Water Storage in Storglaciären, Kebnekaise, Sweden

Abstract

The water balance of Storglaciären was measured during the 1984 melt season. Water input to the glacier exceeded discharge from it in late May and early June, resulting in storage of ∼ 0.5 × 106 m3 of water (∼0.16 m3/m2). From mid June until early August input and discharge were approximately inbalance, in contrast to results reported in the literature from two other glaciers. Then from mid August until the end of the melt season water was released from storage.Other measurements made on Storglaciären and reported elsewhere suggest that subglacial cavities begin to open in mid July and reach a maximum total volume of ∼0.5 × 106 m3 in mid August. If this is the case, the initial water storage that occurs in June must be in englacial reservoirs such as porous firn and crevasses. The water may then move into subglacial storage locations later in the season.