Annual report – Glaciological investigations in Norway 2022
In a new report NVE presents results from measurements of Norwegian glaciers in 2022. The report describes measurements of glacier mass balance and glacier front variations. There is also information about measurement of glacier movement, jøkulhlaups and meteorological measurements at some glaciers. The last chapter of the report deals with the anniversary of 60 years of measurements of Norwegian glaciers in NVE. Since the early 1960s, this report series has been published in print. As of this edition, the report will only be available as a digital version.
Mass balance
Mass balance investigations were performed on eleven glaciers in Norway in 2021 – two in northern Norway and nine in southern Norway. Nine of the glaciers (seven in southern Norway and the two glaciers in northern Norway) have measurements back to 1989 or earlier. These nine glaciers with series longer than 20 coherent years are selected by NVE to be included in the Norwegian Hydrological Reference Dataset, classified as reference glaciers.
The winter balance for five of nine reference glaciers was lower than the 1991-2020 average. Gråsubreen and Hellstugubreen in Jotunheimen had the lowest relative winter balance with 71 % and 76 % of the reference period, respectively. Langfjordjøkelen and Engabreen in northern Norway had the greatest relative winter balance, both with 127 % of the reference period. The summer balance was higher than the 1991-2020 average for six of the nine reference glaciers. Gråsubreen and Langfjordjøkelen had the highest relative summer balance with 159 % and 153 % of the reference period, respectively. Nigardsbreen had the lowest relative summer balance with 80 % of the reference period. Consequently, the annual balance was negative for seven of the nine reference glaciers. Langfjordjøkelen had the highest deficit with −1.9 m w.e. Nigardsbreen and Engabreen had both surplus with +0.7 m w.e. and 0.1 m w.e., respectively.
Glacier front variation
Glacier front variations were measured at 26 glaciers in southern Norway and 8 glaciers in northern Norway. Thirty three of the 34 measured glacier outlets had a decrease in length. The largest retreats were observed at Storjuvbrean in Jotunheimen (94 m), at Tuftebreen on the eastern side of Jostedalsbreen (65 m) and at Langfjordjøkelen (61 m).
Reference
Bjarne Kjøllmoen (Ed.), Liss M. Andreassen, Hallgeir Elvehøy. 2023. Glaciological investigations in Norway 2022, NVE Rapport 23-2023, 97 pp +app. http://publikasjoner.nve.no/rapport/2023/rapport2023_23.pdf
The 2022 report and previous reports can be down-loaded here.
