Why the Linne Glacier?

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Is the Linne Glacier the only one in your area? Why did the team select that glacier instead of another in the area....or another area altogether?

Joined: 23 Mar 2004 Posts: 64

Hi Tamara,

The Linne Glacier was selected for a variety of reasons. First, and probably foremost being that it was the area where the principle investigator for this project did his research for his PhD. Both principle investigators for this project are familiar with the area, making it less risky than an area that is unknown to anyone on the expedition.

The Linne Glacier feeds the Linne River and flows into and out of Lake Linne, before its waters arrive at the sea. This all occurs within a several kilometer area that is possible to cover in a long day. It is a rather classic example of a glacier system. The climate of Svalbard has several interesting facets that contribute to the system, making it desirable to study.

There are many, many other glaciers in this region. Some are considerably larger and one might think that would make them better for our studies. In fact, this is not necessarily the case. Larger glaciers take longer to traverse, to measure, and to collect other data. To study the system one must also try to understand the river and the lake and the sedimentation processes. The Linne River can be gauged without the considerable risks involved with deeper and more swift rivers. The lake is large enough and deep enough (up to 35+ meters), but not so vast that one can't get from one side to another with time left in the day to do the research! A day spent engaging in research on the glacier takes us 10-12 hours and involves a lot of hiking over rough terrain in often harsh conditions. A larger and/or even more remote or complex glacier system would not be practical to study in the time we have.

The fact that we can actually return to a base camp each evening, to download, process, and analyze data contributes to the quality of the experience, not to mention the benefits of the occasional hot shower, a good meal, and a real bed to sleep in at Isfjord Radio.

Thank you for posting your question. I hope to hear from you again soon!