P-092 Cornice Dynamics Above Nybyen in Svalbards High Arctic

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

2010 International Snow Science Workshop P-092 Cornice dynamics above Nybyen in Svalbards high arctic landscape Stephan C. Vogel1 Markus Eckerstorfer1 Hanne Christiansen1, 2 1. Arctic Geology Department, University Centre in Svalbard, Longyearbyen, Norway; 2. Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway The development of cornices, their cracking and consequent failures largely controlled by meteorology along the Gruvefjellet plateau ridge was investigated in the two consecutive snow seasons of 2009 and 2010. These natural processes endanger life and infrastructure in Longyearbyen, Svalbard’s main settlement in the High Arctic. Two automatic time lapse cameras provided up to 6 daily pictures of the entire Gruvefjellet slope from the valley bottom and monitored the cornice development and tension cracking from the ridgeline. Further- more stakes on the plateau were used to record snow depth distribution and cornice growth. 45 field trips up the plateau were carried out to study the processes and to manually measure cornice crack opening rates. Meteorological data were recorded by an automatic weather station situated on the Gruvefjellet plateau source area. Both snow seasons indicated that cornices were built up by a low number of distinct storm events and that cornice scouring due to high wind speeds is rather limited. In 2009 the first cornice cracks were observed in mid April, while in 2010, probably due to persistent warm weather in combination with large amounts of rain, cornice cracks were already developing at the end of January. Cornice crack measurements showed a linear development, indicating the major influence of gravity. 177 cornice failures have been recorded, whereof 11 were “D3-R3” and “D3-R4” avalanches which nearly reached housing infrastructure. Cornice fall avalanches occurred throughout the entire snow season, though the majority was released towards May/June due to temperatures above freezing and 24 hours direct solar radiation. 153.

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Climate in Svalbard 2100
M-1242 | 2018 Climate in Svalbard 2100 – a knowledge base for climate adaptation NCCS report no. 1/2019 Photo: Ketil Isaksen, MET Norway Editors I.Hanssen-Bauer, E.J.Førland, H.Hisdal, S.Mayer, A.B.Sandø, A.Sorteberg CLIMATE IN SVALBARD 2100 CLIMATE IN SVALBARD 2100 Commissioned by Title: Date Climate in Svalbard 2100 January 2019 – a knowledge base for climate adaptation ISSN nr. Rapport nr. 2387-3027 1/2019 Authors Classification Editors: I.Hanssen-Bauer1,12, E.J.Førland1,12, H.Hisdal2,12, Free S.Mayer3,12,13, A.B.Sandø5,13, A.Sorteberg4,13 Clients Authors: M.Adakudlu3,13, J.Andresen2, J.Bakke4,13, S.Beldring2,12, R.Benestad1, W. Bilt4,13, J.Bogen2, C.Borstad6, Norwegian Environment Agency (Miljødirektoratet) K.Breili9, Ø.Breivik1,4, K.Y.Børsheim5,13, H.H.Christiansen6, A.Dobler1, R.Engeset2, R.Frauenfelder7, S.Gerland10, H.M.Gjelten1, J.Gundersen2, K.Isaksen1,12, C.Jaedicke7, H.Kierulf9, J.Kohler10, H.Li2,12, J.Lutz1,12, K.Melvold2,12, Client’s reference 1,12 4,6 2,12 5,8,13 A.Mezghani , F.Nilsen , I.B.Nilsen , J.E.Ø.Nilsen , http://www.miljodirektoratet.no/M1242 O. Pavlova10, O.Ravndal9, B.Risebrobakken3,13, T.Saloranta2, S.Sandven6,8,13, T.V.Schuler6,11, M.J.R.Simpson9, M.Skogen5,13, L.H.Smedsrud4,6,13, M.Sund2, D. Vikhamar-Schuler1,2,12, S.Westermann11, W.K.Wong2,12 Affiliations: See Acknowledgements! Abstract The Norwegian Centre for Climate Services (NCCS) is collaboration between the Norwegian Meteorological In- This report was commissioned by the Norwegian Environment Agency in order to provide basic information for use stitute, the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Norwegian Research Centre and the Bjerknes in climate change adaptation in Svalbard.
