HYDROLOGY OF THE WERENSKIOLD GLACIER CATCHMENT

HYDROLOGY OF THE WERENSKIOLD GLACIER CATCHMENT

Jan LESZKIEWICZ*
Jacek PIASECKI**
Marian PULINA*
•Faculty of Earth Sciences
University of Silesia
Będzińska 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec
POLAND
"Department of Meteorology and Climatology
Geographical Institute
Wrocław University
Kosiby 8, 51-670 Wroclaw
POLAND
POLISH POLAR STUDIES
XXVI Polar Symposium
ggnpj
Lublin, June 1999
HYDROLOGY OF THE WERENSKIOLD GLACIER CATCHMENT
AREA (SOUTH SPITSBERGEN) IN SUMMER 1998
HYDROLOGIA BASENU LODOWCA WERENSKIOLDA
(POŁUDNIOWY SPITSBERGEN) W SEZONIE LETNIM 1998
ABSTRACT
Hydrological problems of the catchment area of the Werenskiold Glacier (South Spitsbergen) in
summer 1998 are presented in the paper. Higher, than the perennial average, air temperature and accompanying foehn effect were the factors increasing discharge from the catchment area by approximately 80% when compared to the average in the seventies and the eighties.
INTRODUCTION
Hydrological investigations were carried out in the Werenskiold Glacier catchment area during the hydrologically active season 1998. Observations and recording of water discharged from the glacier (water levels and flows) were carried
out. The main observations were carried out in a typical hydrometrie profile within
the range of the frontal moraine ridge (Fig. 1). From 8 August till 16 September
continuous analogue observations of water levels were carried out in that profile
(water level gauge). Water levels were marked everyday and several water flows
were measured. The obtained discharge curve enabled the calculation of hourly
flow values in the Glacier River.
There was a meteorological station located in a traditional place on the frontal
moraine, which worked from 13 July till 18 September. The following meteorological data were used for this paper: air temperature, precipitation, humidity and
154
Jan Leszkiewicz, Jacek Piasecki, Marian Pulina
Fig. 1. Basin of the Werenskiold Glacier (SW Spitsbergen): 1 - boundaries of the basin, 2 - slopes of
mountain massifs, 3 - supraglacial and proglacial rivers, 4 - springs, 5 - water reservoirs, 6 - hydrometrie gauging stations, 7 - moraines, 8 - glacier front extent in 1998, 9 - horizontal caves, 10 - glacier
shafts (numbers indicates depth), 11 - meteorological stations, 12 - Stanisław Baranowski Glaciological Station of Wroclaw University
air pressure. Some data collected in Polish Polar Station in Hornsund were also
employed.
Meteorological observations helped to distinguish several types of weather, mainly the periods of foehn winds. The foehn winds accompanied by increase of temperature supplied large amounts of energy to the surface of the glacier (turbulence
exchange of heat), increasing glacier ablation and in further consequence the foehn rise of the water level in the Glacier River.
REMARKS ON THE CATCHMENT AREA OF THE WERENSKIOLD GLACIER
The catchment area of the Werenskiold Glacier (<p = 77°04' N, К = 15°20' E) is
the most thoroughly investigated area in Spitsbergen as far as hydrology in concerned. In the years 1957-1961, 1970-1975, 1978-1983, 1986, 1988, 1998, members of Polish and Czech polar expeditions carried out detailed investigations there,
Hydrology of the Werenskiold Glacier catchment area (South Spitsbergen)..
155
especially in such fields as meteorology, climatology, glaciology and hydrology
(Kosiba 1960; Baranowski 1973; Pulina 1974; Baranowski 1975; Baranowski, Głowicki 1975; Baranowski 1977; Czajkowski 1981; Szczepankiewicz-Szmyrka 1981;
Jania, Kolondra 1982; Pereyma 1983; Pereyma, Piasecki 1983; Krawczyk Pulina,
1983; Głowacki 1983; Kropka, Leszkiewicz 1987; Rehäk et al., 1990, Krawczyk, Leszkiewicz 1995, Rehäk Sen., Rehäk Jun. 1995). The results of investigations covering the whole year carried out in the years 1957-1958 (Kosiba 1960) and in 19791980 (Pulina et al. 1985) are the most important for a thorough investigation of
the hydrological cycle.
The catchment area, which is closed by a hydrometrie profile in the gorge of
the Glacier River in the frontal moraine, covers the Werenskiold Glacier (25 km 2 ),
unglaciated forefield of the glacier (9 km 2 ) and unglaciated slopes and mountain
ridges (10 km 2 ). The total area of the catchment area is equal to 44 km 2 .
