Articles | Volume 13, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1861-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1861-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
10 Jul 2019
Research article |
| 10 Jul 2019
| 10 Jul 2019
Iceberg topography and volume classification using TanDEM-X interferometry
Dyre O. Dammann
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Department of Space, Earth, and Environment, Chalmers University of
Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
StormGeo, Bergen, Norway
Leif E. B. Eriksson
Department of Space, Earth, and Environment, Chalmers University of
Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Son V. Nghiem
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology,
Pasadena, CA, USA
Erin C. Pettit
College of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State
University, Corvallis, OR, USA
Nathan T. Kurtz
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
John G. Sonntag
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Goddard Space Flight
Center, Greenbelt, MD, USA
Thomas E. Busche
Microwaves and Radar Institute, German Aerospace Center,
Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Franz J. Meyer
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK,
USA
Andrew R. Mahoney
Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK,
USA
Related authors
Dyre Oliver Dammann, Leif E. B. Eriksson, Joshua M. Jones, Andrew R. Mahoney, Roland Romeiser, Franz J. Meyer, Hajo Eicken, and Yasushi Fukamachi
The Cryosphere, 13, 1395–1408, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1395-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1395-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate single-pass synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) as a tool to assess sea ice drift and deformation. Initial validation shows that TanDEM-X phase-derived drift speed corresponds well with ground-based radar-derived motion. We further show that InSAR enables the identification of potentially important short-lived dynamic processes otherwise difficult to observe, with possible implication for engineering and sea ice modeling.
Dyre O. Dammann, Leif E. B. Eriksson, Andrew R. Mahoney, Hajo Eicken, and Franz J. Meyer
The Cryosphere, 13, 557–577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-557-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-557-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present an approach for mapping bottomfast sea ice and landfast sea ice stability using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry. This is the first comprehensive assessment of Arctic bottomfast sea ice extent with implications for subsea permafrost and marine habitats. Our pan-Arctic analysis also provides a new understanding of sea ice dynamics in five marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean relevant for strategic planning and tactical decision-making for different uses of coastal ice.
Christian T. Wild, Tasha Snow, Tiago S. Dotto, Peter E. D. Davis, Scott Tyler, Ted A. Scambos, Erin C. Pettit, and Karen J. Heywood
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1675, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1675, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier is retreating due to warm ocean water melting it from below, but its thick ice shelf makes this heat hard to monitor. Using hot water drilling, we placed sensors beneath the floating ice, revealing how surface freezing in Pine Island Bay influences heat at depth. Alongside gradual warming, we found bursts of heat that could speed up melting at the grounding zone, which may become more common as sea ice declines.
Andrew Harrison Einhorn and Andrew Richard Mahoney
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-567, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-567, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding landfast ice stability is crucial for safe on-ice activities. Current data show only its location, not its stability. This research introduces apparent strain, derived from interferometric phase gradients, to measure relative stability. We identify three stability classes—bottomfast, stabilized, and not stabilized—based on the apparent strain. We show that fast ice increases stability throughout the season. These insights enhance safety for on-ice operations in Alaska.
Kel N. Markert, Hyongki Lee, Gustavious P. Williams, E. James Nelson, Daniel P. Ames, Robert E. Griffin, and Franz J. Meyer
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3491, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3491, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Flooding is a major problem and predicting it accurately over large areas is tough. This study tested a new approach to forecast floods across a large region in the United States. By dividing the area into smaller areas to develop the prediction models and then combining, the method successfully simulated surface water extent for both high and low flow periods. The results were more accurate than existing approaches with similar methods which can improve flood forecasting for larger areas.
Taha Sadeghi Chorsi, Franz J. Meyer, and Timothy H. Dixon
The Cryosphere, 18, 3723–3740, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3723-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3723-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The active layer thaws and freezes seasonally. The annual freeze–thaw cycle of the active layer causes significant surface height changes due to the volume difference between ice and liquid water. We estimate the subsidence rate and active-layer thickness (ALT) for part of northern Alaska for summer 2017 to 2022 using interferometric synthetic aperture radar and lidar. ALT estimates range from ~20 cm to larger than 150 cm in area. Subsidence rate varies between close points (2–18 mm per month).
