Parts of Austfonna, the large ice cap on Nordaustland, have recently advanced rapidly or “surged”, as scientists call this behaviour, which is caused by glacier dynamics rather than climate change. See Austfonna: an ice cap on the move, Spitsbergen-Svalbard.com news earlier in June.
The Norwegian Polar Institute has published a time lapse video composed of about 1000 single satellite images that visualizes the surge of Austfonna impressively. Parts of the glacier front advanced more than 4 kilometres. The surge culminated in 2012.
More about surging glaciers in general and Austfonna in Rocks and Ice.
The surge of an ice cap of the size of Austfonna has consequences. It is currently by the largest contributor to global sea level rise in the whole Spitsbergen archipelago, with a contribution outweighing all other glaciers in Svalbard together. Locally, it may cause hazards to navigation: the density of icebergs is increased, and the pushing glacier front may have changed sea bottom topography.
Source: Norwegisches Polarinstitut
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