Hydrology of Tidal Waters at the Glacier Terminus and their Impact on Hydrographical Surveys and Navigation Safety

Abstract

The data analysed in the paper are related to the hydrology of tidal waters at a tidewater glacier terminus. Set of data was collected in the wide span of time from 2009 till 2015 in the Nordaustlandet and Southwest Spitsbergen near various tidal glaciers terminus. The data are related to tidal phenomenon, calving glacier, drifting ice, hydrology of brackish water from ice of glacial origin and theirs consequences on safety of navi-gation. Thus, results of analysis of hydrological data may serve for improvement of safety of maritime transport in polar regions on high latitudes in vicinity of tidewater glaciers. The research work was part of the reconnaissance of hydrological and hydrographic conditions for the needs of other studies. Measurements were taken at the Kamavika inlet leading from the Hans Glacier to-wards Hornsund fjord (Southern Svalbard). Based on above data, the causes of disturbances and errors of hydrographic measurements that may occur in area of occurrence of brackish water layer and their influence on errors of digital information displayed in ECDIS systems as well as prediction of ice conditions and safety of watercrafts in vicinity of glacier terminus and on anchorage were described.

Keywords

• navigational safety
• hydrology
• tidal waters
• glacier terminus
• hydrographical surveys
• spitsbergen
• ecdis
• svalbard