Recent fluctuations of glaciers in Kongsfjorden, Spitsbergen, Svalbard (79° N)

Simple field techniques were used to study the evolution of the glaciers in the Kongsfjorden area during the late Holocene. It was demonstrated that the Kongsbreen experienced a Neoglacial advance prior to the Little Ice Age. Moreover, despite the present tendency to retreat, the flow velocity in the ice near the snout of the Kongsbreen has been constant for about 20 years (as determined by reference to studies by Pillewizer and Voigt). Finally, a good correlation was obtained between the mass balance of small cirque glaciers in the area and two climatic parameters, summer temperatures and spring precipitation (r = 0.84).