The thickness of the Werenskiold Glacier was measured by means of geophysical methods at the end of the seventies and nineties. The average thickness in the
seventies was equal to 100 m (Czajkowski 1982) or 88 m according to Russian glaciologists (Matcheret, Zhuravlev 1982), currently the thickness has decreased and
is equal to approximately 70 m (Głowacki*). Maximum thickness is equal to 250,
320 m respectively. Intensive recession of the glacier is proved by the decrease of
its area. During the last three years, the area of the glacier has decreased by 3 km 2 .
The threefold structure is a characteristic feature of the glacier. Separate glaciers
flow from three cirques and join in the glacier valley forming one but not in the least
non-homogeneous glacial tongue. Its particular parts are separated by medial moraine ridges and each of them have their own drainage systems which are connected with the main outlets in the glacier front. The internal system of the glacial
drainage and the system of (rivers) proglacial streams in the forefield have intensively changed in consecutive hydrological years.
Two streams flow from the glacier into the Sea-gull Lake (Jezioro Mewie) located in the marginal zone, and only one stream flows out of the lake, forming a tributary of the Glacier River.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CATCHMENT AREA DISCHARGE
ON A BACKGROUND OF METEOROLOGICAL ELEMENTS
The data concerning meteorological conditions in the whole active hydrological
season were based on the results of measurements taken at the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund (Fig. 2, 3). Meteorological data from the S. Baranowski Station
located in the forefield of the Werenskiold Glacier were also used. The Station in
Hornsund is representative for low areas affected by an intensive blowout of
snow. Hence, it is difficult to estimate the thickness of snow cover at higher altitu* The paper presented during Speleological School in Lądek Zdrój on 9 February 1999.
Hydrology of the Werenskiold Glacier catchment area (South Spitsbergen).
157
perennial average (approximately 65 cm) and the water equivalent of snow was
equal to 245 mm. The period of snow melting was long, approximately one month
from 30 May till the end of June.
Tab. 1. Selected meteorological and hydrological elements in South Spitsbergen in summer 1998 on the
background of perennial average values
Meteorological
Units and hydrological
Periods
stations
Hornsund
1983-1995
Air temperature °C
1998
Baranowski St.
1998
Hornsund
1978-1995
Precipitation
mm
1998
Baranowski St.
1998
Werenskiold
1972-1988**
3
Discharge
m /s
Glacier River
1998
Meteorogical
and hydrological elements
May
June
July
Aug.
Sept.
Oct.
-2.7
-4.5
1.9
1.7
35.5
0.7
*0.3
*3.2
3.8
5.1
6.4
46.8
31.0
19.4
6.9
12.5
1.0
1.0
•1.4
49.4
40.3
>46.3
2.9
*7.4
-3.9
-2.0
20.1
21.0
4.4
5.3
*6.8
38.0
1.5
*0
8.8
•16.4
44.6
59.4
0.6
* Approximate values; ** Precisely - hydrological years: 1972-1974, 1979-1980, 1983, 1985-1986, 1988.
The flow rate in the Werenskiold Glacier River, as well as discharge from the
catchment area in the investigated period in summer 1998 were approximately
80% higher than the perennial average (Tab. 1). Such high water discharge was
the result of two main factors occurring in the same time which increased the ablation of the glacier. The temperature was 1.5°C higher than the perennial average
in summer months and foehn winds were much more frequent. The low summer
precipitation had no hydrological importance (the total precipitation from July to
22 August was only 6.4 mm in Hornsund). The statistical connection between air
temperature and glacier ablation and in further consequence with ablation discharge is well known in glacial hydrology. However, the foehn effect results in
a significantly higher increase of discharge than the increase caused by a high
temperature accompanying the foehn (Leszkiewicz 1982, 1987). Ablation, foehn
floods are similar to rain floods. There were three ablation, foehn floods in the investigated period (12 July-16 July, 20 July-22 July, and 15 Aug.-19 Aug.) and two
ablation, foehn, floods accompanied by rain (24 Aug.-27 Aug. and 30 Aug.-l
Sept.).
The next flood 2-5 Sept. was caused by rain. When it finished gradual decrease
of the discharge from the catchment area began and lasted two consecutive hydrological seasons: autumn (6 Sept.-23 Sept.), and early winter (24 Sept.-29
Oct.).
The statistical relation between selected meteorological and hydrological elements in the Hornsund region in the summer period 1998 (Tab. 2) was investigated. Significant correlation coefficients between air temperature (at Baranowski
Station and in Hornsund) and water flow in the Werenskiold Glacier River (r =
0.70-0.74 N=70) were obtained. The results will be employed for further statistical
modelling.
