IASC Workshop on the dynamics andmass budget of Arctic glaciers

Abstracts and program
Network on Arctic Glaciology annual meeting &IASC cross-cutting activity on ”Societal impacts of glacierand snow changes in a warming Arctic”
22-24 January 2024, Obergurgl, Austria
Organised by: Ward van Pelt, Jakob Abermann and Wesley Van
WychenNetwork on Arctic Glaciology

ISBN: 978-91-527-7765-7

Participants of the 2024 IASC workshop on Arctic Glaciology in Obergurgl, Austria.
(Photo: Shin Sugiyama)

Contents
Preface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Posters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7Participants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

Minutes of the IASC-NAG open forum meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

11

Abstracts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

Dynamic changes in glacial landforms: Analysis of the evolution of theglacier forefield terrain based on data from different years . . . . . . . . . .

14

Using received laser signal intensity to measure snow and ice surface
properties automatically . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

14

Seasonality in Terminus Ablation Rates for the Glaciers in Kalaallit Nunaat(Greenland) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

15

Observed frontal processes prior to a large calving event at Sermeq Kujalleq in West Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

16Novel developments in automated mass balance measurements . . . . . .

16

Investigating rates of sedimentation and oceanic melt at a major tidewateroutlet glacier in South Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

17Advancing knowledge of glacier dynamic instabilities in the Canadian Arctic: insights from recent analyses and directions for future research . . . .

17

Surface energy balance closure over snow and ice from in-situ measurements in the ablation zone of the Greenland ice sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

Reanalysis of the Surface Mass Balance of Mittivakkat Glacier (Southeast
Greenland) synthesizing different data sources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

18

Recent changes in geometry and mass of the Grise Fiord Glacier, NU . . .

19

Assessing future changes in Greenland runoff using machine learning andclimate models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

20

What remains of LIA glacier extent? Recent morphometric evolution of 2
high-Arctic ice-cored slopes in the context of a glacier retreat . . . . . . . .

20

Impacts of cryosphere change on natural hazards in Alaska . . . . . . . . . .

21

Living with or without snow and ice: Changes in the cryosphere affecthuman activities in the high north . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

21

Future sea level changes around Iceland: contribution from the Ice sheets,
Icelandic glaciers and land uplift . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22

Glaciers and climate change in West Greenland – Wegener, his impact andheritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

22Greenland ice sheet melt-elevation feedback at automatic weather stationsites and beyond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23

Adaptive Practices in Glacier Tourism: A Case Study of Small- and MiddleScale Operators in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

23

1

Pan Arctic glacier runoff and calving time series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

24

Glacier retreat in Sørkapp Land, Spitsbergen, from 1961 to 2020. . . . . . .

24

Snow cover evolution at Qasigiannguit glacier, West Greenland . . . . . . .

25

Recent Dynamics of Yelverton Glacier, Northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut

25

Snow observations in Alaska: The need for continued in situ monitoring .

26

Distribution and characteristics of glacier surges across the St. Elias Mountains, Yukon-Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

26

Drivers of melt-induced ice speed-up events on Hansbreen, Svalbard . . .

27

The Impacts of Climate Change on Youth’s Place Attachment. A case studyof Tasiilaq, East Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

27

LATTICE: Land-terminating ice cliffs in North Greenland: processes, drivers
and their relation to regional climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

How to propel a floating iceberg 400 m up into the air . . . . . . . . . . . . .

28

Modeling the dynamic response of polythermal valley glaciers to climatechange on a regional scale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29

Studying frontal ablation of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund fjord, Svalbard:
a multi-sensor approach . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

29

Identifying Glacial Pulsing characteristics in the Canadian Arctic . . . . . . .

30Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Classification from Satellite Optical Remote
Sensing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

30

Subsurface water movement in the percolation zone of the Greenland ice
sheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

31

Modeling frontal ablation in a global glacier evolution model . . . . . . . . .

31

Feasibility of statistical and machine learning methods for discoveringlarge-scale drivers of local melt rates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32

Changes in coastal environments and their impact on society in Qaanaaq,
northwestern Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

32

Influence of sea-ice variability on the surface mass balance of Freya Glacier,Northeast Greenland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Impacts of the changing cryosphere on an Inuit community in East Greenland and challenges in communication between scientists and community
members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

33

Planned relocation due to landslide-triggered tsunami risk in recently deglaciatedareas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Research on a vanishing object . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

34

Thickness inversion for all glaciers in Svalbard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35

Hydrothermal structure of Elfenbeinbreen, Sabine Land, Svalbard, andthe use of gprMax to simulate the hydrothermal structure of polythermal
glaciers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

35

Snow modelling for the Sami reindeer herders in northern Sweden . . . . .

36

Glacier Lake Outburst Floods in the Canadian Arctic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

36

2

Preface
The 2024 IASC Workshop on the Dynamics and Mass Budget of Arctic Glaciers& the IASC Network on Arctic Glaciology (NAG) Annual Meeting took place at the
University Centre in Obergurgl, Austria, 22-24 January 2024. The workshop hosted
a cross-cutting activity on "Societal impacts of glacier and snow cover changes ina warming Arctic" and attracted 48 participants representing 14 countries. We
thank the IASC Cryosphere, Atmosphere and Social & Human Working groups forsupporting the meeting and cross-cutting activity, which for example allowed fortravel support of fifteen early-career scientists and one keynote speaker.
As during previous meetings, the program covered 2.5 days and included six
oral presentation sessions (of which two cross-cutting sessions), a poster session + introductions, cross-cutting discussion session, and the NAG open forum.
The meeting contained a total of 44 presentations, of which 28 oral presentations and 15 posters. Topics in the general workshop on Arctic glaciology included
snow and firn processes, frontal processes, glacier dynamics and glacier massbalance. The cross-cutting activity consisted of two oral presentation sessions,followed by a cross-cutting discussion. Two keynote lectures were given on Impacts of cryosphere change on natural hazards in Alaska (Gabriel Wolken) and
Living with or without snow and ice: Changes in the cryosphere affect humanactivities in the high north (Grete Hovelsrud). Other cross-cutting presentations
discussed among others impacts of cryospheric change on Arctic communities,
e.g. in Greenland, seasonal snow monitoring and trends and impacts on humanactivities, glacier tourism, land-slide induced risks, glacier outburst floods, andArctic sea level change. Engagement of social scientists and glaciologists in the
cross-cutting discussion led to vibrant discussions, e.g. on how to generate funding for cross-cutting cryosphere - societal projects, and on science communicationand increased involvement of Arctic communities/ indigenous knowledge holders
in our research.
During the open forum meeting, it was confirmed that the next IASC NAG meeting is held in Niseko, Japan, on 21-23 January 2025, and more details were provided by local organizer Shin Sugiyama. It was further decided that the 2026
meeting is held in Obergurgl, Austria, in late January. Furthermore, a number ofchanges were made to the list of national contacts (Regine Hock and Eric Bernard
as new national contacts for Norway and France, respectively). Finally, we discussed the future hybrid meeting format, upcoming cross-cutting activities (potentially shifting the focus to Arctic glacier hazards in 2026) and website updates.
Thank so much for your participation and contributions! And I already look forward the next occassion in Japan!
Best regards,
Ward van Pelt

3

Schedule
The meeting takes place at the University Centre in Obergurgl, Austria, 22 - 24
January, 2024.

Sunday 21 January
19:00 - 20:00

DinnerMonday 22 January
08:30 - 09:00

Registration: pick up your name badge and copy of program.
Please upload your presentations for the morning session.

09:00 - 09:05

WelcomeSession I:
Convener:
09:05 - 09:20

Snow and firn processes
Carleen Tijm-Reijmer
Using received laser signal intensity to measure snow and ice
surface properties automatically - Alexander Prokop
Subsurface water movement in the percolation zone of theGreenland ice sheet - Regine HockHydrothermal structure of Elfenbeinbreen, Sabine Land,
Svalbard, and the use of gprMax to simulate the hydrothermal
structure of polythermal glaciers - Unai Letamendia
Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Classification from Satellite OpticalRemote Sensing - Rasmus Bahbah

09:20 - 09:35
09:35 - 09:50

09:50 - 10:05

10:05 - 10:35

Coffee break

Session II:
Convener:
10:35 - 10:50

Frontal processes
Jakob Abermann
How to propel a floating iceberg 400 m up into the air - Martin
Lüthi
Observed frontal processes prior to a large calving event at
Sermeq Kujalleq in West Greenland - Andrea Kneib-Walter
Modeling frontal ablation in a global glacier evolution model Ruitang Yang
Seasonality in Terminus Ablation Rates for the Glaciers in
Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland) - Aman KC
LATTICE: Land-terminating ice cliffs in North Greenland:
processes, drivers and their relation to regional climate - Marie
Schroeder

10:50 - 11:05
11:05 - 11:20
11:20 - 11:35
11:35 - 11:50

4

11:50 - 15:45

Lunch & ski break

15:45 - 16:15

Coffee break

16:15 - 16:45

Poster introductions(1-2 slides and max. 2 minutes per person)

Convener:

Wesley Van Wychen

16:45 - 18:30

Poster session

19:00 - 20:00

DinnerTuesday 23 January
Session III:

Cross-cutting session (part I)

Convener:

Lea Hartl

09:00 - 09:20[Keynote] Impacts of cryosphere change on natural hazards in
Alaska - Gabriel Wolken

09:20 - 09:35

Planned relocation due to landslide-triggered tsunami risk inrecently deglaciated areas - Stephanie Matti

09:35 - 09:50

Adaptive Practices in Glacier Tourism: A Case Study of Smalland Middle-Scale Operators in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland- Johannes Welling

09:50 - 10:05

Impacts of the changing cryosphere on an Inuit community inEast Greenland and challenges in communication between
scientists and community members - Sophie Elixhauser

10:05 - 10:35

Coffee break

Session IV:

Cross-cutting session (part II)

Convener:

Elke Schlager

10:35 - 10:55[Keynote] Living with or without snow and ice: Changes in thecryosphere affect human activities in the high north - Grete
Hovelsrud

10:55 - 11:10

Snow cover evolution at Qasigiannguit glacier, West Greenland Kirsty Langley

11:10 - 11:25

Changes in coastal environments and their impact on society inQaanaaq, northwestern Greenland - Shin Sugiyama

11:25 - 12:00

Cross-cutting discussion - led by Gabriel Wolken

12:00 - 16:15

Lunch & ski break

Session V:

Glacier dynamics

Convener:

Owen Nowitsky

5

16:15 - 16:30

Drivers of melt-induced ice speed-up events on Hansbreen,
Svalbard - Małgorzata Błaszczyk

16:30 - 16:45

Distribution and characteristics of glacier surges across the St.
Elias Mountains, Yukon-Alaska - Luke Copland

16:45 - 17:00

Modeling the dynamic response of polythermal valley glaciers to
climate change on a regional scale - Matt Nolan