[Show full text]
The “Coolest” and Northernmost FAQ Welcome to UNIS We Hope You Will
The “coolest” and northernmost FAQ Everything you might or might not want to know about your stay at UNIS Made by the UNIS Student Council autumn 2016 Welcome to UNIS We hope you will have a great time here ͺ Before arrival Important: Remember to apply for housing, and sign your contract before arriving, and check the dates. Your room will first be opened in the afternoon the day your contract starts, so if you arrive 3am you should make sure the contract starts the day before arrival. If your contract starts in the weekend your room will be opened at Friday afternoon (Samskipnaden opens your room and leaves the key inside, so you don’t need to worry about not being able to access your room) Rifles: If you want to borrow rifles (you need them when leaving town) during your stay please read the rifle part http://www.unis.no/studies/student-life/new-students/ Q: What do I need to pack? http://www.unis.no/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/PACKING-LIST.pdf - When it comes to equipment and how warm clothing you need it is up to what you plan to do and how easily you freeze - You should bring or buy a pair of thin liner gloves to wear under thicker mittens. During field work you will find that it is very hard to write with the thick scooter mittens, and that is awfully cold to do anything bare handed in -20 degrees celsius - Liner gloves can be very nice to have during the safety course, you will do part of it outside.
[Show full text]
Status of Echinococcus Multilocularis in Svalbard - Final Report to Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund NORWEGIAN VETERINARY INTSTITUTE
Rapport 11- 2019 Status of Echinococcus multilocularis in Svalbard - Final Report to Svalbard Environmental protection Fund NORWEGIAN VETERINARY INTSTITUTE Status of Echinococcus multilocularis in Svalbard Preface This is the final report of the project “Status of Echinococcus multilocularis in Svalbard” 16/42. Funding for this project was allocated by the Svalbard Environmental Protection Foundation in the spring of 2016. The project was carried out by a team of researchers from the Norwegian Veterinary Institute and the Norwegian Polar Institute, who for the first time collaborated in this project. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute has contributed with expert knowledge on E. multilocularis, pathology, parasitological and molecular methods, and the Norwegian Polar Institute with specific expertise on Arctic foxes, sibling voles, E. multilocularis and environmental aspects. In addition, we have benefitted from working together with Fredrik Samuelsson, Svalbard guide with an MSc in Parasitology, whose local knowledge has greatly facilitated the sample collection. The results of our project were presented to locals at a seminar at the University Centre in Svalbard 19.11.2018. We gratefully acknowledge the Svalbard Environmental Protection Fund for supporting our project. We would also like to thank Paul Lutnæs/the Govenor of Svalbard, Rupert Krapp from the Norwegian Polar Institute and the Svalbard Vets for assisting in collecting samples for the project; Longyearbyens Hundeklubb, commercial dog sledging companies and private dog owners who kindly let us collect faecal samples from their dogs; arctic fox hunters who donated foxes for our study, and inhabitants in Longyearbyen who helped trapping sibling voles. In this project we have collaborated with Dr.
[Show full text]
Fossil Hunt with Green Dog
FOSSIL HUNT WITH GREEN DOG At the top of the Longyear Valley there are two SVERDRUPBYEN glaciers, the Lars and Longyear Glaciers. The To the west of Nybyen, just on the other side of Longyear Glacier has, over thousands of years, the river, is a place called Sverdrupbyen, named eroded the bedrock and moved rocks and gravel after Einar Sverdrup (1895 - 1942), the managing into a large moraine. It is in these types of rocks director of the mining company Store Norske we can find 40 - 60 million year old fossils of Spitsbergen Kulkompani. He was the leader of ancient flora and fauna. Operation Fritham in World War II, but died in the course of that operation, which attempted to SAFETY secure Svalbard for the Allies. Most buildings in Please do not walk too far away from your armed Sverdrupbyen, including those of Mine 1B, were guide, in case a polar bear shows up. When destroyed in a fire rehearsal in the 1980s before using a rock hammer, be careful to protect your they became protected under the cultural eyes from stone ragments. heritage preservation law. MINING All together, 9 mines in and around ON THE WAY TO Longyearbyen have been active. Today, the only THE FOSSIL LOCATION, active mine in the local area is Gruve 7. Store YOU WILL PASS Norskes main activity is at the mine in Svea. AND SEE GRUVE 1A, AMERIKANERGRUVA • The first mine in Longyearbyen. The Arctic NYBYEN Coal Company (ACC), led by the American Nybyen is a small settlement located on the John Munroe Longyear, established southern outskirts of Longyearbyen.
