Trollheimen region with less than 10% snowcover remaining in this Landsat image from 8-11-2024, violet dots indicate retained snowcover. N=Nansenbreen, B=Borenbreen, C=Charlesbreen, V=Vestgotabreen, Hu=Hydrografbreen, E=Eidenbreen, V=Venerbreen, Vs=Vetterbreen, H=Harrietbreen and Es=Esmarkbreen.
Svalbard has experienced a warm July and August in 2024. Landsat images reveal the extent of snowcover loss on Svalbard glaciers. This follows on 2022 which had been the warmest summer on record in Svalbard and led to many snow free glaciers (Pelto, 2022). This record was exceeded in summer 2023 (Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024). Here we look at Landsat images in August illustrating the widespread nature of the extensive glacier snow cover loss. This adds to the glaciers reviewed earlier this month (Pelto, 2024).
For the glaciers of Spitsbergen to maintain .equilibrium requires 50% of the glacier needs to be snowcovered at the end of summer. By mid-August with a month left of summer melt, the area is below 10% on every glacier noted above. How much more melt will occur. The net result will be extensive mass loss once again (NASA EO, 2024).
Storskavlen Ice Cap on Edgeoya is snowfree on 8-23-2024 in this Landsat image. Thinning ice is leading to expanded bedrock areas amidst the ice.
Essentially snowfree conditions on Svalbard glaciers on this Landsat image from 8-11-2024. P=Passbreen, M=Margitbreen, Bo=Brorbreen, S=Sorbullbreen, An=Andrinebreen, Ab=Abreen, B=Bjarmebreen.
Most Svalbard glaciers in this Landsat image from 8-8-2024 are snow free. This view is centered on 78 N and 19 E spanning parts of Barentsoya, Edgeøya and Spitsbergen. On Langjokulen (La), Kvitisen (Kv), Bergfonna (Be), Blaisen (Bl) and Storskavlen (St) on Edgeøya snow cover is gone. Bjarmanbreen (Bj), Passfonna (Pa), Hellefonna (He), Sveigbreen (Sv), Nordmannsfonna (No), Isrosa (Is), Kamfonna (Ka), Breitfonna (Br), Rugaasfonna (Ru), Hayesbreen (Hy), Heuglinbreen (Hu) on Spitsbergen all snowcover is lost.There is a small amount of snowcover left in the upper reaches of a few glaciers including Freemanbreen (Fr), Gruvfonna (Gr), Siakbreen (Si), Von Postybreen (VP) and Fimbulisen (Fi).
All the glaciers labelled in the Nathorst Land and Nordenskjold Land region of Svalbard are snow free on 8-11-2024 in this Landsat image. Er=Erdmannbreen, Fr=Fridtjovbreen, Gr=Gronfjorden, Ta=Taviebreen, Ma=Marstranderbreen, Gl=Gleditschfonna in Nordenskjold. HO=Hoegh Omdalbreen, Sn=Snokubreen, Fy=Frysjabreen, In=Instebreen, Ri=Richterbreen, Ri=Ringerbreen, La=Langlibreen, Lo=Loyndebreen, Lu=Lundbreen, Sy=Sysselmannbreen in Nathorst Land.
Warm temperatures across Svalbard in July and early August has resulted in many glaciers losing all of their snowcover. The result will be enhanced and significant thinning of these glaciers. This follows on 2022 which was the warmest summer on record in Svalbard and led to many snow free glaciers (Pelto, 2022). This record was exceeded in summer 2023 (Copernicus Climate Change Service, 2024). Here we look at Landsat images and Sentinel images across several islands from late July and early August illustrating the widespread nature of the extensive glacier snow cover loss.
For ice caps such as Glitnefonna, Langjokulen (La), Kvitisen (Kv), Bergfonna (Be), Blaisen (Bl) and Storskavlen (St), because of their low top elevation and relatively flat slopes their ability to survive is dependent on much of meltwater generated on the higher plateau areas being refreezing within the firn instead of escaping the glacier (Noel et al 2020). In 2020 the snowcover was lost and the firn thickness diminished. In August 2022 the snowcover again was lost and there was little evident firn that could lead to refreezing of meltwater. In August 2024 snowcover loss has again occurred.
For the glaciers of Spitsbergen to maintain .equilibrium requires 50% of the glacier needs to be snowcovered at the end of summer. By early August with a month left of summer melt, the area is below 10% on every glacier noted above. How much more melt will occur. The net result will be extensive mass loss once again (NASA EO, 2024).
Glitnefonna is a 145 km2 ice cap in Gustav Albert Land where snowcover declined from 55% snowcover on 7-22 (purple dots) to 0% snowcover on 8-9-2024 in these Sentinel images. A small area of saturated firn/snow is evident, yellow dots.Glitnefonna is a 145 km2 ice cap in Gustav Albert Land where snowcover declined from 50% snowcover on 7-18 (yewllow dots) to 0% snowcover on 8-9-2024 in these Landsat images.
From a Glaciers Perspective 