Jan Leszkiewicz, Jacek Piasecki, Marian Pulina
158
Q [m /s]
30
1
Fig. 3. Discharge of the Werenskiold Glacier River in the period 8 July-16 Sept. 1998; Smooth line average 24 hour values, Sharp line - one hour values, F - ablation, foehn floods, R - rain floods
Tab. 2. Values of correlation coefficients between selected meteorological and hydrological elements in the
Hornsund region (South Spitsbergen) in summer 1998. Important correlation coefficients are shaded
Q
C25
ТаВб
FB6
PBt
TaH6
FH
TaHav
PHt
APH
Q
1.000
-0.555
0.702
-0.151
0.074
0.743
-0.098
0.762
-0.110
0.093
C25
-0.555
1.000
-0.648
-0.128
-0.052
-0.669
-0.352
-0.740
-0.038
-0.060
TaB6
0.702
-0.648
1.000
-0.485
-0.038
0.791
-0.101
0.870
0.019
0.066
FB6
-0.151
-0.128
-0.485
1.000
0.116
-0.260
0.739
-0.286
0.165
0.045
PBt
0.074
-0.052
-0.038
0.116
1.000
0.018
0.234
-0.055
0.054
-0.056
TaH6
0.743
-0.669
0.791
-0.260
0.018
1.000
-0.211
0.904
-0.008
-0.015
FH
-0.098
-0.352
-0.101
0.739
0.234
-0.211
1.000
-0.093
0.236
0.154
TaHav
0.762
-0.740
0.870
-0.286
-0.055
0.904
-0.093
1.000
0.003
0.035
PHt
-0.110
-0.038
0.019
0.165
0.054
-0.008
0.236
0.003
1.000
0.088
APH
0.093
-0.060
0.066
0.045
-0.056
-0.015
0.154
0.035
0.088
1.000
Q - discharge of the Werenskiold Glacier River, C25 - conductivity (the Werenskiold Glacier River);
TaB6 - air temperature at Baranowski Station (6 a.m.); FB6 - relative humidity of air at Baranowski
Station (6 a.m.); PB - precipitation at Baranowski Station (24 hours total); TaH6 - air temperature in
Hornsund (6 a.m.); FH - relative air humidity in Hornsund (24 hours average); TaHav-air temperature in Hornsund (24 hours average); PHt - precipitation in Hornsund (24 hours total); APH - atmospheric pressure in Hornsund (24 hours average).
Hydrology of the Werenskiold Glacier catchment area (South Spitsbergen).
159
CONCLUSIONS
The c a t c h m e n t area of the Werenskiold Glacier is t h e most thoroughly investigated area in Spitsbergen as far as hydrology in concerned. Hydrological measurem e n t s in the profile closing the catchment area were carried out in 9 seasons. Hydrological data in connection w i t h meteorological data (from the Station in Hornsund and Baranowski Station in the forefield of the glacier) form a base to elaborate a statistical course at the time w h e n hydrological p h e n o m e n a occur.
The 1998 s u m m e r , in south Spitsbergen, was w a r m e r t h a n the average: air
temperature in Hornsund was higher by 1.5°C t h a n t h e perennial average. Apart
from that, w a r m foehn winds occurred. The above factors caused a high discharge
from the c a t c h m e n t area of t h e Werenskiold Glacier w h i c h was more t h a n 80%
higher t h a n the perennial average.
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PEREYMA
STRESZCZENIE
Praca przedstawia zagadnienia hydrologiczne zlewni Lodowca Werenskiolda (Południowy Spitsbergen) latem 1998. Basen ten należy do najlepiej rozpoznanych pod względem hydrologicznym obszarów
Spitsbergenu. W latach 1957-1961, 1970-1975, 1978-1983, 1986, 1988, 1998 uczestnicy polskich i czeskich wypraw polarnych przeprowadzili tam szczegółowe studia m.in. z zakresu meteorologii i klimatologii oraz glacjologii i hydrologii.
Istotna korelacja danych hydrologicznych (Rzeka Lodowcowa Werenskiolda) i meteorologicznych
(ze stacji w Hornsundzie i Stacji Baranowskiego na przedpolu Lodowca Werenskiolda) daje podstawy
do opracowania w przyszłych pracach modelu statystycznego przebiegu w czasie zjawisk hydrologicznych.
Lato 1998 r. było na południowym Spitsbergenie cieplejsze niż zwykłe - temperatura powietrza
w Hornsundzie była wyższa o 1.5°C od średniej z okresu wieloletniego. Ponadto wystąpiły ciepłe wiatry
fenowe, które spowodowały wystąpienie trzech wezbrań ablacyjnych, fenowych. Wysoki odpływ ze
zlewni wywołany przez wymienione czynniki był wyższy o około 80% od średniej z wielolecia.
* This paper was written as a part of a scientific programme No P13-1021-P04/96/10 financed by
the Committee of Scientific Research.