[Show full text]
Unis|Course Catalogue
1 COURSE UNIS| CATALOGUE the university centre in svalbard 2012-2013 2 UNIS | ARCTIC SCIENCE FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES UNIS | ARCTIC SCIENCE FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES 3 INTRODUCTION | 4 map over svalbard ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS | 5 HOW TO APPLY | 7 moffen | ACADEMIC MATTERS | 7 nordaustlandet | ÅsgÅrdfonna | PRACTICAL INFORMATION | 8 newtontoppen | ny-Ålesund | safety | 8 pyramiden | prins Karls | THE UNIS CAMPUS | forland | 8 barentsØya | UNIVERSITY OF THE ARCTIC | longyearbyen | 9 barentsburg | COURSES AT UNIS | isfJord radio | 10 sveagruva | ARCTIC BIOLOGY (AB) | 13 EDGEØYA | storfJorden | ARCTIC GEOLOGY (AG) | 29 hornsund | ARCTIC GEOPHYSICS (AGF) | 67 ARCTIC TECHNOLOGY (AT) SVALBARD | | 85 GENERAL COURSES | 105 4 UNIS | ARCTIC SCIENCE FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES UNIS | ARCTIC SCIENCE FOR GLOBAL CHALLENGES 5 Semester studies are UNIS OFFERS BACHELOR-, MASTER AND PhD courses available at Bachelor LEVEL COURSES in: level (two courses AT unis | providing a total of ARCTIC BIOLOGY (AB) 30 ECTS). At Master ARCTIC GEOLOGY (AG) and PhD level UNIS offers 3-15 ECTS courses lasting from ARCTIC GEOphYsiCS (AGF) a few weeks to a full semester. In the 2012-2013 academic year, UNIS will be offering altogether 83 courses. An over- ARCTIC TEChnOLOGY (AT) INTRODUCTION view is found in the course table (pages 10-11). The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) is the world’s STUDENTS Admission to courses AcaDEMic reQUireMents: northernmost higher education institution, located in at UNIS requires that About 400 students from all over the world attend courses ADMISSION Department of Arctic Biology: Longyearbyen at 78º N. UNIS offers high quality research the applicant is en- annually at UNIS. About half of the students come from 60 ECTS within general natural science, of which 30 ECTS based courses at Bachelor-, Master-, and PhD level in Arctic rolled at Bachelor-, abroad and English is the official language at UNIS.
[Show full text]
Walking Around Longyearbyen Updatedaug2014
CHEESEMANS’ ECOLOGY SAFARIS 20800 Kittridge Road Saratoga, CA 95070-6322 USA (800)527-5330 (408)741-5330 [email protected] cheesemans.com Walking around Longyearbyen Updated August 2014 Longyearbyen, a Norwegian mining settlement, is the administrative center of Svalbard, and has an airport open throughout the year. The settlement of Longyearbyen is small (about 1 x 2 miles or 1.6 x 3.3 km), so we can reach anywhere on foot. There are bicycles for rent at Nybyen (Guesthouse 102), if you so desire. There is more than enough to do in and around town to fill a day. Please do not stray from the roads around town (the surrounding hills); Polar Bears can be found in the area! Aerial view from airplane on approach Map of Longyearbyen 1. Radisson Blue Polar Hotel 2. Sentrum (Center) • Shopping at Svalbardbutikken • Lompen senteret with many shops 3. Haugen (Spitsbergen Hotel) 4. Mine 2b 5. Nybyen (Guesthouse 102) 6. Sverdrupbyen (Huset, theater) 7. Svalbard Museum 8. Wharf, airport, Mine 3 Page 1 of 2 1. Radisson Blu Polar Hotel – The Radisson opened as a hotel on March 4, 1995 after hosting sponsors of the American winter Olympic national team in 1994. The hotel contains a restaurant, pub, conference room, and library. 2a. Svalbardbutikken – A supermarket and department store rolled into one. It stocks a variety of articles including groceries, clothing, shoes, electrical appliances, cosmetics, jewelry, gifts, souvenirs, wines and spirits. Svalbard is a duty and tax-free region, so alcohol can be purchased at low prices. In such a remote outpost of civilization, you may be surprised to find the most modern of computer games and DVDs here.