Nathan J. M. Laxague, Christopher J. Zappa, Andrew R. Mahoney, John Goodwin, Cyrus Harris, Robert E. Schaeffer, Roswell Schaeffer Sr., Sarah Betcher, Donna D. W. Hauser, Carson R. Witte, Jessica M. Lindsay, Ajit Subramaniam, Kate E. Turner, and Alex Whiting
The Cryosphere, 18, 3297–3313, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3297-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3297-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The state of sea ice strongly affects its absorption of solar energy. In May 2019, we flew uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with sensors designed to quantify the sunlight that is reflected by sea ice at each wavelength over the sea ice of Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. We found that snow patches get darker (up to ~ 20 %) as they get smaller, while bare patches get darker (up to ~ 20 %) as they get larger. We believe that this difference is due to melting around the edges of small features.
Gabriela Collao-Barrios, Ted A. Scambos, Christian T. Wild, Martin Truffer, Karen E. Alley, and Erin C. Pettit
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1895, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1895, 2024
Preprint archived
Short summary
Short summary
Destabilization of ice shelves frequently leads to significant acceleration and greater mass loss, affecting rates of sea level rise. Our results show a relation between tides, flow direction, and grounding-zone acceleration that result from changing stresses in the ice margins and around a nunatak in Dotson Ice Shelf. The study describes a new way tides can influence ice shelf dynamics, an effect that could become more common as ice shelves thin and weaken around Antarctica.
Michael Studinger, Benjamin E. Smith, Nathan Kurtz, Alek Petty, Tyler Sutterley, and Rachel Tilling
The Cryosphere, 18, 2625–2652, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2625-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2625-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
We use green lidar data and natural-color imagery over sea ice to quantify elevation biases potentially impacting estimates of change in ice thickness of the polar regions. We complement our analysis using a model of scattering of light in snow and ice that predicts the shape of lidar waveforms reflecting from snow and ice surfaces based on the shape of the transmitted pulse. We find that biased elevations exist in airborne and spaceborne data products from green lidars.
Naomi E. Ochwat, Ted A. Scambos, Alison F. Banwell, Robert S. Anderson, Michelle L. Maclennan, Ghislain Picard, Julia A. Shates, Sebastian Marinsek, Liliana Margonari, Martin Truffer, and Erin C. Pettit
The Cryosphere, 18, 1709–1731, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1709-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-1709-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
On the Antarctic Peninsula, there is a small bay that had sea ice fastened to the shoreline (
fast ice) for over a decade. The fast ice stabilized the glaciers that fed into the ocean. In January 2022, the fast ice broke away. Using satellite data we found that this was because of low sea ice concentrations and a high long-period ocean wave swell. We find that the glaciers have responded to this event by thinning, speeding up, and retreating by breaking off lots of icebergs at remarkable rates.
Jenna A. Epifanio, Edward J. Brook, Christo Buizert, Erin C. Pettit, Jon S. Edwards, John M. Fegyveresi, Todd A. Sowers, Jeffrey P. Severinghaus, and Emma C. Kahle
The Cryosphere, 17, 4837–4851, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4837-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4837-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
The total air content (TAC) of polar ice cores has long been considered a potential proxy for past ice sheet elevation. This study presents a high-resolution record of TAC from the South Pole ice core. The record reveals orbital- and millennial-scale variability that cannot be explained by elevation changes. The orbital- and millennial-scale changes are likely a product of firn grain metamorphism near the surface of the ice sheet, due to summer insolation changes or local accumulation changes.
Steven Fons, Nathan Kurtz, and Marco Bagnardi
The Cryosphere, 17, 2487–2508, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2487-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2487-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Antarctic sea ice thickness is an important quantity in the Earth system. Due to the thick and complex snow cover on Antarctic sea ice, estimating the thickness of the ice pack is difficult using traditional methods in radar altimetry. In this work, we use a waveform model to estimate the freeboard and snow depth of Antarctic sea ice from CryoSat-2 and use these values to calculate sea ice thickness and volume between 2010 and 2021 and showcase how the sea ice pack has changed over this time.
