Report from the glacier measurements in 2017

Vetle Supphellebreen is bucking the trend and advancing in 2017, while Haugabreen is retreating.

At the front of Vetle Supphellebreen in early November 2017. Photo: Pål Gran Kielland.

For us glacier enthusiasts, it is always good news when a glacier grows and advances. Vetle Supphellebreen advanced for the third year in a row, by almost 2 meters in 2017. We started with front position measurements of the glacier in 2011 and the glacier showed retreat in the first few years. During the measurement period, the glacier has advanced a total of 4 meters, or in other words, remained stable. An excess of snow during the measurement period may explain the development of Vetle Supphellebreen. If we look at the Meteorological Institute's weather and climate data, the measuring station at the Norwegian Glacier Museum has registered above-normal precipitation in the period 2011-2017. Large amounts of snow may be part of the explanation for the glacier's advance in recent years. Together with factors such as temperature, latitude, altitude, terrain (steepness and solar radiation) and proximity to the sea (maritime), precipitation is part of a complex interaction that leads to the formation and change of glaciers. It is especially the relationship between winter precipitation and summer temperature that controls the glacier's balance from year to year.

Haugabreen glacier after fresh snowfall in November 2017. Photo: Pål Gran Kielland.

Haugabreen set a personal negative record when it retreated 18 meters in 2017. Since we started measurements on this glacier, it has decreased by a total of 53 meters. There is also an increase in precipitation here when we look at weather data from nearby measurement stations, but the precipitation has clearly not been enough to slow down the melting. In addition, it must be remembered that the glacier's reaction time to changes in climate is delayed. Since glaciers are mainly controlled by winter precipitation and summer temperature, changes in these climate parameters will be reflected by the glacier. Light snow and/or low temperatures cause the glaciers to grow, while little snow and/or high temperatures cause the glaciers to melt.

The front changes show how the length of the glacier changes from year to year, and are a picture of how the glacier volume changes over time. The changes that can be seen on a glacier front are a delayed reaction to changes in mass balance. The reaction time of the glaciers depends, among other things, on length, steepness and friction against the ground. Around Jostedalsbreen, the reaction time of the outlets varies largely between 3 and 30 years.

Otherwise, see the NVE website for more information about our glaciers.