[Show full text]
Annual Report 2017 2 | Annual Report 2017
ANNUAL REPORT 2017 2 | ANNUAL REPORT 2017 FROM THE DIRECTOR 4 EXCERPT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS’ REPORT 2017 5 EDUCATIONAL QUALITY 10 STATISTICS 11 PROFIT AND LOSS ACCOUNT 2017 12 BALANCE SHEET 31.12.2017 13 ARCTIC BIOLOGY 14 ARCTIC GEOLOGY 20 ARCTIC GEOPHYSICS 26 ARCTIC TECHNOLOGY 32 STUDENT COUNCIL 38 SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS 2017 42 GUEST LECTURERS 2017 50 Front page | May 2017: AT-331/831 Arctic Environmental Pollution fieldwork in Mohnbukta, on the east coast of Spitsbergen. Photo: Richard Hann/UNIS. Editor | Eva Therese Jenssen/UNIS. ANNUAL REPORT 2017 | 3 NY-ÅLESUND LONGYEARBYEN BARENTSBURG SVEA HORNSUND SVALBARD Front page | May 2017: AT-331/831 Arctic Environmental Pollution fieldwork in Mohnbukta, on the east coast of Spitsbergen. Photo: Richard Hann/UNIS. Photo: Aleksey Shestov/UNIS. Editor | Eva Therese Jenssen/UNIS. 4 | ANNUAL REPORT 2017 FROM THE DIRECTOR UNIS continued to experience growth in 2017. In all, 794 students from 45 nations attended courses and 59 master’s students worked on their theses. This equates During the year, UNIS was very involved in the process to 222.5 student-labour years, which is a new record. of preparing the basis for the government’s strategy Consequently, publicfor research in the andspring higher of 2 018.education Furthermore, in Svalbard. the Board The of 50% of the Directorsgovernment at UNISis expected has initiated to make a newthe new strategic strategy process students came 2017from wasprogrammes the first year of study we achieved at Norwegian the for the institution. The background for this decision are target of 220 student-labour years. Moreover, publicuniversities defences (Norwegian were held.
[Show full text]
Gatekart Over Longyearbyen
6YkZciYVaZc K:,K:>:CÇ 6YkZci[_dgYZc K:>)%%Æ<GJ H_³h`gZciZc K:>'(- K:>'(+ 7n`V^V$L]Vg[ H_³dbgYZi K:>*%% K:>'() <gjkZYVaZc K:>'%%Æ=>AB6GG:@HI:CHK:>Ç K:>(%+ 7_³gcYVaZc K:>'(' K :> (%% K:>(%. B6K:>:CÇ<6C<K:>I>A;ANEA6HH:C K:>(%*Æ7JG $;DDIE6I=ID6>GEDGI K:>(%, K K:>'(% :> *% (B :A@ H`_²g^c\V :K: >:C Adc\nZVgZakV K:>(%( A^V K:>(%% K:>''- K:>*%% + K:>'' <VbaZ K:>(%' Adc\nZVgWnZc K:>'') K:>*%& K :> ''' K:>''% K:>&%% K:>(%% K:>'&- K:>'&+ K:>'&* K:>'&) K:>'&( K =Vj\Zc : > K:>&%' ' & % K:>&%%Æ9G6BB:CHK:>:CÇ K:>&%+ <gjkZ'W ?jaZc^hhZ\gjkV CnWnZc HkZgYgjeWnZc K:>&%% <gV[^h`WZVgWZ^YZahZ/HkVaWVgYGZ^hZa^k6H^hVbVgWZ^YbZYAjcYWaVYBZY^V6H!Igdbh³#@Vgi\gjccaV\Adc\nZVgWnZcad`VahingZ OVERNATTING ACCOMMODATION RaBi’s Bua HELSETJENESTER HEALTH SERVICES Arctic Adventures Rebekkas Gave & Suvenir Apotek Chemist/pharmacy Basecamp