Articles | Volume 11, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1501-2017
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1501-2017
Research article
 | 
30 Jun 2017
Research article |  | 30 Jun 2017

Winter mass balance of Drangajökull ice cap (NW Iceland) derived from satellite sub-meter stereo images

Joaquín M. C. Belart, Etienne Berthier, Eyjólfur Magnússon, Leif S. Anderson, Finnur Pálsson, Thorsteinn Thorsteinsson, Ian M. Howat, Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir, Tómas Jóhannesson, and Alexander H. Jarosch

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Cited articles

Aðalgeirsdóttir, G., Guðmundsson, S., Björnsson, H., Pálsson, F., Jóhannesson, T., Hannesdóttir, H., Sigurðsson, S. Þ., and Berthier, E.: Modelling the 20th and 21st century evolution of Hoffellsjökull glacier, SE-Vatnajökull, Iceland, The Cryosphere, 5, 961–975, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-961-2011, 2011.
Ágústsson, H., Hannesdóttir, H., Thorsteinsson, T., Pálsson, F., and Oddsson, B.: Mass balance of Mýrdalsjokull ice cap accumulation area and comparison of observed winter balance with simulated precipitation, Jökull, 63, 91–104, 2013.
Berthier, E., Vincent, C., Magnússon, E., Gunnlaugsson, Á. Þ., Pitte, P., Le Meur, E., Masiokas, M., Ruiz, L., Pálsson, F., Belart, J. M. C., and Wagnon, P.: Glacier topography and elevation changes derived from Pléiades sub-meter stereo images, The Cryosphere, 8, 2275–2291, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-2275-2014, 2014.
Björnsson, H. and Pálsson, F.: Icelandic glaciers, Jökull, 58, 365–386, 2008.
Björnsson, H., Pálsson, F., Sigurdsson, O., and Flowers, G. E.: Surges of glaciers in Iceland, Ann. Glaciol., 36, 82–90, 2003.
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Short summary
Sub-meter satellite stereo images (Pléiades and WorldView2) are used to accurately measure snow accumulation and winter mass balance of Drangajökull ice cap. This is done by creating and comparing accurate digital elevation models. A glacier-wide geodetic mass balance of 3.33 ± 0.23 m w.e. is derived between October 2014 and May 2015. This method could be easily transposable to remote glaciated areas where seasonal mass balance measurements (especially winter accumulation) are lacking.
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