The impact of volcanic activity on the glaciers of Kamchatka

Quantifying glacier elevation and mass changes is essential for understanding glacier dynamics as well as the interaction between volcanic activity and ice cover. This study investigates glacier elevation and mass changes within the Klyuchevskaya Volcanic Group (KVG) on the Kamchatka Peninsula using TanDEM-X and SRTM C-band SAR data combined with a differential SAR interferometric approach. Elevation and mass changes are assessed for the period 2000–2020, demonstrating the suitability of TanDEM-X digital elevation models for geodetic glacier analysis in volcanically active environments.  Cumulative mass loss 2000-2020 amounts to −0.782 ± 0.058 Gt. For the total glacierized area of 204.15 km², an average elevation change rate of −0.347 ± 0.011 m a⁻¹ is derived, corresponding to a specific mass balance of −295 ± 23 kg m⁻² a⁻¹ for the period 2012-2020, with locally much higher losses. Marked temporal variability is observed, with strongly increased mass loss after 2015/16 (-0.528±0.014 m a^-1) coinciding with intensified volcanic activity. Enhanced supraglacial debris cover following frequent and larger eruptions significantly influences glacier mass budgets, as supported by Landsat 8 Normalized Difference Snow Index analyses. Despite the absence of field-based debris thickness measurements, spatial patterns across individual glaciers highlight the critical role of volcanic debris in modulating glacier response.