| 1. |
- Beaudon, Emilie, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial and temporal variability of net accumulation from shallow cores from Vestfonna ice cap (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard)
- 2011
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 93:4, s. 287-299
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We analyse ice cores from Vestfonna ice cap (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard). Oxygen isotopic measurements were made on three firn cores (6.0, 11.0 and 15.5 m deep) from the two highest summits of the glacier located on the SW–NE and NW–SE central ridges. Sub-annual δ18O cycles were preserved and could be counted visually in the uppermost parts of the cores, but deeper layers were affected by post-depositional smoothing. A pronounced δ18O minimum was found near the bottom of the three cores. We consider candidates for this δ18O signal to be a valuable reference horizon since it is also seen elsewhere in Nordaustlandet. We attribute it to isotopically depleted snow precipitation, which NCEP/NCAR reanalysis shows was unusual for Vestfonna, and came from northerly air during the cold winter of 1994/95. Finding the 1994/95 time marker allows establishment of a precise depth/age scale for the three cores. The derived annual accumulation rates indirectly fill a geographical gap in mass balance measurements and thus provide information on spatial and temporal variability of precipitation over the glacier for the period spanned by the cores (1992–2009). Comparing records at the two locations also reveals that the snow net accumulation at the easternmost part of Vestfonna was only half of that in the western part over the last 17 years.
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| 2. |
- Braun, Matthias, et al.
(författare)
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Changes of glacial front positions of Vestfonna (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard)
- 2011
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 93:4, s. 301-310
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Glaciers in Svalbard have shown considerable mass loss in recent years with a reported acceleration in the western and southern parts of the archipelago. However, for the ice cap Vestfonna, in northeastern Svalbard, climatic mass balance modelling has suggested almost balanced conditions over a period of nine years (2000–2009). A slightly positive geodetic mass balance (1990–2005) has been reported from a comparison of laser altimetry to older DEMs. A heterogeneous situation has been depicted for the various catchments, and hence changes in glacier extent can reveal additional information of glacier status, in particular when dealing with surge-type glaciers. We analysed a 34-year data record of multi-spectral satellite imagery in order to study changes in glacier frontal positions of the ice cap Vestfonna. A consistent pattern of almost steady retreat of the southern and north-eastern outlet glaciers of the ice cap is observed while Franklinbreen, the only major outlet glacier draining towards the north-west shows re-advance. This is consistent with an observed speed up and potential upcoming surge of this outlet. The glacier retreat on the southern coast also agrees with ICESat elevation change measurements. However, due to the glacier response time no direct relations between frontal retreat and surface mass balance can be drawn from the short observation period. The heterogeneous pattern of changes with on-going dynamic adjustments in some areas make the ice cap Vestfonna an ideal test site for future monitoring activities including novel techniques like differential interferometry from bi-static SAR systems.
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| 3. |
- Chen, D., et al.
(författare)
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A high-resolution, gridded dataset for monthly temperature normals (1971 – 2000) in Sweden
- 2007
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 89:4, s. 249-261
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- A baseline climatology is required in evaluating climate variability and changes on regional and local scales. Gridded climate normals, i.e. averages over a 30-year period, are of special interest since they can be readily used for validation of climate models. This study is aimed at creating an updated gridded dataset for Swedish monthly temperature normals over the period 1971–2000, based on standard 2-m air temperature records at 510 stations in mainland Sweden. Spatial trends of the normal temperatures were modelled as functions of latitude, longitude and elevation by multiple linear regression. The study shows that the temperature normals are strongly correlated with latitude throughout the year and especially in cold months, while elevation was a more important factor in June and July. Longitude played a minor role and was only significant in April and May. Regression equations linking temperature to latitude, longitude and elevation were set up for each month. Monthly temperature normals were detrended by subtracting spatial trends given by the regressions. Ordinary kriging was then applied to both original data (simple method) and de-trended data (composite method) to model the spatial variability and to perform spatial gridding. The multiple regressions showed that between 82% (summer) and 96% (winter) of the variance in monthly temperature normals could be explained by latitude and elevation. Unexplained variances, i.e. the residuals, were modelled with ordinary kriging with exponential semivariograms. The composite grid estimates were calculated by adding the multiple linear trends back to the interpolated residuals at each grid point. Kriged original temperature normals provided a performance benchmark. The cross–validation shows that the interpolation errors of the normals are significantly reduced if the composite method rather than the simple one was used. A gridded monthly dataset with 30-arcsecond spacing was created using the established trends, the kriging model and a digital topographic dataset.
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| 4. |
- Englund, David, et al.
(författare)
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A CASE STUDY OF A FRESHWATER PEARL MUSSEL (MARGARITIFERA MARGARITIFERA) POPULATION IN CENTRAL SWEDEN
- 2008
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 90A:4, s. 251-258
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Most of the Margaritifera margaritifera populations in Sweden are not reproducing. Land use such as forestry, eutrophication and water regulation for hydropower are commonly reported causes for the absence of reproduction. A brook with a very dense population of pearl mussels has been investigated with regard to the age distribution of the population and their habitat, in order to discover the reason for the absence of reproduction. The population consisted almost entirely of old mussels with very few young ones. The water flow and chemistry of the water are very stable and well buffered, due to a large glacifluvial deposit in the catchment area. The substrate in the stream is favourable and well aerated to a depth of at least 15 cm. Forestry has been practised with care for at least the last 15 years to avoid siltation of the stream sediments. The most likely reason for the lack of reproduction seems to be the water regulation of the main stream introduced 60 years ago, which has left the main stream dry seasonally. This is likely to have affected the population of brown trout which is the host for the first life-stage of the mussels, the glochidia.
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| 5. |
- Haussmann, Natalie, et al.
(författare)
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Fine scale variability in soil frost dynamics surrounding cushions of the dominant vascular plant species (Azorella selago) on sub-Antarctic Marion island
- 2009
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 91:4, s. 257-268
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Through changing soil thermal regimes, soil moisture and affecting weathering and erosion processes plants can have an important effect on the physical properties and structure of soils. Such physical soil changes can in turn lead to biological facilitation, such as vegetation-banked terrace formation or differential seedling establishment. We studied the fine scale variability in soil temperature and moisture parameters, specifically focusing on frost cycle characteristics around cushions of the dominant, vascular plant species, Azorella selago, on sub-Antarctic Marion Island. The frost season was characterised by numerous low intensity and very shallow frost cycles. Soils on eastern cushion sides were found to have lower mean and maximum temperatures in winterthan soils on western cushion sides. In addition, lower variability in temperature was found on eastern cushion sides in winterthan on western cushion sides, probably as a result of higher wind speeds on western cushion sides and/or eastern, lee-side snow accumulation. Despite the mild frost climate, extensive frost heave occurred in the study area, indicating that needle ice forms at temperatures above −2°C. Our results demonstrate the effectiveness of frost pull as a heave mechanism under shallow frost conditions. The results highlight the importance of Azorella cushions in modifying site microclimates and of understanding the consequences of these modifications, such as potentially providing microhabitats. Such potential microhabitats are particularly important in light of current climate change trends on the island, as continued warming and drying will undoubtedly increase the need for thermal and moisture refugia.
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| 6. |
- Hormes, Anne, et al.
(författare)
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A geochronological approach to understanding the role of solar activity on Holocene glacier length variability in the Swiss Alps
- 2006
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 88 A:4, s. 281-294
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present a radiocarbon data set of 71 samples of wood and peat material that melted out or sheared out from underneath eight presentday mid-latitude glaciers in the Central Swiss Alps. Results indicated that in the past several glaciers have been repeatedly less extensive than they were in the 1990s. The periods when glaciers had a smaller volume and shorter length persisted between 320 and 2500 years. This data set provides greater insight into glacier variability than previously possible, especially for the early and middle Holocene. The radiocarbon-dated periods defined with less extensive glaciers coincide with periods of reduced radio-production, pointing to a connection between solar activity and glacier melting processes. Measured long-term series of glacier length variations show significant correlation with the total solar irradiance. Incoming solar irradiance and changing albedo can account for a direct forcing of the glacier mass balances. Long-term investigations of atmospheric processes that are in interaction with changing solar activity are needed in order to understand the feedback mechanisms with glacier mass balances.
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| 7. |
- Isaksson, Elisabeth, et al.
(författare)
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Climate oscillations as recorded in Svalbard ice core δ 18O records between 1200-1997 AD
- 2005
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 87a:1, s. 203-214
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We apply two different time series analytical tools to omega18O records from two Svalbard ice cores. One ice core is from Lomonosovfonna at 1250 ma.s.l. and the other from Austfonna at 750 m a.s.l. These cores are estimated to cover at least the past 800 years and have been dated using a combination of known reference horizons and glacial modelling. Wavelet analysis reveals low frequency oscillations on the 60-120-year scale on the lower elevation site Austfonna while the higher altitude site on Lomonosovfonna does not reveal such variability throughout the record. The second method, Significant Zero Crossing of Derivates (SiZer) does not resolve the low-frequency periodicity seen in the wavelet analysis. The low-frequency variability resolved by the wavelet analysis is similar to what has been found in various climate records including instrumental temperatures and tree-rings, and has been proposed as the most important oscillation for the observed trends in Arctic air temperatures.
