Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019

Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir; Eyjólfur Magnússon; Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson; Joaquín M.C. Belart; Tómas Jóhannesson; Hrafnhildur Hannesdóttir; Oddur Sigurðsson; Andri Gunnarsson; Bergur Einarsson; Etienne Berthier; Louise Steffensen Schmidt; Hannes H. Haraldsson; Helgi Björnsson; Finnur Pálsson

doi:10.3389/feart.2020.523646

Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019

Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir^*, Eyjólfur Magnússon, Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson, Joaquín M.C. Belart, Tómas Jóhannesson, Hrafnhildur Hannesdóttir, Oddur Sigurðsson, Andri Gunnarsson, Bergur Einarsson, Etienne Berthier, Louise Steffensen Schmidt, Hannes H. Haraldsson, Helgi Björnsson, Finnur Pálsson

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The volume of glaciers in Iceland (∼3,400 (Formula presented.) in 2019) corresponds to about 9 mm of potential global sea level rise. In this study, observations from 98.7% of glacier covered areas in Iceland (in 2019) are used to construct a record of mass change of Icelandic glaciers since the end of the 19th century i.e. the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in Iceland. Glaciological (in situ) mass-balance measurements have been conducted on Vatnajökull, Langjökull, and Hofsjökull since the glaciological years 1991/92, 1996/97, and 1987/88, respectively. Geodetic mass balance for multiple glaciers and many periods has been estimated from reconstructed surface maps, published maps, aerial photographs, declassified spy satellite images, modern satellite stereo imagery, and airborne lidar. To estimate the maximum glacier volume at the end of the LIA, a volume–area scaling method is used based on the observed area and volume from the three largest ice caps (over 90% of total ice mass) at 5–7 different times each, in total 19 points. The combined record shows a total mass change of −540 ± 130 Gt (−4.2 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) on average) during the study period (1890/91 to 2018/19). This mass loss corresponds to 1.50 ± 0.36 mm sea level equivalent or 16 ± 4% of mass stored in Icelandic glaciers around 1890. Almost half of the total mass change occurred in 1994/95 to 2018/19, or −240 ± 20 Gt (−9.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) on average), with most rapid loss in 1994/95 to 2009/10 (mass change rate −11.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.)). During the relatively warm period 1930/31–1949/50, mass loss rates were probably close to those observed since 1994, and in the colder period 1980/81–1993/94, the glaciers gained mass at a rate of 1.5 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.). For other periods of this study, the glaciers were either close to equilibrium or experienced mild loss rates. For the periods of AR6 IPCC, the mass change rates are −3.1 ± 1.1 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1900/01–1989/90, −4.3 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1970/71–2017/18, −8.3 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1992/93–2017/18, and −7.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 2005/06–2017/18.

Original language	English
Article number	523646
Journal	Frontiers in Earth Science
Volume	8
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.523646
Publication status	Published - 26 Nov 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work and collection of data on which this work is based has been supported financially by and with the participation of the University of Iceland Research Fund; the National Power Company of Iceland; the Icelandic Public Road Administration; Iceland Glaciological Society; Reykjavík Energy Environmental and Energy Research Fund; three multinational European Union research projects TEMBA, ICEMASS, and SPICE; two projects supported by Nordic Energy Research: Climate and Energy (CE) and Climate and Energy Systems (CES); the Nordic Centre of Excellence SVALI (Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice), funded by the Nordic Top-level Research Initiative (TRI); and the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources through the cooperative project Melting glaciers. SPOT6/7 data were obtained thanks to public funds received in the framework of GEOSUD, a project (ANR-10-EQPX-20) of the program “Investissements d’Avenir” managed by the French National Research Agency. EB acknoweldges support from the French Space Agency (CNES).

Funding Information:
We express our gratitude to ?orsteinn J?nsson, Hlynur Skagfj?r? P?lsson, Sveinbj?rn Stein??rsson, Vilhj?lmur Kjartansson, members of the Iceland Glaciological Society, and many others for their important contributions during decades of mass-balance measurements in the field. We thank three reviewers and the scientific editor Michael Zemp for constructive comments on the manuscript.

