Modelling late 20th-century precipitation in Nordenskio¨ld Land, Svalbard, by geomorphic means

Distribution of precipitation in mountain areas is a complex problem and the subject of long-standing debate and controversy compounded by the paucity of high-altitude meteorological stations. This lack of knowledge is pronounced for the Arctic, where predictions of future climate suggest an amplified future response to various climatic forcing mechanisms. Against this background, knowledge on the late 20th-century precipitation in the Svalbard region is of specific interest because the major transport pathway of water vapour into the Arctic Basin is across the Svalbard region. In order to understand ongoing changes of geomorphic and glaciological activity on Svalbard, a mapping/modelling of the late 20th-century precipitation in central Spitsbergen is attempted. Existing meteorological observations and knowledge on the altitude of the approximate late 20th-century equilibrium line on glaciers within the study area are used. The modelling is a first approach only, and should subsequently be tested through field measurements at selected key sites within the study area.