Annual report – Glaciological investigations in Norway 2020
In a new report NVE presents results from measurements of Norwegian glaciers in 2020. The report describes measurements of glacier mass balance and glacier length changes. There is also information about measurement of glacier movement, jøkulhlaups and meteorological measurements at some glaciers.
Mass balance
Mass balance investigations were performed on eleven glaciers in Norway in 2020 – two in northern Norway and nine in southern Norway. Seven glaciers with series longer than 30 years are classified as reference glaciers by World Glacier Monitoring Service.
The winter balance was greater than the 1981-2010 average for six of the seven reference glaciers. Only Gråsubreen in Jotunheimen had lower winter balance with 91 % of the reference period average. Nigardsbreen had the greatest relative winter balance with 156 % of the 1981-2010 average. The winter balance was greater than the 1981-2010 average for six of the seven reference glaciers (mass balance series back to at least 1981). Only Gråsubreen in Jotunheimen had lower winter balance with 91 % of the reference period average. Nigardsbreen had the greatest relative winter balance with 156 % of the 1981-2010 average. The summer balance was greater than the 1981-2010 average for five of the seven reference glaciers. Hellstugubreen had the greatest relative summer balance with 120 % of the reference period average, while Nigardsbreen had the lowest relative summer balance with 85 % of the 1981-2010 average. The annual balance was positive for four of the reference glaciers, and of these four, Nigardsbreen had the greatest surplus with 1.7 m w.e. For the three reference glaciers in Jotunheimen the annual balance was negative.
Glacier length change
Glacier length changes were measured at 23 glaciers in southern Norway and 7 glaciers in northern Norway. Twenty-three of the 30 measured glacier outlets showed a decrease in length. The greatest retreats were observed at Gråfjellsbrea on Folgefonna (47 m) and at Engabreen on Svartisen (46 m).
Reference
Bjarne Kjøllmoen (Ed.), Liss M. Andreassen, Hallgeir Elvehøy and Kjetil Melvold, 2021. Glaciological investigations in Norway 2020, NVE Rapport 31-2021, 92 pp +app.
The report for 2020 and previous resports in the series can be down-loaded here.