Publisher Copyright:
© Copyright © 2020 Aðalgeirsdóttir, Magnússon, Pálsson, Thorsteinsson, Belart, Jóhannesson, Hannesdóttir, Sigurðsson, Gunnarsson, Einarsson, Berthier, Schmidt, Haraldsson and Björnsson.

Other keywords

climate
glaciers
glacier–climate relationship
Iceland
mass balance

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10.3389/feart.2020.523646

Cite this

Aðalgeirsdóttir, G., Magnússon, E., Thorsteinsson, T., Belart, J. M. C., Jóhannesson, T., Hannesdóttir, H., Sigurðsson, O., Gunnarsson, A., Einarsson, B., Berthier, E., Schmidt, L. S., Haraldsson, H. H., Björnsson, H., & Pálsson, F. (2020). Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019. Frontiers in Earth Science, 8, Article 523646. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.523646

@article{3fdee44752e943af9691a6cebef40a40,

title = "Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019",

abstract = "The volume of glaciers in Iceland (∼3,400 (Formula presented.) in 2019) corresponds to about 9 mm of potential global sea level rise. In this study, observations from 98.7% of glacier covered areas in Iceland (in 2019) are used to construct a record of mass change of Icelandic glaciers since the end of the 19th century i.e. the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in Iceland. Glaciological (in situ) mass-balance measurements have been conducted on Vatnaj{\"o}kull, Langj{\"o}kull, and Hofsj{\"o}kull since the glaciological years 1991/92, 1996/97, and 1987/88, respectively. Geodetic mass balance for multiple glaciers and many periods has been estimated from reconstructed surface maps, published maps, aerial photographs, declassified spy satellite images, modern satellite stereo imagery, and airborne lidar. To estimate the maximum glacier volume at the end of the LIA, a volume–area scaling method is used based on the observed area and volume from the three largest ice caps (over 90% of total ice mass) at 5–7 different times each, in total 19 points. The combined record shows a total mass change of −540 ± 130 Gt (−4.2 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) on average) during the study period (1890/91 to 2018/19). This mass loss corresponds to 1.50 ± 0.36 mm sea level equivalent or 16 ± 4% of mass stored in Icelandic glaciers around 1890. Almost half of the total mass change occurred in 1994/95 to 2018/19, or −240 ± 20 Gt (−9.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) on average), with most rapid loss in 1994/95 to 2009/10 (mass change rate −11.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.)). During the relatively warm period 1930/31–1949/50, mass loss rates were probably close to those observed since 1994, and in the colder period 1980/81–1993/94, the glaciers gained mass at a rate of 1.5 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.). For other periods of this study, the glaciers were either close to equilibrium or experienced mild loss rates. For the periods of AR6 IPCC, the mass change rates are −3.1 ± 1.1 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1900/01–1989/90, −4.3 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1970/71–2017/18, −8.3 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1992/93–2017/18, and −7.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 2005/06–2017/18.",

keywords = "climate, glaciers, glacier–climate relationship, Iceland, mass balance",

author = "Gu{\dh}finna A{\dh}algeirsd{\'o}ttir and Eyj{\'o}lfur Magn{\'u}sson and Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson and Belart, {Joaqu{\'i}n M.C.} and T{\'o}mas J{\'o}hannesson and Hrafnhildur Hannesd{\'o}ttir and Oddur Sigur{\dh}sson and Andri Gunnarsson and Bergur Einarsson and Etienne Berthier and Schmidt, {Louise Steffensen} and Haraldsson, {Hannes H.} and Helgi Bj{\"o}rnsson and Finnur P{\'a}lsson",

