146
Austre Broggerbreen glacier has a mean annual mass loss of −0.45 m w.e. till
2000 however it increased by 16% and reached −0.53 m w.e. during 2000–2015.
Similarly Midre Loverbreen glacier has also experienced significant increment in
glacier wide mass waste of 26% during 2000–2015. Further Kongsvegen glacier
which was having zero loss till year 2000, has lost a huge amount of ice with mean
mass loss of −0.25 m w.e. during 2000–2015 (Figs. 2 and 3). These changes in glaciers behaviour and response are a strong evidence of warming climate.
Table 2 Mean annual net balance of studied glaciers of Svalbard from 2000 onward
Glacier
Area
Year
Mean net balance
Standard deviation
Austre Broggerbreen
5
2000–2015
−0.52
0.33
Vestre Broggerbreen
38
2012–2015
−0.63
0.2
Kronebreen
2003–2015
−0.57
0.29
Etonbreen
2004–2015
−0.13
0.36
Kongsvegen
15
2000–2015
−0.25
0.39
Midre Loverbreen
6
2000–2015
−0.44
0.29
Data from our studies (Vestre Broggerbreen) and Norwegian Polar Institute (NPI) web site-2018
Fig. 2 Annual net surface balance of glacier of Svalbard from 2000 to 2016
Fig. 3 Annual net surface balance of glacier of Svalbard from 1967 to 2016
P. Sharma et al.