17:00 - 17:10

Short break

17:10 - 18:30

IASC Network on Arctic Glaciology – Open forum meeting

19:00 - 20:00

DinnerWednesday 24 January
Session V:

Glacier dynamics (cont’d)Convener:

Owen Nowitsky

09:00 - 09:15

Thickness inversion for all glaciers in Svalbard - Thomas Frank

09:15 - 09:30

What remains of LIA glacier extent? Recent morphometricevolution of 2 high-Arctic ice-cored slopes in the context of a
glacier retreat - Eric Bernard

Session VI:

Glacier mass balance

Convener:

Marie Schroeder

09:30 - 09:45

Pan Arctic glacier runoff and calving time series - Jonathan
Bamber

09:45 - 10:00

Recent changes in geometry and mass of the Grise Fiord
Glacier, NU - Dave Burgess

10:00 - 10:15

Surface energy balance closure over snow and ice from in-situ
measurements in the ablation zone of the Greenland ice sheet Carleen Tijm-Reijmer

10:15 - 10:50

Coffee break

10:50 - 11:05

Glaciers and climate change in West Greenland – Wegener, his
impact and heritage - Jakob Abermann

11:05 - 11:20

Greenland ice sheet melt-elevation feedback at automaticweather station sites and beyond - Jason Box

11:20 - 11:35

Feasibility of statistical and machine learning methods fordiscovering large-scale drivers of local melt rates - SebastianScher

11:35 - 11:50

Novel developments in automated mass balance measurements- Andreas Ahlstrøm

11:50 - 12:00

Final words
followed by lunch / skiing / side events / early departure

19:00 - 20:00

Dinner6

Posters• Dynamic changes in glacial landforms: Analysis of the evolution of the glacierforefield terrain based on data from different years - Adrian Szalkowski• *Investigating rates of sedimentation and oceanic melt at a major tidewateroutlet glacier in South Greenland - Andreas Vieli• *Assessing future changes in Greenland runoff using machine learning andclimate models - Elke Schlager• Advancing knowledge of glacier dynamic instabilities in the Canadian Arctic:
insights from recent analyses and directions for future research - Benoît
Lauzon• Reanalysis of the Surface Mass Balance of Mittivakkat Glacier (Southeast
Greenland) synthesizing different data sources - Christoph Posch• *Future sea level changes around Iceland: contribution from the Ice sheets,
Icelandic glaciers and land uplift - Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir
• Glacier retreat in Sørkapp Land, Spitsbergen, from 1961 to 2020 - Justyna
Dudek• Recent Dynamics of Yelverton Glacier, Northern Ellesmere Island, Nunavut Kristie Shannon• *Snow observations in Alaska: The need for continued in situ monitoring - Lea
Hartl• Studying frontal ablation of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund fjord, Svalbard: amulti-sensor approach - Oskar Glowacki• Identifying Glacial Pulsing characteristics in the Canadian Arctic - Owen
Nowitsky• Influence of sea-ice variability on the surface mass balance of Freya Glacier,Northeast Greenland - Sonika Shahi• Research on a vanishing object - Svenja Holste• *Snow modelling for the Sami reindeer herders in northern Sweden - Ward van
Pelt• *Glacier Lake Outburst Floods in the Canadian Arctic - Wesley Van Wychen* Contribution to the cross-cutting activity on "Societal impacts of glacier andsnow cover changes in a warming Arctic environment"

7Participants
1. Adrian Szalkowski* (adrian.szalkowskil [at] gmail.com)
UMCS/University of Marie Curie-Skłodowskiej, Poland
2. Alexander Prokop (alexander.prokop [at] univie.ac.at)University of Vienna, Austria
3. Aman KC* (amankc [at] u.boisestate.edu)
Boise State University, USA
4. Andrea Kneib-Walter (andrea.walter [at] geo.uzh.ch)
University of Zurich, Switzerland
5. Andreas Ahlstrøm (apa [at] geus.dk)
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
6. Andreas Vieli (andreas.vieli [at] geo.uzh.ch)
University of Zurich, Switzerland
7. Anna Baldo (anna.baldo [at] student.uibk.ac.at)University of Innsbruck, Austria
8. Benoît Lauzon* (blauz052 [at] uottawa.ca)
University of Ottawa, Canada
9. Bernhard Hynek (bernhard.hynek [at] geosphere.at)
Geosphere Austria, Austria
10. Carleen Tijm-Reijmer (c.h.tijm-reijmer [at] uu.nl)
Utrecht University, The Netherlands
11. Dave Burgess (david.burgess [at] nrcan-rncan.gc.ca)
Natural Resources Canada, Canada
12. Elke Schlager* (elke [at] schlager.bz)
Aarhus University & Danish Meteorological Institute, Denmark
13. Eric Bernard (eric.bernard [at] univ-fcomte.fr)
CNRS, France
14. Francisco Navarro (francisco.navarro [at] upm.es)
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
15. Gabriel Wolken* (gabriel.wolken [at] alaska.gov)
University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA
16. Grete Hovelsrud (gho [at] nforsk.no)
Nordland Research Institute, Norway
17. Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir (gua [at] hi.is)
University of Iceland, Iceland
18. Jakob Abermann (jakob.abermann [at] uni-graz.at)University of Graz, Austria
19. Jason Box (jbox.greenland [at] gmail.com)
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
20. Johannes Welling* (hwelling [at] hi.is)
University of Iceland, Iceland
21. Jonathan Bamber (j.bamber [at] bristol.ac.uk)
Technical University Munich, Germany
22. Justyna Dudek* (justyna_dudek [at] wp.pl)
8

Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
23. Kirsty Langley (kal [at] asiaq.gl)
Asiaq - Greenland Survey, Denmark
24. Kristie Shannon* (kmshanno [at] uwaterloo.ca)
University of Waterloo, Canada
25. Lea Hartl (lbhartl [at] alaska.edu)
Alaska Climate Research Center (ACRC) / UAF, USA
26. Leopold Schlagbauer (leopold.schlagbauer [at] student.uibk.ac.at)University of Innsbruck, Austria
27. Luke Copland (luke.copland [at] uottawa.ca)
University of Ottawa, Canada
28. Małgorzata Błaszczyk (malgorzata.blaszczyk [at] us.edu.pl)
University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
29. Maria Risager* (mariarisager [at] live.dk)
Aalborg University, Denmark
30. Marie Schroeder* (marie.schroeder [at] uibk.ac.at)University of Innsbruck, Austria
31. Martin Lüthi (martin.luethi [at] geo.uzh.ch)
University of Zurich, Switzerland
32. Matt Nolan (matt [at] fairbanksfodar.com)
Serving Earth Science Inc, USA
33. Michael Kuhn (michael.kuhn [at] uibk.ac.at)University of Innsbruck, Austria
34. Oskar Glowacki (oglowacki [at] igf.edu.pl)
Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
35. Owen Nowitsky* (opnowits [at] uwaterloo.ca)
University of Waterloo, Canada
36. Rasmus Bahbah (rabni [at] geus.dk)
Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
37. Regine Hock (regineho [at] uio.no)
University of Oslo, Norway
38. Ruitang Yang (tangruiyang123 [at] gmail.com)
University of Oslo, Norway
39. Sebastian Scher* (sscher [at] know-center.at)
Know-Center, Austria
40. Shin Sugiyama (sugishin [at] lowtem.hokudai.ac.jp)
Hokkaido University, Japan
41. Sonika Shahi* (sonika.shahi [at] uni-graz.at)University of Graz, Austria
42. Sophie Elixhauser (sophie.elixhauser [at] univie.ac.at)University of Vienna, Austria
43. Stephanie Matti* (steph.matti [at] gmail.com)
University of Iceland, Iceland
44. Svenja Holste (svenja.holste [at] uni-bielefeld.de)Bielefeld University, Germany
45. Thomas Frank* (thomas.frank [at] geo.uu.se)
Uppsala University, Sweden
46. Unai Letamendia* (unai.letamendia [at] upm.es)
Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain947. Ward van Pelt (ward.van.pelt [at] geo.uu.se)
Uppsala University, Sweden
48. Wesley Van Wychen (wvanwychen [at] uwaterloo.ca)
University of Waterloo, Canada*ECRs or keynote speakers receiving travel support

10

Minutes of the IASC-NAG open forum
meeting
Chair: Ward van Pelt
Minutes: Kristie Shannon
Invited to attend: all participants of the workshop.
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Recent developments
IASC Network on Arctic Glaciology
Chair, vice-chair and national contacts
Upcoming meetings
Hybrid solutions
Cross-cutting activity
Website & promotion

Recent developments
Ward van Pelt presents an overview of activities of the Network on Arctic Glaciology since the last meeting in January 2023. Developments included website
updates & reporting to IASC (Feb 2023), IASC funding decision (Apr 2023), firstmeeting announcement (May 2023), meeting preparations, search for keynotes(Jun-Aug 2023), registration & abstract submission (Sep-Nov 2023), final meeting
preparations, application to IASC for next cross-cutting activity (Dec 2023 -Jan2024).
IASC Network on Arctic Glaciology
An overview is given of the general aims and objectives of the IASC Network on
Arctic Glaciology, and its history. Main objectives of the annual meetings are to1) present and discuss new research, 2) coordinate fieldwork, 3) discuss future
project ideas and collaboration, 4) networking.
Chair, vice-chair and national contacts
The chair (Ward van Pelt) and vice-chair (Wesley Van Wychen) indicated interestin continuing with their role and this was supported by the participants. Both are
likely to step down though after the Japan meeting. Suggestions for replacements
are welcomed. Ward indicated potential availability as vice-chair in 2025 to help
with the transition to a new chair. The list of national contacts was then discussed
and a few suggestions for changes emerged. Confirmed are new national contacts
for Norway (Regine Hock, replacing Jon Ove Hagen) and France (Eric Bernard, replacing Florian Tolle). Brice Noël will be asked as new national contact for Belgium(currently no contact).
Upcoming meetings
The 2025 meeting will be held in Niseko, Japan, on 21-23 January. This was alreadyconfirmed at the previous meeting and local organizer Shin Sugiyama gave an
11introduction about the Japan meeting. Travel to Niseko is most convenient via
Tokyo and Sapporo by plane and from Sapporo to Niseko by bus. The meetingvenue will be the Hilton Hotel. The deadline for registration will likely be late
October.
Based on a vote a preliminary decision was taken to have the 2026 meeting inObergurgl, from 26 to 28 January (Monday - Wednesday). We would have 24-27
double rooms at the University Center (in 2024 we used 30 rooms). An alternative
would be to have the meeting in Switzerland, but only if a price-wise comparable
alternative would be found (Martin Lüthi will contact some potential venues).
Will Kochtitzky has indicated interest in organizing the 2027 meeting in Maine,USA. This will be discussed further at the next meeting in Japan. Luke Copland also
indicated interest in organizing the meeting in Canada sometime in the future, butpreferably after 2027.
Hybrid solutions
Several hybrid meeting solutions were presented for future meetings and as inprevious discussions the preference is still for the ’hybrid-medium’ variant, which
implies a physical meeting with live-streamed presentations. This is the sameformat as during the current meeting. To open up for more online attendants,
we will advertise the livestream on the Cryolist a few days before the meeting.
Whether or not to also record presentations will be discussed further before theJapan meeting.
Cross-cutting activity
It is discussed that a proposal for funding of a cross-cutting activity was submitted
to IASC in January 2024. Topic: "Impacts of the changing land-based cryosphereon Arctic society". IASC working groups involved: Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Social& Human, and Terrestrial. The activity will be presented to IASC WG members on
February 7 and a decision will likely follow in April after the Arctic Science Summit
Week. The activity will look into societal impacts of Arctic glacier retreat (e.g. sea
level rise & coastal communities, glacier outburst floods, water resources, andglacier tourism) seasonal snow trends (e.g. rain-on-snow events, extreme precipitation, hydropower potential, snow cover duration & mobility and avalanches),and permafrost changes (e.g. landslides, coastal erosion, GHG release, ecosysC12500. Early-career scientists will
tem & mobility changes). Requested funding: =be engaged in the planning, execution and reporting of the meeting.
In a discussion on future cross-cutting activities an idea was raised by Regine
Hock to focus on "Glacier hazards" in an attempt to involve many (if not all) IASC
WGs, but still with a direct connection to glaciological research. There was an
overall positive reply to this suggestion. Another idea is to revisit previous crosscutting themes. It was further mentioned that cross-cutting activities may be
more effective and may attract more participants when the same WGs are involved several years in a row.
Engaging scientists from the different disciplines in the cross-cutting activity
will be a challenge that will require effort from the entire network. Any suggestions
on whom to best involve and approach are welcomed and can be shared with thechair.