note = "Funding Information: This work and collection of data on which this work is based has been supported financially by and with the participation of the University of Iceland Research Fund; the National Power Company of Iceland; the Icelandic Public Road Administration; Iceland Glaciological Society; Reykjav{\'i}k Energy Environmental and Energy Research Fund; three multinational European Union research projects TEMBA, ICEMASS, and SPICE; two projects supported by Nordic Energy Research: Climate and Energy (CE) and Climate and Energy Systems (CES); the Nordic Centre of Excellence SVALI (Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice), funded by the Nordic Top-level Research Initiative (TRI); and the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources through the cooperative project Melting glaciers. SPOT6/7 data were obtained thanks to public funds received in the framework of GEOSUD, a project (ANR-10-EQPX-20) of the program “Investissements d{\textquoteright}Avenir” managed by the French National Research Agency. EB acknoweldges support from the French Space Agency (CNES). Funding Information: We express our gratitude to ?orsteinn J?nsson, Hlynur Skagfj?r? P?lsson, Sveinbj?rn Stein??rsson, Vilhj?lmur Kjartansson, members of the Iceland Glaciological Society, and many others for their important contributions during decades of mass-balance measurements in the field. We thank three reviewers and the scientific editor Michael Zemp for constructive comments on the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Copyright {\textcopyright} 2020 A{\dh}algeirsd{\'o}ttir, Magn{\'u}sson, P{\'a}lsson, Thorsteinsson, Belart, J{\'o}hannesson, Hannesd{\'o}ttir, Sigur{\dh}sson, Gunnarsson, Einarsson, Berthier, Schmidt, Haraldsson and Bj{\"o}rnsson.",

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month = nov,

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doi = "10.3389/feart.2020.523646",

language = "English",

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journal = "Frontiers in Earth Science",

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T1 - Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019

AU - Aðalgeirsdóttir, Guðfinna

AU - Magnússon, Eyjólfur

AU - Thorsteinsson, Thorsteinn

AU - Belart, Joaquín M.C.

AU - Jóhannesson, Tómas

AU - Hannesdóttir, Hrafnhildur

AU - Sigurðsson, Oddur

AU - Gunnarsson, Andri

AU - Einarsson, Bergur

AU - Berthier, Etienne

AU - Schmidt, Louise Steffensen

AU - Haraldsson, Hannes H.

AU - Björnsson, Helgi

AU - Pálsson, Finnur

N1 - Funding Information: This work and collection of data on which this work is based has been supported financially by and with the participation of the University of Iceland Research Fund; the National Power Company of Iceland; the Icelandic Public Road Administration; Iceland Glaciological Society; Reykjavík Energy Environmental and Energy Research Fund; three multinational European Union research projects TEMBA, ICEMASS, and SPICE; two projects supported by Nordic Energy Research: Climate and Energy (CE) and Climate and Energy Systems (CES); the Nordic Centre of Excellence SVALI (Stability and Variations of Arctic Land Ice), funded by the Nordic Top-level Research Initiative (TRI); and the Icelandic Ministry for the Environment and Natural Resources through the cooperative project Melting glaciers. SPOT6/7 data were obtained thanks to public funds received in the framework of GEOSUD, a project (ANR-10-EQPX-20) of the program “Investissements d’Avenir” managed by the French National Research Agency. EB acknoweldges support from the French Space Agency (CNES). Funding Information: We express our gratitude to ?orsteinn J?nsson, Hlynur Skagfj?r? P?lsson, Sveinbj?rn Stein??rsson, Vilhj?lmur Kjartansson, members of the Iceland Glaciological Society, and many others for their important contributions during decades of mass-balance measurements in the field. We thank three reviewers and the scientific editor Michael Zemp for constructive comments on the manuscript. Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2020 Aðalgeirsdóttir, Magnússon, Pálsson, Thorsteinsson, Belart, Jóhannesson, Hannesdóttir, Sigurðsson, Gunnarsson, Einarsson, Berthier, Schmidt, Haraldsson and Björnsson.

