Storglaciären

Storglaciären

Overview of Storglaciären, June 2014
Type Polythermal subarctic-alpine valley glacier
Location Kiruna Municipality, Sweden
Coordinates 67°54′10″N 18°34′00″E / 67.90278°N 18.56667°E / 67.90278; 18.56667Coordinates: 67°54′10″N 18°34′00″E / 67.90278°N 18.56667°E / 67.90278; 18.56667
Area 3.1 km2 (1.2 sq mi)[1]
Length 3.5 km (2.2 mi)
Thickness Average: 93 m (305 ft)[1]
Maximum: 255 m (837 ft)[1]
Status Retreating since 1910[1]

Storglaciären (Swedish for The Grand Glacier) is a glacier in Tarfala Valley in the Scandinavian Alps of Kiruna Municipality, Sweden. The glacier is classified as polythermal having both cold and warm bottom temperatures. It was on Storglaciären that the first glacier mass balance research program began (immediately after World War II), which continues to the present day; this is the longest continuous study of its type in the world. Storglaciären has had a cumulative negative mass balance of -17 m between 1946–2006. The program began monitoring the Rabots Glaciär in 1982, Riukojietna in 1985, and Mårmaglaciären in 1988. All three of these glaciers have had a strong negative mass balance since monitoring began.[2]

For the purpose of studying Storglaciären and nearby glaciers, Stockholm University operates the Tarfala research station in the Kebnekaise region of northern Sweden.

Panorama taken from ca. 1300-1400 meters above the sea level.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Holmlund, Per (15 January 2007). "Tarfala in numbers". Department of Physical Geography and Quaternary Geology. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 21 March 2012.
  2. ↑ "Storglaciären". Stockholm University. 9 February 2003. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
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