12

Website promotion
The state of the current website (nag.iasc.info) was briefly discussed. No majorchanges will be implemented. One suggestion was to update the pictures withnewer photos. If anyone has photos of fieldwork or similar that would fit well on
the website, please share them with the chair. To reduce the carbon footprint wewill make sure to reduce the image file size.
An abstract book will be distributed in February or March. An ISBN will be
added.
For meeting promotion it was advised to get in touch with APECS. They canadvertise the meeting among young scientists and potentially help with the selection of ECRs that will receive support (in case we receive funding from IASC).

13

Abstracts
Dynamic changes in glacial landforms: Analysis of theevolution of the glacier forefield terrain based on datafrom different years
Adrian Szalkowski1 , Maja Pot˛
ega1 , Michał‚ Jarocki1 , Piotr Zagórski1
1 UMCS/University of Marie Curie-Skłodowskiej, Poland

This poster presents dynamic changes in glacial landforms, with a specific focus on
the evolution of the Renard Glacier forefield terrain over a three-year period. Using datacollected by a unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), advanced geospatial technologies to transform the gathered images into detailed orthophotomaps and terrain models. The primaryobjective is to analyse and compare changes in the glacier forefield terrain over three
years. Orthophotomaps generated using iTwin Capture Modeler, Agisoft Metashape Professional, Global Mapper v.23 pl, and ArcGIS Pro 3.2 are crucial tools for visualizing andquantifying these changes. The integration of UAV technology and advanced mapping
software allows for a detailed examination of the landscape, providing insights into the
dynamic processes shaping the glacial environment. The study focuses on key indicators of glacial landform evolution, exploring variations in moraine deposits and overall
topographic transformations. By utilizing data from multiple years, the research aims todiscern trends and patterns, shedding light on the dynamic processes in the glacier forefield. Additionally, the comparison of orthophotomaps created from UAV images allows for
a comprehensive understanding of how environmental factors contribute to the observedchanges. This research not only contributes to the growing knowledge of dynamics ofproglacial zone but also emphasizes the importance of integrating UAV technology andadvanced cartographic tools in monitoring environmental changes. The results have implications for broader research on the impact of climate change, glacial geomorphology,
providing valuable information for sustainable land management in glacial environments.

Using received laser signal intensity to measure snow
and ice surface properties automatically
Alexander Prokop1 , Jean-Michel Friedt2 , Eric Bernard2 , Florian Tolle2
1 University of Vienna, Austria
2 Université de Franche-Comté, France

In the context of climate warming it is a common scientific goal to study and monitor surface and volume changes of glaciers and melting dynamics of its snow and ice.
Therefore several measurement techniques exist to track permanently ice melting e.g.
DGPS stations on glaciers, Smart stake, and snow and ice depth measurements via e.g.
ultrasonic depth sensors to create time series of snow and ice loss or gain. None of theexisting methods measure if actually liquid water is present and melting occurs, this islater concluded by interpretation of the geometric data. The capability of the laser sensor
to do so via the reflectance value, in fact the received signal intensity, we consider as a14

big advantage and worth investigating further as a direct measure of snow or ice meltthat helps not only to analyze glacier dynamics but is also important e.g. for providing
reliable ground truth data for satellite remote sensing. When melting of snow and ice occurs, water changes the reflectance properties as due to absorption of the laser in water,
only a portion of the laser is reflected. This allows determining if liquid water is present at
the surface measured. We present the data collected in the last 2 melting seasons of theAustre Lovénbreen glacier near Ny Alesund, Svalbard. We show how we classify wet snow
and wet ice hours with confidence and are able to compute melting rates. The single
point measurement is put into context to area wide LiDAR measurements and melting dynamics of the glacier are analyzed. The data was verified against visual inspections fromautomatic cameras, data from an automatic weather station both located in the glacier
catchment and ice melt was measured in close proximity with a SmartStake station.

Seasonality in Terminus Ablation Rates for the Glaciersin Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
Aman KC1 , Ellyn Enderlin1 , Dominik Fahrner2 , Twila Moon3 , Dustin Carroll4
1 Boise State University, USA
2 University of Oregon, USA
3 University of Colorado Boulder, USA
4 San José State University, USA

Since the 1990s, the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) has undergone accelerated massloss, with a substantial portion due to the dynamic effects of terminus retreat. Conventional assessments of dynamic mass loss, however often overlook the critical aspect ofterminus change, focusing primarily on inland ice flow. In this research, I construct andanalyze mass loss due to both temporal variations in ice flow and detachment of ice
from the glacier terminus, called terminus ablation, for 55 marine-terminating glaciers inGreenland over a ten-year period from 2013 to 2023. I calculated terminus ablation rates
using openly accessible data for terminus positions, surface elevation, bed elevation, andglacier speed so that we could facilitate the extension of the terminus ablation time series when more data become available. Throughout the decade, both terminus ablationand discharge increased in the spring at most glaciers, supporting previous observationsof coincident terminus retreat and glacier flow acceleration. However, terminus ablation
was more irregular than discharge over seasonal to inter-annual time scales, signifying thepresence of sporadic ice fluxes into the oceans that differ from what is estimated throughdischarge time series. Three common variations in terminus ablation were identified: erratic seasonal cycles, consistent seasonal variations, and large inter-annual fluctuations.
On grouping glaciers into regions to examine the regional patterns, larger seasonal oscillations in terminus ablation than discharge were observed. Causal links between terminus
ablation and discharge could not be inferred from the datasets due in part to variations in
temporal resolution of terminus and discharge observations for each glacier and across all
study glaciers. However, the larger magnitude and more sporadic variations in terminus
ablation with respect to discharge suggest that studies focused on the impacts of varying
freshwater input from Greenland’s glaciers into the ocean should use terminus ablation
time series to accurately capture temporal variations in freshwater fluxes to the oceans.

15Observed frontal processes prior to a large calving eventat Sermeq Kujalleq in West Greenland
Andrea Kneib-Walter1 , Guillaume Jouvet2 , Adrien Wehrlé1 , Ana Nap1 , Martin P. Lüthi1
1 University of Zurich, Switzerland
2 University of Lausanne, Switzerland

Outlet glaciers and ice streams transport ice from the ice sheets to the ocean, where
the glaciers lose mass by iceberg calving. Within the framework of the COEBELI project
we conducted extensive fieldwork to investigate the complex processes at the ice stream
margins and the calving front of Sermeq Kujalleq (SKK, Jakobshavn Isbræ), one of thelargest and most dynamic ice streams of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Such processes are
essential to understand for projections of the ice sheet evolution but challenging to observe due to the highly dynamic environment. During extensive fieldwork in July 2022 we
conducted drone photogrammetry surveys and GPRI measurements at SKK along otherfield measurements including in-situ GPS, seismometers, and time-lapse imagery. The
resulting high-resolution ortho-images, digital elevation models (DEM) and displacement
maps enable us to investigate changes in surface topography and ice dynamics. During
the observation period several large calving events occurred. Prior to one of this largescale events an area revealed surface lowering while moving downstream towards thecalving front. The rupture of the calving event initiated behind this lowering area. The
high temporal and spatial resolution of the drone and GPRI data enables us to investigate
the lowering of the area and its influence on the calving process, which gives further insights into potential forcings on calving. Furthermore, we can study crevasse opening,
acceleration of the front and weaknesses in the ice and their origin.

Novel developments in automated mass balance measurements
Andreas P. Ahlstrøm1 , Robert S. Fausto1 , Jason E. Box1 , Penelope How1 , Nanna B.
Karlsson1 , Baptiste Vandecrux1 , Anja Rutishauser1 , Mads C. Lund1 , William T. Colgan1 ,Michele Citterio1 , Anne M. Solgaard1 , Signe H. Larsen1 , Niels J. Korsgaard1 , Kristian K.
Kjeldsen1 , Rasmus B. Nielsen1 , Signe B. Andersen1 , Jakob Jakobsen1 , Allan Petersen1 ,Christopher L. Shields1 , Alexandra Messerli2 , Kirsty Langley2 , Mai Winstrup3 , Louise S.
Sørensen3 , Kenneth D. Mankoff4 , Patrick J. Wright5
1 GEUS - Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
2 Asiaq
3 DTU-Space, Denmark
4 NASA-GISS, USA
5 Synoptic Data, USA

The rapid demise of ice sheets and glaciers worldwide has increased the need formass balance observations at a temporal and spatial resolution, where they can both
help us understand the physical processes and also serve as validation or calibration for
remote sensing data products or regional climate model output. Here we present thelatest developments in measuring crucial components of the surface mass balance at
automatic weather stations, including snow water equivalent, snow height in the vicinityof the station, sufficiently accurate transmitted position and elevation of the station, snow
compaction and non-stake ice sheet ablation. Immediate access to the observations is key
to certain applications, such as numerical weather forecasts. Hence, we also present the16

complications of providing near real-time data transmission and quality-checking as well
as obstacles to a wider distribution on the WMO Global Telecommunication System (GTS).

