Geomorphological features of the Kongsfjorden area: Ny-Ålesund, Blomstrandøya (NW Svalbard, Norway)

Ice retreat and advancement have affected the Svalbard Islands since the Last Glacial Maximum. The area shows a continuous transition, both in space and time, from glacial environments to proglacial, periglacial, and paraglacial ones. Periglacial processes (as well as landslides and slope, fluvial, and coastal processes) are overprinting pre-existing glacial landforms. Our study focuses on the geomorphological features of the paraglacial environment in some selected areas along Kongsfjorden (Svalbard, Norway): Ny-Ålesund and Blomstrandøya. The study is based on the geomorphological mapping, carried out over two field seasons (2013 and 2014), integrated by the interpretation of orthophotos from years 1998, 2008, and 2010. The results presented in this work connect the overall morphology of the area and the landform distribution to the main stages of the recent evolution of the Kongsfjorden area. This may contribute to a better understanding of the geomorphological and environmental changes induced by glacier retreat in a very sensitive high Arctic area. © 2016, Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei.