Hansbreen Snowpit Dataset – over 30-year of detailed snow research on an Arctic glacier

Abstract

Snow cover is a key element in the water cycle, global heat balance and in the condition of glaciers. Characterised by high temporal and spatial variability, it is subject to short- and long-term changes in climatic conditions. This paper presents a unique dataset of snow measurements on Hansbreen, an Arctic glacier in Svalbard. The dataset includes 79 archived snow profiles performed from 1989 to 2021. It presents all available observations of physical properties for snow cover, such as grain shape and size, hardness, wetness, temperature and density, supplemented with organised metadata. All data has been revised and unified with current protocols and the present International Classification for Seasonal Snow on the Ground, allowing comparison of data from different periods and locations. The information included is essential for estimations of glacier mass balance or snow depth using indirect methods, such as ground-penetrating radar. A wide range of input data makes this dataset valuable to the greater community involved in the study of snow cover evolution and modelling related to glaciology, ecology and hydrology of glacierised areas.