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| 8. |
- Khanchoul, Kamel, et al.
(författare)
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Sediment rating curves developed on stage and seasonal means in discharge classes for the Mellah wadi, Algeria
- 2008
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 90A:3, s. 227-236
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The focus of the present study was to estimate suspended sediment load from the Mellah catchment (550 km(2)) during storms. Suspended sediment rating curves were developed on data from a 23-year period. The regression technique of this paper involves a division of data into discharge-based classes, the mean concentrations and discharges of which are used to develop power regressions through log-transformation. Sediment rating curves were also developed on means of data grouped into seasons and stages. Sediment loads estimated by rating curves uncorrected for bias involved underestimations of down to 9% compared with loads from measured concentrations. Correction for bias reduced underestimations to a range from 0.79 to 3%. Rating curves divided into rising and falling stages had the lowest underestimation and were used to estimate load during periods without concentration measurements. During the 23-year study period, the mean annual suspended sediment yield was 373 T/km(2). Sediment transport is dominated by winter storms accounting for 61% of the annual load. A high exponent 'b' of the power regression equations during the winter season confirms the intense geomorphic work by winter season storms caused by high intensity rainfall, low vegetation cover, and heavy machine activity in the fields.
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| 9. |
- Moeller, Marco, et al.
(författare)
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Snowpack Characteristics of Vestfonna and De Geerfonna (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard) : A Spatiotemporal Analysis Based on Multiyear Snow-Pit Data
- 2011
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 93A:4, s. 273-285
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Extensive glaciological field measurements were carried out on the ice cap Vestfonna as well as on the minor ice body De Geerfonna (Nordaustlandet, Svalbard) within the framework of IPY Kinnvika. Field campaigns were conducted during the period 20072010 in spring (April/May) and summer (August). In this study we compile and present snow cover information obtained from 22 snow pits that were dug on Vestfonna during this period. Locations are along two transects on the northwestern, land terminating slope of the ice cap, on its central summit, Ahlmann Summit, and at a set of several other locations in the eastern and northern part of the ice cap. Snow-cover information acquired from four snow pits on adjacent De Geerfonna is also incorporated in this study. Field data are analysed regarding snow stratigraphy, snow density, snow hardness and snow temperature. Results reveal mean snow densities of around 400 kg m-3 for the snowpack of Vestfonna with no apparent spatial or interannual variability. A distinctly higher value of more than 450 kg m-3 was obtained for De Geerfonna. A spatial comparison of snow water equivalents above the previous end-of-summer surface serves for obtaining insights into the spatial distribution of snow accumulation across Vestfonna. Altitude was found to be the only significant spatial parameter for controlling snow accumulation across the ice cap.
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| 10. |
- Mörner, Nils-Axel, et al.
(författare)
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Heimdall's stones at Vitemölla in Sweden and the chronology and stratigraphy of the surroundings
- 2009
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Ingår i: Geografiska Annaler. Series A, Physical Geography. - : Informa UK Limited. - 0435-3676 .- 1468-0459. ; 91A:3, s. 205-213
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Heimdall's Stones at Vitemolla is an archaeological monument of stones arranged in circles and where sightlines can be identified of the sunrise and sunset at winter and summer solstices and spring and autumn equinoxes. Therefore, this stone monument is likely to have served as an archaeoastronomic observatory. It is founded in a fossil land surface now covered by half a metre of eolian sand. In order to date this sand drift, sediment coring was performed in the nearby Sandefloen bog. Seven levels were subjected to AMS C14 dating. The first sand drift, correlated with the sand drift covering Heimdall's Stones, was dated at 500-600 cal. bc. Consequently, the observatory has to date back to the Bronze Age, fitting well with its Sun cult and with the rock carvings recorded on the individual stones. At the seashore 500 m east of the observatory and the bog, we were able to reconstruct the sea-level changes. In conclusion, we combine the recorded sea-level changes with the C14-dated bog stratigraphy and the observed stratigraphy at Heimdall's Stones (covering an area of 500x500 m) into one unified picture. The chronostratigraphic position of Heimdall's Stones agrees well with the dating of the Kivik grave. The Vitemolla area is likely to have been an important cultural centre in the Bronze Age.
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