Investigating rates of sedimentation and oceanic melt
at a major tidewater outlet glacier in South Greenland
Andreas Vieli1 , Armin Dachauer1 , Andrea Kneib-Walter1 , Ethan Welty1 , Dominik Gräff2 ,Manuela Köpfli2 , the GreenFjord-Team
1 University of Zurich, Switzerland
2 University of Washington, USA

Tidewater outlet glaciers of the Greenland ice sheet (GIS) are known to deliver large
amounts of ice, freshwater and sediments into the fjords and thereby influence the circulation and functionality of the fjord ecosystem. In the context of the GreenFjord project
we combine operationally derived time-series of ice- and freshwater fluxes with insitu
measurements at Eqalorutsit Kangillit Sermiat (EKaS), a major tidewater ouitlet glacier of
the Greenland ice sheet (GIS) in order to investigate sediment delivery as well as oceanic
melt in the fjord. The operational products for ice- and freshwater fluxes are based onremote-sensing and regional climate models (Mankoff et al. 2020a+b) and the insitu observation include CTDs-profiles as well as dating constraints on the fjord sediments. We
infer longer-term sedimentation rates of a few cm/year but with large temporal variations
through the seasons. The relatively warm subsurface waters of around 4o C at the calving
front produce high oceanic melt (several m/day) that substantially contributes to frontal
ablation and hence reduces iceberg flux substantially.

Advancing knowledge of glacier dynamic instabilities in
the Canadian Arctic: insights from recent analyses anddirections for future researchBenoît Lauzon1 , Wesley Van Wychen1 , Luke Copland1 , Danielle Hallé2
1 University of Ottawa, Canada
2 University of Waterloo, Canada

In recent years, significant progress has been achieved concerning our understandingof glacier dynamic instabilities in the Canadian Arctic. Namely, detailed analyses of a few
glaciers undergoing flow instabilities have provided valuable insights into the characteristics, dynamics, and duration of the active phase for surge-type glaciers in this region.
Large tidewater glaciers exhibit "classical" surges that initiate at the terminus, lasting approximately two decades, and can reach peak velocities of nearly 5 km a−1 . In contrast,
land-terminating glaciers experience surges that manifest progressively over much longer
periods, often spanning several decades. These events result in less dramatic dynamicchanges than those on tidewater glaciers and can result in long, continuous periods ofrelatively subtle terminus advance. Select tidewater glaciers in the Canadian Arctic also
experience pulsing behaviour, characterised by much shorter velocity fluctuations (2-5years) restricted to where the glaciers are grounded below sea level. Other instabilities,
including multiyear accelerations observed on Trinity, Wykeham, Belcher, and Sydkap

17

glaciers, may suggest a form of retreat instability (e.g., tidewater glacier cycle). Despite these recent advances in research, our understanding of the mechanisms governing
glacier surging in the Canadian Arctic remains limited. Further work is needed to refine
the total number of glaciers identified as experiencing instabilities in the Canadian Arctic
and their characteristics, including geographic distribution, geometry, flow mechanisms,
and active phase length. Here, we present a map that summarises the current state ofknowledge of unstable glacier flow in the Canadian Arctic, highlighting the location andcharacteristics of recently studied events. Additionally, we outline forthcoming research
efforts as part of a comprehensive analysis of dynamic instabilities in this region over the
next few years, with the aim of addressing the identified knowledge gaps.

Surface energy balance closure over snow and ice fromin-situ measurements in the ablation zone of the Greenland ice sheet
Carleen Tijm-Reijmer1 , Maurice van Tiggelen1 , Paul Smeets1 , Michiel van den Broeke1 ,Dirk van As2 , Jason Box3 , Robert Fausto3 , Shfaqat Abbas Khan 4 , Eric Rignot5
1 Utrecht University, The Netherlands
2 Ice and Climate Research Organization (ICRO), Greenland
3 GEUS, Denmark
4 Technical University of Denmark, Denmark
5 University of California, USA

Accurately quantifying all the components of the surface energy balance (SEB) is aprerequisite for an accurate estimation of surface melt, and therefore of the surface massbalance over glaciated or snow covered surfaces. We use continuous measurements ofboth radiative fluxes, turbulent heat fluxes and surface lowering gathered in the ablation
zone of the Greenland ice sheet to quantify the SEB closure at seasonal, daily and intradaily temporal resolution. This study finds that on average, the energy available forsurface melt is higher than the observed melt for both snow and ice conditions by about 15
W m2. When no melt is present, the sum of the turbulent heat fluxes and the subsurface
conductive flux is larger than than the radiative fluxes. The instrumental uncertainty
prevents the SEB closure at sub-daily timescales. These results serve as benchmark fordetailed SEB studies over ice and snow, and highlight the need for more accurate longterm SEB observations for the proper interpretation of the surface mass balance of theGreenland ice sheet.

Reanalysis of the Surface Mass Balance of Mittivakkat
Glacier (Southeast Greenland) synthesizing different data
sources
Christoph Posch1 , Simon de Villiers2 , Niels Tvis Knudsen3 , Jacob Clement Yde2 , Anders
Anker Bjørk4 , Wolfgang Schöner1 , Jakob Abermann1
1 Graz University, Austria
2 HVL Sogndal, Norway
3 Aarhus University, Denmark18

4 Copenhagen University, Denmark

Mass changes of glaciers and ice caps (GIC) in the Arctic, are both of great interest interms of their contribution to sea level rise and as sentinels of climate change. Studies
agree that the contribution of Pan-Arctic GICs to sea level rise in the last decades was
similar to that of the Greenland Ice Sheet, however, their mass loss per unit area waslarger (Box et al., 2018; IPCC, 2019; Wolken et al., 2020). Between 2006 and 2015,
mass changes were largest for the GIC in Greenland when compared to others in the
Arctic (IPCC, 2019). For peripheral Greenland Mittivakkat Glacier has the longest surface
mass balance (SMB) record from field-based observations (since 1995/1996) (Mernild etal., 2013) and is significantly out of balance (Mernild, et al., 2011). Synthesizing ablation
stake records (WGMS, 2023), 1 km-downscaled RACMO2.3p2 SMB outputs (Noël et al.,2019) and volume changes from photogrammetrically-derived digital elevation models(Korsgaard et al., 2016; Porter et al., 2018) indicates a change from a balanced regime
for 1959-1995 to a negative mass balance regime for 1996-present. The model output
suggests a SMB of 33 ± 625 mm w.e. yr−1 for 1959-1995 in contrast to -579 ± 625mm w.e. yr−1 for 1996-2019. The stake record shows an evolution of SMB of -988 ±148 mm w.e. yr−1 for 1996-2019 being negative in 22 of the 24 observed years. These
numbers are within the magnitude of estimates from Carrivick et al. (2023) suggestinga mass balance of -600 mm w.e. yr−1 for peripheral glaciers in Greenland and -930 mm
w.e. yr−1 for peripheral glaciers in Southeast Greenland for 2000-2019, respectively. The
modeled SMB underestimates the mass loss but shows a good fit with the stake record(R2 = 0.49) in the overlapping period. The two years with a slightly positive balance canbe associated with unusually high winter precipitation (Mernild et al., 2011). The geodetic
records yield SMB estimates of -240 ± 360 mm w.e. yr−1 for 1981-2013 (RACMO: -346 ±625 mm w.e. yr−1 ) and -420 ± 100 mm w.e. yr−1 for 2013-2021 (stake record: -1153 ±173 mm w.e. yr−1 ). These differences highlight the challenge of extrapolating field-based
records. The shift to a more negative regime in the mid-1990s is discussed in the context
of different drivers such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation (Enfield et al., 2001), Sea
Surface Temperatures (Kaplan et al., 1998) and Greenland Blocking Index (Hanna et al.,2016) and are in line with RACMO and the ablation stake SMB in the observed 24 years
between 1996 and 2019. There is a strong relationship (R2 = 0.71) between measured
mean summer (JJA) 2 m air temperature (How et al., 2022) and the modelled SMB, whichis adjusted to the stake record for 2010-2019.

Recent changes in geometry and mass of the Grise Fiord
Glacier, NU
Dave Burgess1
1 Natural Resources Canada

The Grise Fiord glacier is an important contributor to the intermittent stream network
surrounding Canada’s most northerly community of Grise Fiord (NU). In this study, annualglacier mass balance surveys conducted by the Geological Survey of Canada since 1998,
combined with remote sensing data are used to document changes in geometry and massof the Grise Fiord Glacier over the past six decades. Between 1960 and 2016 the glacierthinned by an average of 22 meters with maximum thinning of 60 meters near the 2016
terminus. Glacier thinning over this period of time resulted in up-valley retreat of theterminus by 300 metres with total areal shrinkage of 4.5 km2 , or more than two-fold of
its 1960 area. Combined thinning and margin retreat resulted in a total of 0.16 km3 waterequivalent mass loss, with 50% occurring in the last 15 years of this study. Accelerated
shrinkage of the Grise Fiord Glacier since the early 2000’s is a trend consistent with other19

documented evidence of rapid glacier change in the Canadian high Arctic. This study
provides baseline information for ongoing research aimed at understanding the fate ofintermittent glacier-fed streams in the Grise Fiord watershed.

Assessing future changes in Greenland runoff using machine learning and climate models
Elke Schlager1,2 , Peter L. Langen1 , Ruth H. Mottram2 , Andreas P. Ahlstrøm3
1 Aarhus University, Denmark
2 Danish Meteorological Institute, Denmark
3 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark

Runoff from Greenland includes components from the ice sheet, local glaciers and nonglaciated land surfaces. Temporal and spatial runoff variability poses potential impacts on
infrastructure (such as buildings, bridges, and roads), security of supply (including energy
and water), industry, and marine ecosystems. The impacts are particularly significant
with ongoing and future warming in the Arctic and knowledge of the runoff is therefore
critical both for climate adaptation planning and mitigation efforts within and beyond theArctic region.
State-of-the-art model simulations show a wide variation in melt and runoff estimatesin the near future. While runoff calculations from high-resolution climate models are important to determine future potentials, there is still a limited number of simulations available, and these do not sample the full range of outcomes. Additionally, the availability ofobservational data to assess these model simulations is restricted.
To investigate the range of present and future runoff from Greenland under different
climate scenarios, we will use output from high-resolution regional climate models andin-situ observations of runoff to develop machine learning (ML) tools that can provide
estimates of future runoff. These ML-based tools will be applied to different global andregional climate model outputs to produce an ensemble of medium- to long-term projections (2050 to 2150) of runoff under a range of future scenarios, allowing a statisticalassessment of the likely range in future runoff.
This poster presents our initial thoughts on the project in terms of data sources andmethodological choices.

