Svalbard Terrain Shifts
Researchers mapping Svalbard have identified that roughly 390,000 cubic meters of rock and loose debris have vanished from a single section of Forkastningsfjellet since 2009, according to data published by NORCE. The rapid changes to the terrain highlight accelerating permafrost degradation in the Arctic, where rising temperatures continue to destabilize mountainous terrain and tundra regions.
High-Resolution Aerial Mapping
To detect these shifts, NORCE installed specialized navigation and camera equipment on a Dornier 228–212 aircraft operated by Lufttransport. The equipment captures 3D models at a 25-centimeter resolution. Researchers then standardized these newer aerial measurements against older 2.5-meter elevation data collected by the Norwegian Polar Institute, revealing substantial mass loss across the mountain slope. Both models were adjusted to the same 2.5-meter resolution before calculating the changes.
Senior researcher Tom Rune Lauknes at NORCE described the terrain alterations as dramatic. He noted that while satellites track broad regional trends, low-flying aircraft provide the detailed imagery needed to analyze active slope processes. Lufttransport managing director Erlend Olsen stated that the aircraft’s ability to fly low and slow makes it an ideal platform for specialized scientific equipment. Lufttransport maintains two Dornier 228–212 aircraft permanently based in Longyearbyen, where the company celebrated 50 years of continuous presence on Svalbard. Typically, Lufttransport operates charter flights between the settlements of Longyearbyen and Ny-Ålesund, and has previously flown for the Coast Guard to monitor ocean areas.
Warming temperatures drive regional instability in Svalbard
Scientists emphasize that while warming temperatures and thawing permafrost drive regional instability, linking individual rockfalls directly to climate trends requires careful attribution. The collaboration between NORCE and Lufttransport has been ongoing since 2019, with the aircraft previously utilized for sea-ice research before expanding into land-surface change assessments on and around Svalbard and the Fram Strait toward Greenland.
NORCE operates the mapping flights as an open data initiative rather than a standalone research project. Lauknes confirmed that all collected 3D models and elevation datasets remain accessible to the wider scientific community to support ongoing Arctic monitoring.
What aircraft and data NORCE uses for Svalbard mapping?
What aircraft does NORCE use for Svalbard mapping?
NORCE mounts its monitoring equipment on a Dornier 228–212 aircraft operated by Lufttransport, which maintains its base in Longyearbyen.
How much material has disappeared from Forkastningsfjellet?
Roughly 390,000 cubic meters of rock and loose mass have disappeared from the monitored area of the mountain since 2009.
Are the mapping datasets available to other researchers?
Yes, NORCE makes its elevation and 3D terrain data openly available to the scientific community to assist with broader Arctic research.
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