Jack Tarricone, Ryan W. Webb, Hans-Peter Marshall, Anne W. Nolin, and Franz J. Meyer
The Cryosphere, 17, 1997–2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1997-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1997-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Mountain snowmelt provides water for billions of people across the globe. Despite its importance, we cannot currently measure the amount of water in mountain snowpacks from satellites. In this research, we test the ability of an experimental snow remote sensing technique from an airplane in preparation for the same sensor being launched on a future NASA satellite. We found that the method worked better than expected for estimating important snowpack properties.
Dyre Oliver Dammann, Mark A. Johnson, Andrew R. Mahoney, and Emily R. Fedders
The Cryosphere, 17, 1609–1622, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1609-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1609-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the GAMMA Portable Radar Interferometer (GPRI) as a tool for evaluating flexural–gravity waves in sea ice in near real time. With a GPRI mounted on grounded ice near Utqiaġvik, Alaska, we identify 20–50 s infragravity waves in landfast ice with ~1 mm amplitude during 23–24 April 2021. Observed wave speed and periods compare well with modeled wave propagation and on-ice accelerometers, confirming the ability to track propagation and properties of waves over hundreds of meters.
Robert Ricker, Steven Fons, Arttu Jutila, Nils Hutter, Kyle Duncan, Sinead L. Farrell, Nathan T. Kurtz, and Renée Mie Fredensborg Hansen
The Cryosphere, 17, 1411–1429, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1411-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1411-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Information on sea ice surface topography is important for studies of sea ice as well as for ship navigation through ice. The ICESat-2 satellite senses the sea ice surface with six laser beams. To examine the accuracy of these measurements, we carried out a temporally coincident helicopter flight along the same ground track as the satellite and measured the sea ice surface topography with a laser scanner. This showed that ICESat-2 can see even bumps of only few meters in the sea ice cover.
Michelle L. Maclennan, Jan T. M. Lenaerts, Christine A. Shields, Andrew O. Hoffman, Nander Wever, Megan Thompson-Munson, Andrew C. Winters, Erin C. Pettit, Theodore A. Scambos, and Jonathan D. Wille
The Cryosphere, 17, 865–881, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-865-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-865-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Atmospheric rivers are air masses that transport large amounts of moisture and heat towards the poles. Here, we use a combination of weather observations and models to quantify the amount of snowfall caused by atmospheric rivers in West Antarctica which is about 10 % of the total snowfall each year. We then examine a unique event that occurred in early February 2020, when three atmospheric rivers made landfall over West Antarctica in rapid succession, leading to heavy snowfall and surface melt.
Douglas I. Benn, Adrian Luckman, Jan A. Åström, Anna J. Crawford, Stephen L. Cornford, Suzanne L. Bevan, Thomas Zwinger, Rupert Gladstone, Karen Alley, Erin Pettit, and Jeremy Bassis
The Cryosphere, 16, 2545–2564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2545-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier (TG), in West Antarctica, is potentially unstable and may contribute significantly to sea-level rise as global warming continues. Using satellite data, we show that Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf, the largest remaining floating extension of TG, has started to accelerate as it fragments along a shear zone. Computer modelling does not indicate that fragmentation will lead to imminent glacier collapse, but it is clear that major, rapid, and unpredictable changes are underway.
Christian T. Wild, Karen E. Alley, Atsuhiro Muto, Martin Truffer, Ted A. Scambos, and Erin C. Pettit
The Cryosphere, 16, 397–417, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-397-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-397-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Thwaites Glacier has the potential to significantly raise Antarctica's contribution to global sea-level rise by the end of this century. Here, we use satellite measurements of surface elevation to show that its floating part is close to losing contact with an underwater ridge that currently acts to stabilize. We then use computer models of ice flow to simulate the predicted unpinning, which show that accelerated ice discharge into the ocean follows the breakup of the floating part.