What remains of LIA glacier extent? Recent morphometric evolution of 2 high-Arctic ice-cored slopes in thecontext of a glacier retreat
Eric Bernard1 , Jean-Michel Friedt2 , Alexander Prokop3 , Florian Tolle4 , Madeleine Griselin1
1 CNRS, France
2 Institut FEMTO-ST, France
3 Vienna University, Austria
4 Université de Franche-Comté, France

In the context of glacier retreat and increased precipitations, Arctic glacier basin slopes
are subject to stress leading to visible transformations. In this work, sub-surface features20

of a small Arctic glacier basin slopes are mapped using Ground Penetrating RADAR toassess the past extent of the glacier from buried ice lenses and infer the evolution fromtheir melting.

Impacts of cryosphere change on natural hazards in
AlaskaGabriel Wolken1
1 University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA

The Arctic is undergoing rapid and intense warming that is leading to unprecedentedchanges in the cryosphere. As temperatures rise, retreating glaciers, thawing permafrost,and changing snow conditions are affec7ng various aspects of society and the naturalenvironment that have relied on the predictability of climate and frozen environments. In
Alaska, many of these changes are causing local- to regional-scale hazards that threaten
people, infrastructure, and sustainable resource development. Changes in precipitation
type and intensity are influencing snow distribution in much of Alaska, with broad implications for other parts of the cryosphere. As climate warming continues, these changes
will alter snowpack conditions and the frequency and magnitude of avalanches, possibly increasing Alaska’s vulnerability to avalanche hazard. Glacier mass loss exacerbatesslope instabilities, and when coupled with alpine permafrost degradation, it can result inincreased potential for very large landslides. Unstable rock slopes in glacierized mountain areas in southeast Alaska have produced landslides that have generated the tallest
tsunamis in the world, and despite the remote location, these hazards threaten distantcommunities, marine traffic, and critical infrastructure. Glacier mass loss also leads tothe formation and expansion of glacial lakes, heightening the risk of glacier lake outburst
floods (GLOFs). These sudden and massive outbursts of water can result in devastating downstream flooding, affecting communities and infrastructure located in the path ofthese events. Understanding the interplay between climate-driven glacier, permafrost,and snow cover changes and their implications for hazards is essential for developing
adaptive strategies and mitigating potential risks. This presentation will focus on synthesize existing research on cryosphere hazard research in Alaska and drawing connections
between the environmental changes and their cascading societal implications. As the effects of climate change continue to unfold, a proactive and holistic understanding of these
dynamics is crucial for fostering resilience and sustainable development in the Arctic.

Living with or without snow and ice: Changes in thecryosphere affect human activities in the high north
Grete Hovelsrud1
1 Nordland Research Institute, Norway

The reduced snow cover and increased icing conditions have consequences for reindeer herding in Fenno-scandia, and both retreating glaciers and increased precipitationin Svalbard affect tourism and outdoor activities. Both herders and tourist guides must
adapt, and in this keynote, I will provide examples of some of the challenges.

21

Future sea level changes around Iceland: contribution
from the Ice sheets, Icelandic glaciers and land upliftGuðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir1 , Berglind Pétursdóttir1 , Sigríður Magnúsdóttir1 , Halldór Björnsson2
1 University of Iceland, Iceland
2 Icelandic Meteorological Institute, Iceland

Global mean sea level is rising and has risen with a higher rate this past century thanearlier centuries for the past three millennia, at least. This increased ocean volume isfirstly because of changing ocean density, with thermal expansion playing a key role. Secondly, volume increases because of increasing ocean mass, where mass loss of glaciersand ice sheets have the greatest impact. Sea level changes by increased ocean mass
have significant geographical variability because of processes seeking isostatic balancefollowing a redistribution of Earth’s surface loads, f.e. changes in Earth’s gravitational
field, solid Earth deformation and changes in Earth’s rotation. These processes are commonly referred to as glacial isostatic adjustment. Because of the proximity to the Greenland ice sheet with its gravitational field deformation, the sea level surrounding Iceland ismaintained high. Mass loss of the Greenland ice sheet results in a fall in sea level around
Iceland, whereas global mean sea level rises, and conversely mass loss of the Antarctic
Ice Sheet results in larger than global mean sea level rise around Iceland. By using theopen-source program SELEN (SealEveL EquatioN solver) the sea level change around Iceland is calculated by numerically solving the sea level equation, given a specified massloss of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, based on the latest IPCC projections, aswell as future projections for the Icelandic. To give a projection for future relative sea level(RSL) changes at 14 locations around the coast of Iceland for the years 2100 and 2150
the IPCC projected thermal expansion as well as roughly estimated future land uplift rate,
based on current uplift rates, is added.

Glaciers and climate change in West Greenland – Wegener, his impact and heritage
Jakob Abermann1 , Florina Schalamon1 , Sebastian Scher2 , Andreas Trügler2 , Wolfgang
Schöner1 , Andreas Aschwanden3 ,Baptiste Vandecrux4 , Stefan Fauland5
1 Graz University, Austria
2 KnowCenter, Austria
3 University of Fairbanks, USA
4 GEUS, Denmark
5 Fauland Film, Austria

Alfred Wegener’s epic last Greenland expedition builds the starting point of several
current undertakings steered by Graz University. In the core of it stands the fascinationof well-documented and high-quality meteorological and geophysical data from 1929 to1931, which coincides with the so-called ‘Early 20th Century Warm Period’. This gives achance to compare drivers of snow and ice melt over a century and we show recent monitoring results that can be used to validate reanalysis products (meteorological drivers)
and set into perspective satellite imagery (ice conditions, snow line). We find that theend-of-summer snow line during the Wegener expedition years was close to or higher
than recent extremely high snow lines (e.g., 2012, 2019). We also find that fjord ice extent in May 1930 was smaller than at the same time in recent years, while it was greaterin June 1930 than during average conditions in the satellite era. This sheds light on the22complexity of interpreting short-term data in a climatological context. In this respect,
we attempt to use short-term observations to challenge the quality of reanalysis products and to objectively determine comparable conditions regarding climate perturbations
and warming periods. Furthermore, we investigate whether the similar rates of warming
during the 1930s and the recent decades are caused by the same synoptic conditions
or whether the large- and regional-scale drivers have changed. The story of Wegener’s
last expedition and its relevance for the study of recent human-made climate change
bears the potential of narrating climate change in a captivating way. Hence, we conclude
with some considerations on how to communicate historical material beyond the scientificcommunity and discuss different perceptions depending on ethnical background, communication medium, age and educational level.

Greenland ice sheet melt-elevation feedback at automatic weather station sites and beyond
Jason Box1 , Andreas Ahlstrøm1 , Baptiste Vandecrux1
1 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark

Greenland ice sheet thinning from enhanced dynamic flow and surface melting amplifies due to surface lowering into warmer layers of the atmosphere. Here assessed are
surface air temperatures, barometric pressure (related to site altitude) and surface massbalance from GC-Net and PROMICE automatic weather station (AWS) sites from the 1990s.
The work interrogates airborne and satellite altimetry to evaluate observed surface elevation change at AWS sites over this time period. Emphasizing the ground-truth sites, anobservation-based measurement of Greenland ice sheet melt-elevation feedback is presented.

Adaptive Practices in Glacier Tourism: A Case Study of
Small- and Middle-Scale Operators in Vatnajökull National Park, Iceland
Johannes Welling1
1 University of Iceland

In the dynamic landscape of Iceland’s glacier tourism sector, the increasing impact ofglacier recession due to climate change poses a significant challenge. This study analysed
empirically the adaptive practices employed by small- and middle-scale glacier tour operators in response to climate change impacts in the Vatnajökull National Park of southeast
Iceland. Despite the imminent and ongoing diverse implications of glacier reduction oncompany operations, the adaptation strategies observed can be characterized as a "waitsee-and-respond re-actively" approach. This research aimed to unravel the underlying
factors contributing to the apparent disconnection between the companies’ capacity toadapt and the actual adaptation action. By integrating cognitive and institutional factors
into the analysis, the study shed light on the anticipatory in-activeness within the glacier
tourism sector. The findings emphasize the importance of adopting a multidisciplinary approach to create tools that tackle uncertainties related to future glacial landscapes. These
tools should be tailored to relevant spatial and temporal scales, integrating perspectives

23and interests from diverse stakeholders. This inclusive approach to planning is crucial for
ensuring the sustainability of tourism activities amidst the rapid transformations occurring in glacier landscapes.

Pan Arctic glacier runoff and calving time series
Jonathan Bamber1,2 , Tian Li2 , Adam Igneczi2 , Konrad Heidler1 , Xiaoxinag Zhu1
1 Technical University Munich, Germany
2 University of Bristol, UK

Here we present a 72 year time series of land ice runoff for the pan-Arctic derived
from the regional climate model MAR and statisically downscaled to 1 km resolution at adaily time step. A hydrological routing scheme is also applied to the downscaled runoff
to provide meltwater runoff data at coastal outflow points. Meltwater components coming from non glacierized land, bare glacier ice, and glacierized area above the snowline
are separated to aid further analyses. The software pipeline is designed to be fully operational so that it can be used to update the time series as soon as the input data are
available, so providing a continuous time series for the entire Arctic within the framework of a project aimed to develop a holistic, integrated observing system for the Arctic(www.arctipassion.eu). We are also developing a pan-Arctic calving dynamics data set
within the same project. We use a fully automated deep learning approach to generate a new calving front dataset at a high temporal resolution, by harmonizing multiple
satellite missions that are available from the 1970s onwards, including optical missions
such as Landsat, ASTER and Sentinel-2, and various SAR missions such as ERS-1/2, Envisat, RADARSAT-1, TerraSAR-X and Sentinel-1. We show the interannual and seasonalvariability of glacier termini positions by applying this method at scale and investigate
the responses of Arctic glaciers to climate change.

Glacier retreat in Sørkapp Land, Spitsbergen, from 1961
to 2020.
Justyna Dudek1 , Michał P˛etlicki2
1 Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
2 Jagiellonian University, Poland

The Arctic is among the regions that have experienced the fastest climate warming
recorded in the globe after the Little Ice Age (LIA). As a result of this phenomenon its
glaciers are losing mass at an accelerated pace. This work presents an analysis of thechanges in the geometry of glaciers located in Sørkapp Land, southern peninsula of Spitsbergen, the biggest island of the Svalbard archipelago, over the period of 1961 to 2020.
Dataset used for this investigation consisted of scanned analog and digital photographs
for the years 1961, 1990, 2010, captured by Norwegian Polar Institute, two consecutive
Landsat 5 TM scenes acquired in the summer of 1990, Planet Imagery from the year 2020,
as well as archival maps published by the Polish Academy of Sciences and digital elevation
models derived from different sources. Using available datasets changes in glacier extent
and thickness have been assessed in the following periods: 1961-1990, 1990-2010, 20102020 and 1961-2020.