PY - 2020/11/26

Y1 - 2020/11/26

N2 - The volume of glaciers in Iceland (∼3,400 (Formula presented.) in 2019) corresponds to about 9 mm of potential global sea level rise. In this study, observations from 98.7% of glacier covered areas in Iceland (in 2019) are used to construct a record of mass change of Icelandic glaciers since the end of the 19th century i.e. the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in Iceland. Glaciological (in situ) mass-balance measurements have been conducted on Vatnajökull, Langjökull, and Hofsjökull since the glaciological years 1991/92, 1996/97, and 1987/88, respectively. Geodetic mass balance for multiple glaciers and many periods has been estimated from reconstructed surface maps, published maps, aerial photographs, declassified spy satellite images, modern satellite stereo imagery, and airborne lidar. To estimate the maximum glacier volume at the end of the LIA, a volume–area scaling method is used based on the observed area and volume from the three largest ice caps (over 90% of total ice mass) at 5–7 different times each, in total 19 points. The combined record shows a total mass change of −540 ± 130 Gt (−4.2 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) on average) during the study period (1890/91 to 2018/19). This mass loss corresponds to 1.50 ± 0.36 mm sea level equivalent or 16 ± 4% of mass stored in Icelandic glaciers around 1890. Almost half of the total mass change occurred in 1994/95 to 2018/19, or −240 ± 20 Gt (−9.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) on average), with most rapid loss in 1994/95 to 2009/10 (mass change rate −11.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.)). During the relatively warm period 1930/31–1949/50, mass loss rates were probably close to those observed since 1994, and in the colder period 1980/81–1993/94, the glaciers gained mass at a rate of 1.5 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.). For other periods of this study, the glaciers were either close to equilibrium or experienced mild loss rates. For the periods of AR6 IPCC, the mass change rates are −3.1 ± 1.1 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1900/01–1989/90, −4.3 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1970/71–2017/18, −8.3 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1992/93–2017/18, and −7.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 2005/06–2017/18.

AB - The volume of glaciers in Iceland (∼3,400 (Formula presented.) in 2019) corresponds to about 9 mm of potential global sea level rise. In this study, observations from 98.7% of glacier covered areas in Iceland (in 2019) are used to construct a record of mass change of Icelandic glaciers since the end of the 19th century i.e. the end of the Little Ice Age (LIA) in Iceland. Glaciological (in situ) mass-balance measurements have been conducted on Vatnajökull, Langjökull, and Hofsjökull since the glaciological years 1991/92, 1996/97, and 1987/88, respectively. Geodetic mass balance for multiple glaciers and many periods has been estimated from reconstructed surface maps, published maps, aerial photographs, declassified spy satellite images, modern satellite stereo imagery, and airborne lidar. To estimate the maximum glacier volume at the end of the LIA, a volume–area scaling method is used based on the observed area and volume from the three largest ice caps (over 90% of total ice mass) at 5–7 different times each, in total 19 points. The combined record shows a total mass change of −540 ± 130 Gt (−4.2 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) on average) during the study period (1890/91 to 2018/19). This mass loss corresponds to 1.50 ± 0.36 mm sea level equivalent or 16 ± 4% of mass stored in Icelandic glaciers around 1890. Almost half of the total mass change occurred in 1994/95 to 2018/19, or −240 ± 20 Gt (−9.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) on average), with most rapid loss in 1994/95 to 2009/10 (mass change rate −11.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.)). During the relatively warm period 1930/31–1949/50, mass loss rates were probably close to those observed since 1994, and in the colder period 1980/81–1993/94, the glaciers gained mass at a rate of 1.5 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.). For other periods of this study, the glaciers were either close to equilibrium or experienced mild loss rates. For the periods of AR6 IPCC, the mass change rates are −3.1 ± 1.1 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1900/01–1989/90, −4.3 ± 1.0 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1970/71–2017/18, −8.3 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 1992/93–2017/18, and −7.6 ± 0.8 Gt (Formula presented.) for 2005/06–2017/18.

KW - climate

KW - glaciers

KW - glacier–climate relationship

KW - Iceland

KW - mass balance

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U2 - 10.3389/feart.2020.523646

DO - 10.3389/feart.2020.523646

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85104656674

SN - 2296-6463

VL - 8

JO - Frontiers in Earth Science

JF - Frontiers in Earth Science

M1 - 523646

ER -

Glacier Changes in Iceland From ∼1890 to 2019

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Other keywords

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