Svalbard

1992

2009

On 15 July 2009, we were able to relocate the exact site of a photograph taken in 1992 during a study of moraine-development in the area. The pair of photographs shows dramatic changes at the front of this glacier. Despite 16 years of continued recession between 1992 and the onset of the surge, the glacier is now more advanced than before 1992. Of particular note is the substantial thickening of the glacier front, and the fact that is pushing a wedge of marine sediments in front of it like a bulldozer. Other changes indicated over this period included the build up of an alluvial fan adjacent to the glacier at the left side of the photograph, and degradation of the sinuous ridge (an esker) in the foreground. The photograph was taken form a bedrock ridge that extends under the glacier (MH).