AUSTDALSBREEN, NORWAY - EXPECTED REACTION TO A 40-M INCREASE IN WATER LEVEL IN THE LAKE INTO WHICH THE GLACIER CALVES

In order to increase water storage for hydroelectric purposes, a dam is being constructed across the outlet of Austdalsvatnet, the lake in which the glacier Austdalsbreen presently terminates. The dam will raise the water level in the lake approximately 40 m. About 1600 m up-valley from the terminus, the glacier flows over a bedrock riegel that is, at its lowest point, approximately 15 m above the projected lake level. Flux balance calculations suggest that the glacier terminus will retreat about 500 m, and that approximately 85% of this retreat will be complete within 10 a. The retreat is expected to result in a 45 m thinning of the glacier near the position of the final calving front, and a 8 m thinning over the riegel. The paper discusses expected impacts of the water level rise.