Spitsbergen Skinnboden Arctic Products Fysioterapeut Physiotherapis Gjestehuset 102 Sport 1 Svalbard Longyearbyen Sykehus Hospital Longyearbyen Camping Sportscenteret PolarLegeSenteret Medical Centre Mary-Ann’s Polarrigg Svalbard Arctic Sport/Skandinavisk Høyfjellsutstyr Tannlege Dentist Radisson SAS Polar Hotel Spitsbergen Svalbardbutikken (Coop Svalbard) Spitsbergen Guesthouse Svalbardbutikken Lyd & Bilde SEVERDIGHETER ATTRACTIONS Spitsbergen Hotel Atelier Aino Artist’s Workshop Svalbard Villmarkssenter TJENESTER SERVICES Barentszhuset The Barentsz House Arctic Autorent Car rental Galleri Svalbard Svalbard Art Gallery MAT OG DRIKKE FOOD & DRINK Bydrift Longyearbyen Gruve 3 Mine no. 3 Barentsz Pub & Spiseri Kultur- og fritidsforetak KF Kirkegård
[Show full text]
St.Meld. Nr. 9 (1999)
St.meld. nr. 9 (1999) Svalbard Tilråding fra Justis- og politidepartementet av 29. oktober 1999, godkjent i statsråd samme dag. Forklaring på forkortinger LL Longyearbyen lokalstyre SND Statens nærings- og distriktsutviklingsfond SNU Svalbard Næringsutvikling AS SSD Svalbard Samfunnsdrift AS SSS Svalbard ServiceSenter AS Store Norske Store Norske Spitsbergen Kulkompani AS St.meld. nr. 39 Stortingsmelding nr. 39 (1974–75) Vedrørende Sval- bard St.meld. nr. 40 Stortingsmelding nr. 40 (1985–86) Svalbard St.meld. nr. 50 Stortingsmelding nr. 50 (1990–91) Næringstiltak for Svalbard St.meld. nr. 42 Stortingsmelding nr. 42 (1992–93) Norsk polarfors- kning St.meld. nr. 22 Stortingsmelding nr. 22 (1994–95) Om miljøvern på Svalbard UNIS Universitetsstudiene på Svalbard Kapittel 1 St.meld. nr. 9 3 Svalbard 1 Bakgrunn Ved behandlingen av St.meld. nr. 22 (1994–95) Miljøvern på Svalbard ba Stor- tinget regjeringen om å foreta en helhetlig vurdering av svalbardsamfunnet der miljø, kulldrift og annen næringsvirksomhet, utenrikspolitiske og andre relevante forhold ble sett i sammenheng. I tillegg ble regjeringen i Dokument nr. 8:85 (1994–1995) bedt om å legge opp til en styringsmodell for Longyear- byen som gir befolkningen muligheter til demokratisk innflytelse i lokalsam- funnet i den helhetlige gjennomgangen av svalbardsamfunnet Stortinget har bedt om. I forbindelse med utarbeidelsen av stortingsmeldingen om Svalbard har det vært nedsatt en interdepartemental styringsgruppe bestående av repre- sentanter fra Finansdepartementet, Justisdepartementet, Kirke, utdannings- og forskningsdepartementet, Kommunal- og regionaldepartementet, Miljø- verndepartementet, Nærings- og handelsdepartementet og Utenriksdeparte- mentet. Som ledd i arbeidet med meldingen har det også vært nedsatt to arbeids- grupper, som har utredet spørsmålet om lokaldemokrati nærmere.