24

Snow cover evolution at Qasigiannguit glacier, West
Greenland
Kirsty Langley1 , Alexandra Messerli1 , Jenny Arthur1,2 , Penny How3 , Jakob Abermann1,4 ,Charlotte Sigsgaard5 , Arno Hammann1 , Michele Citerio3 , Karoline Nordberg Nilsson1 , Thomas
Friborg5
1 Asiaq - Greenland Survey, Greenland
2 Norwegian Polar Institute, Norway
3 GEUS, Denmark
4 University of Graz, Austria
5 University of Copenhagen, Denmark

We present the results of a study looking at the evolution of snow cover using a number of in-situ methods for Qassinnguit Sermiat, a coastal mountain glacier in Kobbefjord
close to Nuuk, W. Greenland. The glacier has been a part of the Greenland Ecosystem
Monitoring programme since 2012, allowing the glacier related inputs and outputs to beconsidered in an ecosystem context.
We gain insights into the snow cover evolution over the melt season which highlightthe need to consider the complex spatial evolution of snow/bare-ice ratios, as opposed
to a singular snowline, in mountain catchments. In addition, we gain extremely useful
insights into our data collection strategies.
In 2022 we experienced an extremely wet summer and autumn in West Greenland,
breaking a number of precipitation and discharge records within the Greenland Ecosystem
Monitoring data period. Floods destroyed infrastructure in both Kobbefjord, near Nuuk,and Qeqertarsauq, Disko Island. Atmospheric conditions resulted in moisture rich air beingtransported along the west coast with frequent cyclonic activity leading to the above
average levels of precipitation. What impacts this had on the ecosystem and how long
lasting, will become evident in the coming years.

Recent Dynamics of Yelverton Glacier, Northern Ellesmere
Island, Nunavut
Kristie Shannon1 , Wesley Van Wychen1
1 University of Waterloo, Canada

Yelverton Glacier is a large, tidewater terminating glacier located on Northern Ellesmere
Island in the Canadian High Arctic (CHA). The loss of floating ice extent, such as ice shelves
and ice tongues, which fringe Northern Ellesmere Island has been increasingly reported in
the CHA due to climate change. For glaciers such as Yelverton, the loss of this floating ice
cover may have impacts on the flow speeds of the upstream ice. This work focusses on
characterizing the dynamic variations observed on Yelverton Glacier with the objective of
characterizing whether ice motion has varied over the last decade. This will be accomplished by applying a specialized offset tracking code that derives glacier motion fromSAR data. In this presentation, initial results of glacier motion from offset tracking applied
to European Space Agency Sentinel-1 data will be presented for the 2020-2023 period.
More broadly, this study will eventually quantify surface elevation changes from differencing of ArcticDEM products, delineate terminus extents to measure change over time,and characterize the glacier’s topography using NASA’s openly available 3D-tomography
data. These analyses combine to produce the most comprehensive investigation of this25

glacier to date and will help to better quantify iceberg discharge and understand how
glacier motion within the Canadian Arctic is evolving in a warming climate.

Snow observations in Alaska: The need for continued
in situ monitoringLea Hartl1 , Martin Stuefer1 , Carl Schmitt1 , Telayna Wong1
1 Alaska Climate Research Center (ACRC) / UAF, USA

Changing snow cover in the Arctic has widespread environmental and societal impacts.
To assess climate driven changes in snow parameters, long observational time series are
essential. While modern remote sensing and reanalysis products can help to fill temporaland spatial gaps in data sparse regions, in situ observations remain vital for calibrationand validation of gridded data sets and models as well as for climatological trend analysis. We present an overview of the in situ observational data basis of common snow
parameters available for Alaska, focussing on long term records and how the number ofobservations and climatological observing networks have changed over approximately
the last century. Considering snow depth as an example, the observational record for
Alaska starts around 1900, with a continuous increase in available data until the 1970s,
when around 250 snow depth observations were recorded daily throughout the state. The
number of active observing stations has since fluctuated. The size of the Alaska SNOTEL
network has steadily increased since the 1980s, while other networks had a more variable development with a notable decline in availability of daily observations in the last
15 years, particularly at high latitudes. The discontinuation of long term snow depth andsnow fall time series affects our ability to climatologically contextualize recent changes,
especially at the scale of individual communities in remote locations. We highlight theneed for sustained in situ snow observations in Alaska, as well as for comprehensive homogenization of available data and integration of remote sensing and in situ data sets toaddress data sparsity.

Distribution and characteristics of glacier surges acrossthe St. Elias Mountains, Yukon-Alaska
Luke Copland1 , Brittany Main1 , Christine Dow2 , Wesley Van Wychen2
1 University of Ottawa, Canada
2 University of Waterloo, Canada

The St. Elias Mountains of Yukon-Alaska contain one of the largest concentrations ofsurge-type glaciers in the world, yet we still have a limited understanding of their distribution and flow history. Here we present an analysis of long-term (1874-2023) records ofrapid glacier velocity events and previous studies to derive characteristics of surge-type
glaciers in this region, and to produce an updated inventory of observed surges. A totalof 231 glaciers (4.6% of the total) are classified as surge-type, comprising 77% (25,600
km2 ) of the total glaciated area. Surge-type glaciers are larger, more centrally locatedin the mountain range, have more tributaries and are more likely to be marine- or laketerminating, compared to non surge-type glaciers.
A total of 42 glaciers were observed to have surged a total of 73 times over the period 1985-2023, through either direct measurements or remote sensing observations. For

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glaciers with observed rapid velocity events, these predominantly fall into two categories:
Alaskan-style (hydrologically-triggered) surges with short active ( 1-4 years) and quiescent ( 10-40 years) phases, and glacier pulses, which are velocity accelerations that arelimited in both magnitude and extent. There is distinct transitional behaviour whereby
glaciers accelerate, sometimes for several years to decades prior to undergoing a full
surge, as well as a deceleration phase after the peak. A total of 81% of observed surges
began in the winter, with the other 19% initiating during the late summer/early fall.
While ’surge’ is the most widely used and accepted term to describe the rapid velocity
events described in the St. Elias Mountains, this term may be a misnomer: it can be
ambiguous, as it can refer to any type of rapid velocity event, despite the wide spectrumof behaviours and mechanisms are observed.

Drivers of melt-induced ice speed-up events on Hansbreen, Svalbard
Małgorzata Błaszczyk1 , Michał P˛etlicki2 , Dariusz Puczko3 , Bartłomiej Luks4 , Jacek Jania1 ,1
1Dariusz Ignatiuk , Michał‚ Laska , Mariusz Grabiec1
1 University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland
2 Jagiellonian University, Poland
3 Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
4 Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland

Recent advancements in modern surveying techniques, particularly GNSS methods,
have rekindled interest in fluctuations in ice flow, especially short-term variations caused
by increased runoff. The primary goal of this study is to characterize the spatial andtemporal dynamics of surface movement on Hansbreen glacier, Spitsbergen, using hightemporal resolution measurements of ablation stakes. Selected stakes were measured
every few days, with some being measured daily, from 2006 to 2019. This study presents
variations in the number, seasonality, and magnitude of speed-up events. These eventsare examined in conjunction with surface melt rates and precipitation data collected at
the Polish Polar Station in Hornsund. Additionally, we discuss the relevance of speed-up
events in relation to average annual and seasonal ice flow velocities.

The Impacts of Climate Change on Youth’s Place Attachment. A case study of Tasiilaq, East Greenland
Maria Risager1 , Marie-Louise Leppert1
1 Aalborg University, Denmark

This article examines the impact of climate change on youth’s place attachment, highlighting the pressing need to understand its implications for urban space utilisation in the
rapidly changing Arctic. This study employs an expanded place attachment theory, considering the influencing factor of climate change, and adopts a decolonisation of science
as well as a community based participatory research approach to investigate the Tasiilaq youth’s perspectives on their attachment to public space. The findings highlight thatplace attachment for the youth is shaped by the fulfillment of functional and emotional
needs, encompassing social interaction, physical activity, and reflective purposes. The

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study concludes that climate change impacts the place attachment of the youth, albeit ina multifaceted manner, influenced by a complex interplay of factors. The findings reveal
both positive and negative effects of climate change on place attachment, which are mediated by the youth’s functional and emotional needs and the availability of alternative
options.

LATTICE: Land-terminating ice cliffs in North Greenland:
processes, drivers and their relation to regional climate
Marie Schroeder1 , Rainer Prinz1 , Jakob Abermann2 , Jakob Steiner2
1 University of Innsbruck, Austria
2 Graz University, Austria

Land-terminating ice cliffs (LTIC) are relatively rare features, predominantly occurringin cold and dry climatic conditions. Sustaining an angular cliff shape requires a complex
interplay of ice flux, melt, sublimation and dry calving. While LTICs are a global occurrence, the reasons for their existence, fluctuation processes, and connection to massbalance and climatological controls remain understudied. In North Greenland, the terrestrial ice margin forms numerous LTICs, but only the Red Rock ice cliff has been researched
extensively. Over the last six decades, the observations have revealed periods of advance, retreat and re-advance of the ice cliff accompanied by ice cliff thinning. Here
we introduce the LATTICE project. Its primary objective is to understand the processes
driving LTIC changes, focusing on the Red Rock ice cliff. Through in-situ monitoring, including weather stations, ablation stakes, and ice temperature measurements, we will
analyze the distinct mass balance regimes of both the flat glacier and the vertical cliff
face. We also aim to identify the driving processes of the ice cliff movement throughinvestigating ice dynamics. Geodetic mass balance calculations will be used to examinechanges in cliff morphology, comparing the data with historical records to reveal multidecadal changes. Using the observed data and potentially data from additional weather
stations, we will subsequently run a mass balance model. With this approach, we aim to
unravel the climate sensitivity of the ice cliff and relate its climate signal to large-scaleatmosphere-ocean circulations, such as the North Atlantic Oscillation and the Greenland
Blocking Index. The overarching goal of the LATTICE project is to enhance our general
understanding of LTICs and contribute to the knowledge base regarding the relationshipbetween the atmosphere and cryosphere in North Greenland, which holds relevance for a
substantial part of the cold and dry region.

How to propel a floating iceberg 400 m up into the air
Martin Lüthi1 , Antoine Zaninetti1 , Ana Nap1 , Adrien Wehrlé1
1 University of Zurich, Switzerland

During fieldwork at Greenland fastest glacier (Sermeq Kujalleq in Kangia or Jakobshavn
Isbrae) we observed an iceberg shooting some 400 m up before rotating sideways andplunging into the water. Several similar events were captured with time-lapse photography, seismometers and terrestrial radar interferometry. Here, we analyze such eventswith theoretical considerations and detailed numerical modeling. The process is clearly28

buoyancy-driven, but the rates of uplift and the height above the water line allow us toconstrain the proportions of the iceberg under water as compared to the visible part. Also,
the question how the iceberg can obtain a submerged position priming the up-shooting
leads to interesting conclusions with regard to iceberg release through fracturing.

