Dynamics of changes of bed load outflow from a small glacial catchment (West Spitsbergen)

Abstract

Fluvial transport in a small glacial river catchment localized in the NW part of Wedel-Jarlsberg Land (Spitsbergen SW) was studied in the summer period of 2009. The intensity of bed load transport was determined using the River Debris Traps constructed for the project's need. The obtained results indicate high dynamics of bed load transport, the amount of which reached up to several dozen kg for 24 hours in individual measurement sites. The results also confirmed great variability of different fluvial processes in the polar zone. © 2010 WIT Press.