Variações da frente da geleira polar club, península potter (Ilha rei george, Antártica marítima) entre 1986 e 2011

Abstract

Environmental changes, especially in the cryosphere, can result in large global consequences. Studies of glaciers in the Polar Regions are strategic for analyzing climate change sensitive areas. This work analyzed the glaciers front change rates of the Polar Club and compared with inter-seasonal variability of air temperature at Potter Peninsula, King George Island, in order to understand direct impact of the climate change on the local ice-free areas dynamics. We used a series of ten Landsat satellite imagery scenes and atmospheric temperature data from 1986 to 2011. The results show an increasing trend of 0.04 °C per year, which resulted in an increment of 1.03 °C in average temperatures for the 26-year analyzed period. The front of the glacier over the past 26 years showed progressive withdrawal mapped, resulting in an increase of 1.63 km 2 of ice-free area at Potter Peninsula. The influences of atmospheric temperature at the glacier's retreat demonstrate delay of about one year. Despite the evidence of increased average air temperatures in recent decades in the region, the series of atmospheric temperatures alone is not sufficient to explain the variation observed for the Polar Club glacier front. These phenomena may be associated with re-accommodation of the ice sheet stresses across King George, changes in rainfall rates and climate conditions.