for tidewater glaciers on Novaya Zemlya from 1992 to 2010 and 5 meters/year for land terminating glaciers. The increased retreat rate coincides with the depletion of ice cover in the Barents Sea region and a warming of the ocean. Both would lead to increased calving due to more frontal ablation and notch development similar to at Svalbard (Petlicki et al. 2015). The spring of 2016 features an ice free west coast of Novaya Zemlya leading to enhanced calving front melting.

In 1990 the glacier had an east west terminus across the head of the fjord. There was a substantial glacier dammed lake impounded by the glacier (green arrow), and there was a narrow connection with Tasija Glacier. The glacier dammed lake persisted in Landsat images in 1999, 2000, 2003 and 2006. In 2013 the proglacial lake had drained. In 2014 and 2015 the lake has not reformed, an indication of glacier thinning at the outlet location. This thinning is evident at both purple arrows,where the connection with the Tasija Glacier has been severed and a substantial nunatak has emerged amidst the glacier. From 1990 to 2015 the glacier has retreated more on the eastern margin with 1250 of retreat opening up the embayment. Retreat at the island in the glacier center has been 500 m since 1990. The western section of the glacier has retreated little. The eastern embayment will continue to drive retreat and glacier thinning that will reduce contact with the island pinning the eastern half of the glacier. The thinning is evident at the purple arrows. The glacier will likely retreat from this island in a fashion similar to Tasija and Chernysheva, which will lead to increased rate of retreat of the entire ice front.

1988, 2006 and 2014 Landsat images indicating the continued presence of glacier dammed lake from 1988-2006 and continued absence from 2014 and 2015.