Modeling the dynamic response of polythermal valley
glaciers to climate change on a regional scale
Matt Nolan1 , Frank Pattyn2
1 Serving Earth Science Inc, USA
2 Université libre de Bruxelles, Belgium

As climate warms in Arctic Alaska, the polythermal glaciers there are getting colder.
This eventually causes the basal ice to freeze to the bed and eliminate or reduce sliding
there, changing the ice dynamics considerably, as has been observed over the past 20
years. I will present a combined surface mass balance and ice dynamics model that
captures all of these dynamics for individual polythermal glaciers on a regional scale,
allowing us to assess where and when ice is warm during the lifecycle of these glaciers,
as well as many other things.

Studying frontal ablation of tidewater glaciers in Hornsund fjord, Svalbard: a multi-sensor approach
Oskar Glowacki1 , Paulina Lewińska2 , Mateusz Moskalik1 , Dhruv Maniktala1
1 Polish Academy of Sciences, Poland
2 AGH University of Kraków, Poland

Glacier calving and submarine melting are key processes responsible for mass loss
from tidewater glaciers and ice shelves. However, these two mechanisms of frontal ablation are difficult to track and quantify separately. Here, we address this issue throughthe combination of optical techniques, passive acoustics, and hydrographic measurements. We conducted a field experiment in the summer of 2023 to study frontal processes at three tidewater glaciers terminating in Hornsund fjord, Svalbard: Hansbreen,
Paierlbreen, and Muhlbacherbreen. Calving properties estimated from continuous underwater noise recordings are compared with optical observations of glacier termini madewith a terrestrial laser scanner and time-lapse cameras. Acoustical data are also combined with measurements of water temperature and salinity to understand potential links
between the underwater noise and submarine glacier melting. Moreover, we investigate
new possibilities for understanding spatio-temporal variability of glacier calving with theanalysis of broadband airborne noise recordings. The results from Hornsund fjord are
discussed in a broader context of climate-driven changes in glaciated fjords at high latitudes. [This research has been supported by the National Science Centre, Poland (grantno. 2021/43/D/ST10/00616) and the Ministry of Education and Science, Poland (subsidy
for the Institute of Geophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences).]29

Identifying Glacial Pulsing characteristics in the Canadian Arctic
Owen Nowitsky1 , Wesley Van Wychen1
1 University of Waterloo, Canada

Irregular dynamics of glaciers pose a variety of issues for fully understanding the spectrum of flow behaviours that glacier and experience and the subsequent impacts on sea
level rise. A recently identified subset of surge type glaciers in the Canadian Arctic are’pulsing glaciers’, which have some similar characteristics of surge-type glacier, but occur on a shorter time scale, originate near the glacier terminus, and tend to only impact
areas of the glacier where the bed lies below sea level. While limited literature exists on
pulsing glaciers, the processes and characteristics are not fully understood or described,
leading to a gap in glacial knowledge. Three previously identified pulsing glaciers: Dobbin
Bay Glacier, Eugenie Glacier, and Parrish Glacier, will be surveyed from 2010-2022. Withelevation, terminus extent, ice flow and subglacial topography being used to examine
pulsing characteristics. In this presentation, surface elevation change from the differencing of high-resolution (2m) ArcticDEM Strip products are used to quantify the change inglacier height over the 2010 to 2022 period. Preliminary results show that 6 km up fromthe terminus of Parrish Glacier an elevation gain of almost 30 meters was recorded. Yet
even with this elevation increase, Parrish Glacier saw 10 m’s of elevation loss in the bottom 2 km of the terminus in the same period. These results align with previous findings;
however, will provide a more spatially comprehensive quantification of surface elevation
change related to previously identified pulse events. In the future, these results will be
combined with dense records of ice motion determined from offset tracking of Synthetic
Aperture RADAR imagery as well as measurements of basal topography from NASA’s Operation IceBridge Program. Collectively, these results will contribute to our understandingof the behaviour of ’pulse-type’ glaciers within the region and help to distinguish ’pulselike’ processes from ’surge-like’ processes.

Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Classification from Satellite Optical Remote Sensing
Rasmus Bahbah1 , Jason Box1 , Michele Citterio1 , Adrien Wehrlé2
1 Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland, Denmark
2 University of Zurich, Switzerland

In recent decades, the Greenland ice sheet has emerged as the largest single regional contributor to global sea level rise due to ice loss. Approximately half of this loss
is attributed to surface melting, significantly influenced by surface darkness characterized by albedo, and absorbed solar irradiance. The Greenland ice sheet surface typeundergoes seasonal variations, ranging from snow cover to bare ice, with intermediarysituations of surface flooding in slush and lakes. Both snow and ice can be darkened by
microbiological processes, mineral dust, and even black carbon from wildfires. Satellite
optical remote sensing enables the classification of not only bare ice and snow cover but
also sub-classes like melted or unmelted snow. Bare ice can be further sub-classified asbright, dark, and even algae rich. In this study, we employ a supervised machine learningalgorithm (Support Vector Machine) to create a model that classifies surface types using
daily, cloud-free optical data from the Ocean and Land Color Instrument (OLCI) on the EU
Copernicus Sentinel-3 satellite. The training data is manually labeled and validated using

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EU Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite Multispectral Instrument (MSI) data. We further estimate the probability of the classified type using Platt scaling and compute the average
accuracy of each class and the confusion matrix using a 5-fold cross-validation scheme.
We present both the model performance and the time and spatial variation of predictedsurface classes, exploring their relation with day-to-day climate variability.

Subsurface water movement in the percolation zone of
the Greenland ice sheet
Regine Hock1 , Federico Covi2 , Mark Fahnestock2
1 University of Oslo, Norway
2 University of Alaska Fairbanks, USA

On the Greenland Ice Sheet meltwater can be retained by refreezing instead of running
off. However, recent thick near-surface ice layers in the percolation zone may accelerate
ice sheet mass loss favoring direct runoff by preventing melt water percolation. We combine optical and synthetic aperture radar satellite images with data from shallow firn coresto investigate spatio-temporal variations in near/subsurface water movements in the percolation zone in southwest Greenland. We find episodes of rapid river-like subsurface
water flow on top thick ice slabs. Water movement is evident tens of kilometers above
the upper limit of visible surface rivers or saturated slush fields and persists even after
seasonal melting has ceased. Complex flow patterns are directly controlled by subtle
kilometer-scale differences in surface slope with lower slope areas forming preferential
subsurface pathways of downslope water movement. These flow patterns remain persistent over multiple years. We suggest that surface slope triggers a positive feedback
where water preferentially saturates the firn/snow in topographic lows, leading to thicker
ice slabs when the water refreezes in fall, accelerating firn/snow saturation the following
year. Thus surface slope exerts a key control on both ice slab thickening and expansion
as well as runoff patterns from the firn area.

Modeling frontal ablation in a global glacier evolution
model
Ruitang Yang1 , Lizz Ultee2 , Regine Hock1 , David Rounce3 , Fabien Maussion4
1 University of Oslo, Norway
2 Middlebury College, USA
3 CMU, USA
4 University of Bristol, UK

TBD

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Feasibility of statistical and machine learning methods
for discovering large-scale drivers of local melt rates
Sebastian Scher1 , Andreas Trügler1 , Elke Schlager1 , Florina Schalamon2 , Jakob Abermann2
1 Know-Center, Graz, Austria
2 Graz University, Austria

The question which large-scale atmospheric drivers are responsible for local conditions
repeatedly comes up in many fields of climate science. A wide variety of approaches
and tools are available for tackling such problems, including recently proposed methods
from Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI). XAI models rely on training complex machinelearning models on a given problem, and then making the predictions of those models
understandable. However, the suitability of these novel XAI methods in addressing specific scientific questions remains uncertain. In this work, we investigate which large scaleatmospheric drivers determine local melt rates at a glacier outlet in Western Greenland
as an opportunity to evaluate a range of statistical and XAI based tools. We use 500hPa
geopotential fields from reanalysis to represent large scale circulation, and runoff from
the MAR regional climate model as local variable. We qualitatively and quantitatively
compare the results from those methods and use prior knowledge and physical intuition
to evaluate them. We find that there is reasonable consistency between simple statisticalmethods and combined methods using established methods of dimensionality reduction
techniques (such as empirical orthogonal functions and k-means clustering). The nine XAI
techniques that we use, on the other hand, have very high variability, and at least someof them lead to physically implausible results. This, combined with the inherent complexity of those methods, raises fundamental questions on their suitability for uncovering
connections between large scale drivers and local conditions.

Changes in coastal environments and their impact onsociety in Qaanaaq, northwestern Greenland
Shin Sugiyama1 , Members of the ArCS II Coastal Environments Project
1 Hokkaido University, Japan

Coastal environments around Greenland are rapidly changing under the influence ofwarming climate. Glaciers are rapidly losing mass and glacial meltwater discharge isaffecting ocean environments, resulting in a wide range of influence on marine ecosystems. Thawing permafrost and more frequent heavy rain events destabilize slopes along
the coast. These changes in natural environments are serious concerns of Greenlandic
societies. Accelerated glacier melting causes floods of outlet streams. Settlements at
the foot of a steep terrain are threatened by landslide hazards. Moreover, environmental changes are affecting the traditional way of living in Greenland. For example, dog
sledge hunting activities are affected by sea-ice break up events during winter. It is important for researchers to work together with community to understand the mechanisms
driving the changes and mitigate their societal impact. To investigate recent changes incoastal environments and their impact on society in Greenland, we have been running a
research project in Qaanaaq, northwestern Greenland, under the framework of interdisciplinary Japanese Arctic research projects GRENE (Green Network of Excellence), ArCS
(Arctic Challenge for Sustainability) and ArCS II. In this presentation, we introduce theoverview of our research activities since 2012 performed with close relationship with thelocal society in Qaanaaq.

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Influence of sea-ice variability on the surface mass balance of Freya Glacier, Northeast Greenland
Sonika Shahi1 , Bernhard Hynek1 , Jakob Abermann1 , Wolfgang Schöner1
1 University of Graz, Austria

Arctic sea ice is known to influence atmospheric conditions in nearby regions. Especially, the rapid decline in the Arctic sea ice cover in the 21st century can have an
impact on the mass balance of Greenland’s peripheral glaciers. Moreover, regional climate model results suggest that Northeast Greenland is among the most sensitive areas
to changing temperatures. Taking these facts into consideration, we investigate the relationship between sea ice concentration and surface mass balance (SMB) of Freya Glacier,a polythermal glacier located in Northeast Greenland, using a combination of automatedweather stations, reanalysis, and regional climate model simulations for the period 19902020. The singular value decomposition analysis suggests a covariability between sea
ice in proximity within the Greenland Sea and the SMB of Freya Glacier. Especially during
summer, we hypothesize that a decreasing sea ice cover might have opposite effects on
individual components of the SMB of a nearby mountain glacier. While it could increase
the temperature and humidity by advection of warm and moist air, it might also lead tomore (solid) precipitation in the higher elevation. The advection of moist air might also
lead to more cloudiness and fog, which again has opposite effects on the glacier’s surface
energy balance through shortwave radiation reduction and longwave warming effects.
However, the advection of fog towards the glacier depends on the stability of the atmosphere (which depends on the sea ice condition) and the strength of the katabatic wind.

