Through the Hydro-Sensor-FLOWS program, a continuous survey was carried out from 2006 to 2010 to assess the hydro-glaciological dynamics of a polar glacier (Austre Lovén, Svalbard, 79°N). The combination of informations acquired « from above » and « from inside » is necessary for the spatialisation of the climatic data and their dynamics. This program is based on a 4 years survey of an arctic hydro-system using informations coming from image loggers (Formosat and digital cameras on the ground), physical loggers recording hydro-climatic data, and field measurements.
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Endorsed in IPY n°16 Hydro-sensor-FLOWS

Campaign 2010

Year 5/5
Three field campaigns will be carried on the Loven Est Spitsbergen in 2010. They will allow the maintenance of the whole sensors network, and the recurrent measurements conducted each year (Spring, Summer, Autumn).
April 2010
- downloading of the weather data (T°, wind), and of the photos from the automatic stations, recurrent measurements (hydrology, snow cover)
- geophysical investigation (GPR) and quantification of the change of the glacier in volume by geopositioning with a differential GPS
- winter glaciological mass balance with collecting data of ice stakes and 2 series of 42 snow drills, 8 snow profiles with 5 snow samplings on each to survey density and isotopic variation
June to mid-August 2010
- Set up and maintenance of the sensors network for summer time (hydrological probes and water samplers, rain gauges) ; downloading of the other sensors (anemometers, T°C, cameras)
-in situ hydrological measurements and summer hydrological balance
- weekly survey of the snow cover by drilling (42 points) and snow profiles 8 points with 5 samplings on each to follow density and isotopic variation
September-October 2010
Recurrent hydrological and glaciological measurements (glacier front positioning, ice stakes), in situ hydrological measurements (low water runoff), geophysical investigation on the permafrost