S2S : Snowfall to Surging ? The role of Snow-Firn-Ice Heat Transfer on Glacier Dynamics

Studying the Heer Land region of Svalbard, our research addresses uncertainties surrounding global glacier contributions to sea level rise, as emphasized in the 2023 IPCC report. Svalbard’s exceptional vulnerability to climate change makes it a critical location for understanding future impacts on larger glaciated regions such as Greenland and Antarctica. The surge cluster in Heer Land, alongside observations of increased frontal ablation, glacier retreat, and significant firn thickness, raises key scientific questions. Recent radar data has revealed firn layers exceeding 20 meters, suggesting a potential heat accumulation hotspot that challenges current literature. Our primary research objectives are: (i) Precipitation Trends: Investigate whether there is increased precipitation by studying the accumulation area. (ii) Snow and Firn Dynamics: Analyze the density, extent, temperature, and heat transfer mechanisms within the snow and firn layers. (iii) Heat Transfer Mechanisms: Quantify heat transfer from snow and firn to glacier ice. Our methodology includes deploying temperature loggers, conducting firn core sampling, snow profiling, and installing permanent logging stations. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) surveys, using 500 and 800 MHz frequencies, will map the spatial extent of snow and firn cover. Temperature sensors within the snow and firn layers will monitor local heat transfer, informing models that address seasonal changes in density and heat transfer processes. Svalbard’s changing precipitation patterns contribute to broader climate trends, which are crucial for refining global climate models. This research will help predict future scenarios and inform strategies to mitigate glacier instabilities, which have implications for sea level rise from massive ice sheets like those in Greenland and Antarctica. Timeline: Spring 2024: GPR surveys using 500, 800, and 50 MHz frequencies on Slakbreen, Mettebreen, and Ragnar Marie Breen. Installation of snow and firn temperature loggers. Spring 2025: Retrieval of temperature loggers to analyze heat transfer mechanisms.