Impacts of the changing cryosphere on an Inuit community in East Greenland and challenges in communication between scientists and community members
Sophie Elixhauser1
1 University of Vienna, Austria

The rapidly retreating glaciers, less fjord and sea ice, an increase in extreme weather
events and several other climatic and environmental changes pose challenges to the residents of the Tasiilaq region in East Greenland, a majority of whom are Inuit, and put astrain on people’s improvisation and adaptation capacities. The changing cryosphere impacts upon residents’ travel routes and modes of travel, hunting and fishing practices aswell as other subsistence activities; it puts extra burden on technological equipment (e.g.,
motorboats) and leads to a decline in sled dogs, to name just some examples. This presentation draws from my long-term anthropological fieldwork in East Greenland since themid-2000s and, in particular, from my recent engagement in a transdisciplinary project on
how climatic and environmental changes, especially the transition from less snow to morerain, are influencing the quality of life in and around Tasiilaq (Snow2Rain). The project has
once and again displayed the difficulties in bringing together natural scientific findings
and residents’ views of the concept of climate change that is for many rather abstract.
In this presentation, I speak about the impacts of the changing cryosphere on the Inuit
community, about how residents speak about these changes, and about challenges incommunication between scientists and Tasiilaq residents. While many residents clearlyexperience the impacts of the changing cryosphere, doubts prevail about whether these33

changes are indeed human-made. These doubts, I argue, have to be understood in thecontext of different underlying environmental philosophies.

Planned relocation due to landslide-triggered tsunami
risk in recently deglaciated areas
Stephanie Matti1 , Miriam Cullen2 , Uta Reichardt1 , Andrea Vigfúsdóttir3
1 University of Iceland, Iceland
2 University of Copenhagen, Denmark
3 VIA University College, Denmark

Climate change is contributing to the magnitude, frequency and location of natural
hazards, including landslides and landslide-triggered tsunamis. As the costs of protecting
against a given risk increase, relocation may become the only feasible option despite thesocio-economic, human security and cultural consequences. The relocation of people represents one of the most complex governance challenges generated by climate change.
This article contributes to the literature by presenting insights and lessons from two casestudies of unprecedented landslide-triggered tsunami risk in recently deglaciated areasthat have not previously been described in the relocation literature: the unstable Svínafellsheiði slopes in south-east Iceland, and Karrat and Uummannaq Fjords in north-west
Greenland. Our results draw attention to the need for planned relocation to be conductedin-line with international best practices, including those relating to the active involvementof affected people in decision-making, ensuring adequate compensation, and clarifying
relocation planning schedules. This has occurred against a backdrop of colonial power
dynamics, urbanisation trends, and the rise of tourism in these locations. Based on thefindings, we recommend that the role of government pivot from determining risk management and relocation options, to providing a structure to underpin and support community
agency.

Research on a vanishing object
Svenja Holste1
1 Bielefeld University, Germany(Geo-)political worldviews of what the Arctic is or what it should be have shaped Arctic science since early times of polar explorations. By combining critical geopolitics andthe sociology of science, this dissertation project studies how (western) knowledge is produced in the Arctic. It investigates two main research questions: What are worldviews
and role perceptions of permafrost researchers and glaciologists in the Arctic? How is
indigenous knowledge perceived from a western scientists’ perspective? The focus lies
on researchers who work at Canadian, German and Norwegian institutions. Methodologically, a qualitative approach is applied, including literature analysis and semi-structured
interviews.
Research on a “vanishing object”, as demonstrated here for the field of glaciology,
showcases severe human impact on nature. I argue for a sociology of science that contemplates not only scientific, but cultural, ecological, and social loss of natural elements
and thus helps to unfold worldviews and to reflect on research methodologies. A crosscutting topic arises around the role of emotions in glaciology. By exploring how recent

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developments are changing the ‘doing of science’ as such, the poster presents a threefolded discussion. First, the focus lies on emotions towards the research object, that is
the relationship of a scientist to the glacier. Second, scientists have to deal with negative
emotions (feeling of loss, anger, disappointment, frustration, concern) in a rational context. A clear gap between scientific evidence and political action emerges, which leads
to questioning the relationship between science, politics and society, and especially therole and responsibility of scientists. Third, a closer look is provided on implications whenemotions serve as a bridge to creative forms of science communication – as a solution to
showcase the urgency of climate action, when ‘pure science’ reaches its limit.

Thickness inversion for all glaciers in Svalbard
Thomas Frank1 , Ward van Pelt1
1 Uppsala University, Sweden

Knowledge of the thickness, volume and sub-glacial topography of glaciers is crucial
for a range of glaciological, hydrological and societal issues, including, e.g., studies on
climate-warming induced glacier retreat and associated sea-level rise. This is not theleast true for Svalbard, one of the fastest warming places in the world. Here, we present
a new map of ice thickness and sub-glacial topography for every glacier on Svalbard.
Using remotely-sensed observations of surface shape, ice velocity, rate of surface elevation change dh/dt and glacier boundaries in combination with a modelled mass balance
product, we apply an inverse method that leverages state-of-the-art ice flow models to
obtain the shape of the glacier bed. Specifically, we model large glaciers with the ice
sheet model PISM at 500 m resolution, while we resolve smaller mountain glaciers at 100
m resolution using the physics-informed deep learning-based ice flow model IGM. Validation against thickness observations shows high statistical agreement, suggesting thatthe modeled glacier beds are realistic. We discuss sources of uncertainty, differences toprevious ice thickness maps of the region and future applications of our results.

Hydrothermal structure of Elfenbeinbreen, Sabine Land,
Svalbard, and the use of gprMax to simulate the hydrothermal structure of polythermal glaciers
Unai Letamendia1 , Francisco Navarro1 , Beatriz Benjumea2 , Ivan Lavrentiev3 , Alexandr
L. Borisik4 , Evgeny Vasilenko5
1 Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Spain
2 Instituto Geológico y Minero de España-CSIC Spain 3 Russian Academy of Sciences, Russia
4 Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Russia
5 Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an effective tool to infer the hydrothermal structureof polythermal glaciers. Few GPR surveys have been undertaken in the eastern coast ofcentral Spitsbergen, Svalbard. We carried out extensive radar profiling on Elfenbeinbreen
and Sveigbreen, Sabine Land, in spring 2014, and repeated the Sveigbreen profiles inspring 2022. In both cases, a 25MHz GPR was used. The 2014 campaign was focusedon ice-thickness retrieval, though the polythermal layering was also captured. The surveying in 2022 was aimed at analysing the evolution of the hydrothermal structure of35

Sveigbreen. The results suggested similar decreases of both total ice thickness and temperate ice layer thickness (2-3 m a−1 ), with the cold ice layer showing little change inthickness, in contrast with the cold ice layer thickness increases observed in western Nordenskiöld Land glaciers such as Fridtjovbreen and Erdmanbreen. We here focus on thehydrothermal structure of Elfenbeinbreen. Its average ice thickness is of 85 ± 9 m, with amaximum of 285 ± 7 m. Its upper cold-ice layer, in turn, has a thickness varying between
80 and 250 m, though generally is about 120-150 m. These values are larger than thoseobserved in the neighbouring Sveigbreen, whose cold layer thickness is typically 60-80 m.
They are also larger than those found by the authors for glaciers of similar size located incentral and western Nordenskiöld Land, and in Wedel Jarlsberg Land. We will also present
simulations of hydrothermal structure, and other structural features such as crevasses
and englacial channels and water pockets, in the form of synthetic radargrams generatedusing gprMax software. This will show that gprMax is a useful tool to generate synthetic
radargrams to be used to train (together with "real" radargrams) machine-learning algorithms aimed at detecting the cold-to-temperate transition surface (CTS) of polythermal
glaciers.

Snow modelling for the Sami reindeer herders in northern Sweden
Ward van Pelt1 , Gunhild Rosqvist2 , David Gustafsson3 , Niila Inga4
1 Uppsala University, Sweden
2 Stockholm University, Sweden
3 SMHI, Sweden
4 Laevas Sameby, Sweden

Rain-on-snow (ROS) events and the subsequent formation of ice layers in snow packs
create challenging conditions for reindeer herding in northern Sweden. In collaboration
with the Sami community in the Laevas Sameby we have developed a modeling tool that,forced with regional climate model data, can simulate snow conditions in both forest andnon-forest areas. In the work presented here, we use this modelling system to assesslong-term (1974-2023) trends of snow depth, density, temperature and water content,
and further focus on years with extreme rain-on-snow events. Main findings reveal: 1)
strong year-to-year and spatial variations in refrozen mass; 2) an overall positive trendof refrozen mass; 3) increased early-winter rainfall and ROS, and significant snow season
shortening; 4) a strong correlation between refrozen mass and rain-on-snow (much lesswith melt, rainfall, and average winter temperature).

Glacier Lake Outburst Floods in the Canadian Arctic
Wesley Van Wychen1 , Danielle Hallé1 , Luke Copland2 , Benoit Lauzon2 , Sahra Abdullahi3 ,Anna Wendleder3 , Laurence Gray2
1 University of Waterloo, Canada
2 University of Ottawa, Canada
3 DLR, Germany

GLOFs occur throughout the world, and are particularly well documented in Iceland,
the North American Cordillera, the Himalayas, and the Hindo-Kush-Karakoram [1]. Al-

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though GLOFs have been identified within the Canadian High Arctic (CHA) [2], they havereceived negligible research attention [1]. Although GLOFs do not represent a major
hazard to either infrastructure or livelihoods in the CHA, as the region is sparsely populated with communities located away from glaciers, understanding the dynamics of GLOFs
within the region is of importance for understanding the entire spectrum of glacial processes within the CHA. Furthermore, as the climate warms, there is an expectation that
GLOFs will become more prevalent as greater amounts of surface melt water are generated and routed to proglacial lakes [1]. In this work, we leverage high-resolution (2 m)
ArcticDEM Strips and TanDEM-X (0.4 arc seconds, 12 m) DEM products to monitor glacierelevation changes indicative of GLOF activity in the CHA over the 2010 to 2022 period.
The timestamped DEMs are re-sampled to a common resolution, co-registered using themethod of [3], and then differenced which allows us to quantify surface elevation changes
associated with GLOF events as well as determine their timing. We use a small, un-named
glacier (81°48’08" N, 81°35’47" W) located on Northern Ellesmere Island as our test case.
Preliminary results indicate that surface elevations increase gradually over the course of
7-10 years, and surface elevation losses of 40 m over the course of weeks to months
suggest that drainage is catastrophic, although our ability to exactly pinpoint the timingof drainage events is hampered by limited data availability.

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