Climatogenic north-south asymmetry of local glaciers in Spitsbergen and other parts of the Arctic

Abstract

Although World Glacier Inventory (WGI) data for 241 local glaciers (>1 km2 in area) in Svalbard show a mean aspect of 014° ± 24°, their mid-altitudes are lowest for an aspect of 109° ± 46°, which is inconsistent. Further data are generated here for the altitude, length and source aspect of 205 local glaciers (0.3-6.0 km long) in the main area of local glaciation in Svalbard, Nordenskiold Land. All four mountain blocks have mean glacier source aspects of 356° to 018°; the overall mean is 011° ± 8°. Mid-altitudes are lowest at 042° ±21°, predicted to be 53 m lower than on opposite aspects. Lowest altitudes are predicted at 009° to 030°, averaging 157 m lower than on opposite aspects. These results show that local, land-terminating glaciers around 78° N are affected more by north-south radiation receipt contrasts than by wind effects, consistent with the trend found across most other Arctic regions. It is concluded that, although weaker than in mid-latitudes, contrasts due to slope climates are substantial even in Arctic glaciers. This is apparent only when small, steep glaciers are inventoried: WGI data are incomplete and users need to check the thresholds of coverage.