Mass Balance Factsheet for the Nigardsbreen, Scandinavia
Nigardsbreen Glacier is one of the largest outlet glacier from Jostedalsbreen ice cap. The glacier area is 45 km2, and accounts for approximately 10% of the total area of Jostedalsbreen. Its wide accumulation area discharges into a narrow tongue, both being generally exposed to the south-east. Nigardsbreen Glacier is assumed to be entirely temperate and the periglacial area to be predominantly free of permafrost. Mass balance observations started in 1962, and length change measurements started in 1899. Further information and references for Nigardsbreen is given on NVE’s webpage.
For additional information on the status of the glacier and on data relating to annual mass balance and other measurements, visit the WGMS Fluctuations of Glaciers Browser.
FACTS:
- Political unit: NO
- WGMS ID: 290 (Local ID: 2297)
- Latitude: 61.72°N
- Longitude: 7.13°E
- Height min: 389 m a.s.l.
- Height max: 1955 m a.s.l.
- Measurement types: MASS BALANCE & FRONT VARIATION (OBSERVATION & RECONSTRUCTION)
- Current Principal Investigator: BJARNE KJOLLMOEN & Colleagues
- Current Sponsoring Agency: NORWEGIAN WATER RESOURCES AND ENERGY DIRECTORATE (NVE) – SECTION FOR GLACIERS, ICE AND SNOW (OSLO, NO)
Nigardsbreen in August 2019 (taken by Hallgeir Elvehoy on 28/08/2019)
Terrestrial and satellite map of Nigardsbreen (Google Maps)
Nigardsbreen Annual Mass Balance
Continuous Mass Balance (MB) measurements since 1961/62:
Additional data available: Front Variation (FV), Thickness Change (TC) and Glacier Outlines:
Selected references:
Andreassen, L. M., H. Elvehøy, B. Kjøllmoen, and R. V. Engeset, R. V. 2016. Reanalysis of long-term series of glaciological and geodetic mass balance for 10 Norwegian glaciers, The Cryosphere, 10, 535-552, doi:10.5194/tc-10-535-2016.
NVE’s report series Glasiologiske undersøkelser i Norge/Glaciological investigations in Norway. Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate. Reports are available as pdf’s at https://www.nve.no/hydrology/glaciers/glaciological-investigations-in-norway/.