[Show full text]
The Svalbard Science Conference 2017 Alphabetical List of Abstracts by First Author (Tentative)
The Svalbard Science Conference 2017 Alphabetical List of Abstracts by first author (Tentative) List of abstracts Coupled Atmosphere – Climatic Mass Balance Modeling of Svalbard Glaciers (id 140), Kjetil S. Aas et al. .............................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Dynamics of legacy and emerging organic pollutants in the seawater from Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway) (id 85), Nicoletta Ademollo et al. .................................................................................... 16 A radio wave velocity model contributing to precise ice volume estimation on Svalbard glaciers (id 184), Songtao Ai et al. ............................................................................................................................................ 18 Glacier front detection through mass continuity and remote sensing (id 88), Bas Altena et al. .. 19 Pan-Arctic GNSS research and monitoring infrastructure and examples of space weather effects on GNSS system. (id 120), Yngvild Linnea Andalsvik et al. ............................................................................ 19 Methane release related to retreat of the Svalbard – Barents Sea Ice Sheet. (id 191), Karin Andreassen et al. ............................................................................................................................................................. 20 European Plate Observing System – Norway (EPOS-N) (id 144), Kuvvet Atakan
[Show full text]
December 3, 2013
FREE icepeople The world's northernmost alternative newspaper Vol. 5, Issue 43 December 3, 2013 www.icepeople.net '14 budget: Big, but… Lack of funds for upgrades to to help upgrade the power plant, so concerns municipal council at its meeting Dec. 10. Al- about a lack of funds for infrastructure mainte- though that's significantly higher than this power plant may cause long-term nance and education will continue. year's 146.1-million-kroner budget, it's 37 per- problems elsewhere, city warns And even with the extra money the gov- cent less than the 303.8 million kroner the city Much of the old “settlement is ernment-mandated power plant upgrades re- sought for next year. By MARK SABBATINI main by far the largest funding shortfall, which The upgrades to emissions, efficiency and located in landslide-prone areas. Editor could have long-term negative effects in local other aspects of the city's coal-fired electricity - Vigdis Hole, Bydrift The good news is Longyearbyen is getting services, according to city officials. plant – allowing it to continue operating for an- a 32 percent increase in next year's budget. The A 2014 budget of 193.1 million kroner is other 25 years – account for all but four million response statement to study bad news is essentially all of the extra money is scheduled to receive final approval from the See BUDGET, page 4 ” 'Most dismal ROBERT HERMANSEN See CIRCUS, page 3 By MARK SABBATINI Editor tree?' bear thing Scraggy Christmas ﬁr ridiculed Longyearbyen / Tromso: Governor names Monday afternoon the as maybe Norway's worst ever; 'lush' replacement being sent Decision time: Last day for early voting in By MARK SABBATINI Svalbard is Monday, Sept.
[Show full text]
Interdisciplinary Phd and Post-Doc Summer School 2015 Arctic Ocean
Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center Major sponsors: TBD TBD The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP), in cooperation with The University Centre in Svalbard (UNIS) and The Nansen Environmental and Remote Sensing Center (NERSC) Interdisciplinary PhD and Post-Doc summer school 2015 Arctic Ocean Governance as a Multifunctional Challenge Venue: The Norwegian Scientific Academy for Polar Research (NVP), “Isdammen 1” and UNIS, Longyearbyen, Svalbard Time: 2nd – 9th August 2015 Introduction In general, a governance system consists of two features: a regime, defining the “rules of the game” – the regulations - and a structure, defining the actors and their interactions – the decision-making apparatus. As such, a governance system is a practical political construct drawing on the insights of the social sciences. To be effective, a governance system also has to reflect and respond to the natural characteristics of the region of application. As such it has to address the natural peculiarities of the respective region drawing on the insights of the natural sciences. In this broad definition, a governance system is a complex entity spanning the gap between the natural and social sciences (interdisciplinarity) as well as the gap between academic (university) and stakeholder knowledge as expressed in government and societal organizations (transdisciplinarity). 1 A circumpolar system of governance is in the making for the Arctic Ocean, both when it comes to regime and structure. Among the eight Arctic states there is broad agreement (Ilullisat-declaration of 28 May 2009) that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982 (UNCLOS) and other global ocean conventions is to be applied as the basic regulatory foundation of the Arctic Ocean.
[Show full text]