New report - Glaciological investigations in Norway in 2023
In a new report NVE presents results from measurements of Norwegian glaciers in 2023. 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 safety and exercises regarding fieldwork on glaciers. Since the early 1960s, this report series has been published in print. Now the report is only available as a digital version.
Mass balance
Mass balance investigations were performed on ten glaciers in Norway in 2023 – two in northern Norway and eight in southern Norway. All ten glaciers have measurements back to 1989 or earlier. Nine of the glaciers, which have 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 four of nine reference glaciers was lower than the 1991-2020 average. Hanse-breen and Ålfotbreen in Nordfjord had the lowest relative winter balance with 61 % and 63 % of the reference period, respectively. Gråsubreen in Jotunheimen had the greatest relative winter balance with 152 % of the reference period. The summer balance was higher than the 1991-2020 average for all nine reference glaciers. Gråsubreen and Engabreen had the highest relative summer balance with 149 % and 137 % of the reference period, respectively. Rembesdalskåka on Hardangerjøkulen had the lowest relative summer balance with 111 % of the reference period. Consequently, the annual balance was negative for all nine reference glaciers. Hansebreen had the highest deficit with −3.0 m w.e., and Nigardsbreen had the lowest deficit with −0.4 m w.e.
Glacier front variation
Glacier front variations were measured at 27 glaciers in southern Norway and 9 glaciers in northern Norway. Thirty three of the 36 measured glacier outlets had a decrease in length. The largest retreats were observed for Bondhusbrea on Folgefonna (92 m), Bøverbrean in Jotunheimen (82 m) and Engabreen on Svartisen (78 m).
The report for 2023 can be down-loaded here together with previous reports in the series.
Bjarne Kjøllmoen (Ed.), Liss M. Andreassen, Hallgeir Elvehøy. 2024. Glaciological investigations in Norway 2023, NVE Rapport 22-2024, 98 pp +app. http://publikasjoner.nve.no/rapport/2024/rapport2024_22.pdf
