Meteorological factors control debris slides and debris flows in a high-Arctic glacier basin (Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard)

Abstract

Landslide processes are one of the dominant agents of erosion and sediment transport on sediment-mantled slopes in arctic environments. Increased landslide activity is anticipated as climate change is projected to decrease mountain slope stability. High-Arctic environments, such as Svalbard, serve as crucial observatories for investigating current and future slope dynamics within a changing climate, particularly due to arctic amplification effects. Despite the significance of Arctic regions, empirical evidence in high latitudes is often lacking. This scarcity can be attributed to the absence of long-term, high-resolution terrain data with sufficient temporal resolution to assess the impact of meteorological boundary conditions on landscapes altered by climate change. However, addressing this gap in empirical evidence is essential for understanding the complex interplay between meteorological variables and debris slide and debris flow evolution in Arctic environments. This study presents a unique high-resolution remote sensing dataset within a high-Arctic glacier basin acquired over a 10-year period. Through the combination of terrestrial laser-scanning and an autonomous camera network, we were able to investigate the impact of meteorological boundary conditions on the trigger mechanisms of translational debris slides and debris flows and unravel paraglacial slope evolution following recent glacier retreat on the example of the Austre Lovénbreen glacier basin (Svalbard, Norway). Translational debris slides accounted for approximately 96 % (N = 147) of the total sediment flux observed, with debris flows (N = 21) acting as a secondary agent of sediment transport. The debris slide activity significantly increased between 2011 and 2021. Heavy rainfall events primarily influence the frequency and magnitude of debris slides during the hydrological summer, while the duration and intensity of the thawing period serve as the principal control for their initiation. Furthermore, a 2-year recurrence period for major debris flows (≥ 400 m³) was found, which is about 2.5 to 5 times shorter than previous estimates for the last few decades on Svalbard. In conclusion, this study highlights the impact of meteorological factors on debris slide frequency and magnitude within high-Arctic glacier basins, shedding light on the dynamics of paraglacial slope modification in Arctic environments affected by climate change.