As a result of the climate crisis, all glaciers have had to suffer. Norway’s glaciers are no exception. However, glaciologist Hallgeir Elvehøy from NVE (Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate) has seen a special trend on Engabreen by Svartisen in Nordland. Glaciologist Hallgeir Elvehøy thinks Engabreen stands out. Photo: Kaia Johnsen Viki / news Unlike most of Norway’s glaciers, the volume of the glacier has not decreased as much in recent years. – The large amount of snow that comes in the winters shows a gently increasing trend, says Elvehøy. Why do glaciers shrink? For a broad to grow, there must be more rainfall in the snow in the winter than it melts in the summer. If there is a lot of precipitation and the ice becomes thick enough on the top plateau, the ice will become plastic and be able to move downwards. The ice must have a certain speed of movement in order to remain stable. But with rising temperatures, there has not been enough rainfall. In the last 20 years, researchers have noticed a trend where glaciers do not move as much as before. Low-lying glaciers shrink without the addition of new ice. The glaciers are getting smaller. – Many glaciers have had a deficit for many years and are only decreasing. Some glaciers have had a surplus in some years, but Engabreen has had quite a few years with a lot of snow and usable balance, he says. Elvehøy points out that the amount of precipitation varies from year to year and most recently last year they experienced a dramatic deficit on Engabreen and Svartisen. Engabreen is located about 130 km south of Bodø. It was Avisa Nordland that first mentioned the case. The glacier arm becomes smaller Although the volume of the glacier as a whole has not decreased significantly, the glacier arm has become smaller. The reason is that it is in the areas on Svartisen that are above 1200 masl. that the volume increases. For the glacier arm to be able to grow, enough ice must move from the top plateau down to the arm. – It always melts a lot at the bottom, but as long as the glacier movement is high enough, it is replenished downwards, so that what melts in the summer is replaced in the winter, says Elvehøy. – Measurements show, however, that the glacier moves more slowly. We see no signs that the increased masses are coming down to the glacier fall, says Elvehøy. In other words, it can take several years before the increased letter volume will lead to a larger glacier arm. Engenbreen, Svartisen, 20 years apart. Arnhild Andreassen / Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr – The big picture is gloomy Elvehøy hopes that the masses will move faster downwards, but he does not seem to be very optimistic. He fears we are in an exceptional period with a lot of rainfall and that it will not persist. – The big picture is that it looks gloomy for the glaciers. We have little hope that Engabreen can be an exception, but we’ll just see. – We follow, but there is little reason to be so fiercely optimistic, he admits. He still has little hope that Engabreen can stay usable large for quite some time. – We expect that there will be more precipitation, but the temperature is expected to increase so much that the amount of precipitation will eventually not be able to compensate for it. Every year, the glacier arm on Engabreen gets smaller. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news Climate change and large amounts of precipitation It has long been predicted that climate change will lead to increased temperatures and more precipitation. This is something Climate researcher Marianne Tronstad Lund from Cicero also emphasizes. Climate scientist Marianne Tronstad Lund believes that during a transitional period we can see some glaciers grow. Photo: Cicero Therefore, she is not surprised by the trend that has been observed on Svartisen. As the general trends indicate, increased temperatures will cause larger amounts of water to condense, so there will also be more precipitation. – A warmer climate does not immediately mean less snow. A warmer atmosphere could hold more precipitation, Lund explains. This means that during a transition period there will be more precipitation in the form of snow in high-lying areas. – As long as we are below the temperature limit where precipitation can fall like snow, glaciers can grow, says the climate researcher. Even longer, the glacier is below the temperature limit, so the volume can be kept stable. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news – Brearmen shrinks Engabreen is a popular tourist destination. Every year there is an influx of adventurous souls who want to experience glacier change. According to the plan, the world’s first energy-positive hotel will also open at Engabreen in a few years. Øyvind Gjersvik is a glacier guide on Engabreen. – The glacier arm is still shrinking and it is shrinking fast, Gjersvik says. Breguide Øyvind Gjersvik in Meløy Adventure. Photo: Synnøve Sundby Fallmyr / news He says that it becomes more challenging to offer arranged trips every year. The trips get longer and the entry on the ice higher up. – There will be no less ice, but it will be more concentrated, since Svartisen settles on the glacier plateau and the extremes shrink. There must be much more precipitation if the glacier is to grow, but the measurements give cause for optimism but it will take a few years before we see if it has an effect and if Engabreen will grow again, according to the glacier guide – The best thing about glacier change is to walk around the glacier arm and look down on the fjord and all the spectacular mountains around, he says. Therefore, there is little consolation for the guide that the volume of the glacier itself remains stable. – We feel very lucky to have this as a job and are allowed to take people on trips.
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A lot of precipitation in Nordland has led to new hope for Engabreen – news Nordland
