During winter 2008-09 the glacier system reached the advancing surge stage and has proceeded 15 km by 2013, filling the inner half of Van Keulenfjorden.
Nathorstbreen advancing into Van Keulenfjorden August 2012 Photo: M Sund /SAS
Nathorstbreen confluence with Dobrowolskibreen in the north and with Polakkbreen and Zawadzkibreen in the south. Dobrowolskibreen started to advanced some years earlier while the other glaciers in the Nathorstbreen system started to advance during winter 2008-2009. Part of the advance has been monitored by time-lapse cameras.
>>See Nathorstbreen during surge
Part of Nathorstbreen in 2009. Note draw down around the mountain to the left. Photo: T. Aagesen
Part of Nathorstbreen by Besshø August 2012 Photo: M. Sund
For more information see:
2014. Sund, M., Lauknes, T. R. and Eiken, T. Surge dynamics in the Nathorstbreen glacier system, Svalbard.
The Cryosphere, 8, 623-638, doi:10.5194/tc-8-623-2014, http://www.the-cryosphere.net/8/623/2014/tc-8-623-2014.html
2012. Eiken, T and Sund, M. Photogrammetric methods applied to Svalbard glaciers: accuracies and challenges. Polar Research 2012, 31, 18671, http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/polar.v31i0.18671
2010. Sund, M. and Eiken, T. Recent surges on Blomstrandbreen, Comfortlessbreen and Nathorstbreen, Svalbard. Correspondence to Journal of Glaciology 56(195), 182-184.
2009. Sund, M., Eiken, T., Hagen, J.O. and Kääb, A. Svalbard surge dynamics derived
from geometric changes. Annals of Glaciology 50(52), 50-60.