Mass balance change at Engabreen

Lang, Qaasimah Alexis

2015

2010-2019

The purpose of this research is to identify trends in ablation and accumulation in Engabreen, a glacier in the Svartisen Ice cap in Norway. While glaciers worldwide are retreating at an alarming rate, some glaciers are advancing. This research looks at what factors have contributed to Engabreen having a positive mass balance most years since 1970. Looking at data compiled from 1970-2005 it is clear that while the glacier Engabreen is indeed still advancing, the rate of accumulation is decreasing with each year and shall eventually cease to advance. Data has been collected on overall mass balance, annual and seasonal precipitation, and summer temperature. The data collected has shown that precipitation over Engabreen has increased overtime and that the mass balance of Engabreen has gotten less positive over the past 40 years. Though Engabreen is growing, as temperatures continue to rise they will cause an increasing amount of ablation. Although Engabreen is likely to see more precipitation in the coming years, increased temperatures will likely cause more ablation than accumulation and Engabreen will retreat like many glaciers around the world.

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conference proceedings

Enhancing Global Research and Education in STEM at Spelman College (G-STEM)

Spelman College

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/sc.gstem:2015_lang_qaasimah_a

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