Expansion of glacial lakes on Nelson and King George Islands, Maritime Antarctica, from 1986 to 2020. Issue 15 (22nd August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rosa, Kátia Kellem da; Oliveira, Manoela Araújo Gonçalves de; Petsch, Carina; Auger, Jeffrey D.; Vieira, Rosemary; Simões, Jefferson Cardia
• Is Part Of: Geocarto international. Volume 37:Issue 15(2022)
• Page Start: 4454
• Page End: 4464
• Publication Date: 2022-08-22
• Subjects: Glacier retreat -- proglacial environments -- paraglacial system -- climate variability; Remote sensing -- Periodicals; Geographic information systems -- Periodicals; Geology -- Periodicals; Cartography -- Periodicals; 621.3678
• DOI: 10.1080/10106049.2021.1886342
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1010-6049

Abstract

Abstract: This study aims to quantify the areal variation of glacial lakes in the coastal ice-free areas of King George Island (KGI) and Nelson Island (NI) from 1986 to 2020. Glacial lake and glacial area fluctuations are estimated using spaceborne remote sensing data and annual mean near-surface air temperature data from station observations and ERA-Interim reanalysis were analyzed. The area of glacial lakes expanded 732%, from 0.18 km 2 in the 1980s to 1.39 km 2 in 2020. For the 1988–2000/2003 and 2000/2003–2020 periods, the increase in NI lake area is estimated to be 190% and 86%, respectively. Meanwhile, on KGI, the increase is estimated to be 316% for the 1988–2000/2003 period and 103% for the 2000/2003–2020 period. The majority of lakes and higher lake expansions occurred at the glacier fronts and can be attributed to the melting of glacier fronts and the subsequent glacial retreat in recent decades.