Karen E. Alley, Christian T. Wild, Adrian Luckman, Ted A. Scambos, Martin Truffer, Erin C. Pettit, Atsuhiro Muto, Bruce Wallin, Marin Klinger, Tyler Sutterley, Sarah F. Child, Cyrus Hulen, Jan T. M. Lenaerts, Michelle Maclennan, Eric Keenan, and Devon Dunmire
The Cryosphere, 15, 5187–5203, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5187-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5187-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We present a 20-year, satellite-based record of velocity and thickness change on the Thwaites Eastern Ice Shelf (TEIS), the largest remaining floating extension of Thwaites Glacier (TG). TG holds the single greatest control on sea-level rise over the next few centuries, so it is important to understand changes on the TEIS, which controls much of TG's flow into the ocean. Our results suggest that the TEIS is progressively destabilizing and is likely to disintegrate over the next few decades.
Isolde A. Glissenaar, Jack C. Landy, Alek A. Petty, Nathan T. Kurtz, and Julienne C. Stroeve
The Cryosphere, 15, 4909–4927, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4909-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4909-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Scientists can estimate sea ice thickness using satellites that measure surface height. To determine the sea ice thickness, we also need to know the snow depth and density. This paper shows that the chosen snow depth product has a considerable impact on the findings of sea ice thickness state and trends in Baffin Bay, showing mean thinning with some snow depth products and mean thickening with others. This shows that it is important to better understand and monitor snow depth on sea ice.
Ross Maguire, Nicholas Schmerr, Erin Pettit, Kiya Riverman, Christyna Gardner, Daniella N. DellaGiustina, Brad Avenson, Natalie Wagner, Angela G. Marusiak, Namrah Habib, Juliette I. Broadbeck, Veronica J. Bray, and Samuel H. Bailey
The Cryosphere, 15, 3279–3291, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3279-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3279-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In the last decade, airborne radar surveys have revealed the presence of lakes below the Greenland ice sheet. However, little is known about their properties, including their depth and the volume of water they store. We performed a ground-based geophysics survey in northwestern Greenland and, for the first time, were able to image the depth of a subglacial lake and estimate its volume. Our findings have implications for the thermal state and stability of the ice sheet in northwest Greenland.
Simon Zwieback and Franz J. Meyer
The Cryosphere, 15, 2041–2055, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2041-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2041-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Thawing of ice-rich permafrost leads to subsidence and slumping, which can compromise Arctic infrastructure. However, we lack fine-scale maps of permafrost ground ice, chiefly because it is usually invisible at the surface. We show that subsidence at the end of summer serves as a
fingerprintwith which near-surface permafrost ground ice can be identified. As this can be done with satellite data, this method may help improve ground ice maps and thus sustainably steward the Arctic.
Alan Huston, Nicholas Siler, Gerard H. Roe, Erin Pettit, and Nathan J. Steiger
The Cryosphere, 15, 1645–1662, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1645-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1645-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We simulate the past 1000 years of glacier length variability using a simple glacier model and an ensemble of global climate model simulations. Glaciers with long response times are more likely to record global climate changes caused by events like volcanic eruptions and greenhouse gas emissions, while glaciers with short response times are more likely to record natural variability. This difference stems from differences in the frequency spectra of natural and forced temperature variability.
Ron Kwok, Alek A. Petty, Marco Bagnardi, Nathan T. Kurtz, Glenn F. Cunningham, Alvaro Ivanoff, and Sahra Kacimi
The Cryosphere, 15, 821–833, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-821-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-821-2021, 2021
Michael Studinger, Brooke C. Medley, Kelly M. Brunt, Kimberly A. Casey, Nathan T. Kurtz, Serdar S. Manizade, Thomas A. Neumann, and Thomas B. Overly
The Cryosphere, 14, 3287–3308, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3287-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3287-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
We use repeat airborne geophysical data consisting of laser altimetry, snow, and Ku-band radar and optical imagery to analyze the spatial and temporal variability in surface roughness, slope, wind deposition, and snow accumulation at 88° S. We find small–scale variability in snow accumulation based on the snow radar subsurface layering, indicating areas of strong wind redistribution are prevalent at 88° S. There is no slope–independent relationship between surface roughness and accumulation.
Yufang Ye, Mohammed Shokr, Signe Aaboe, Wiebke Aldenhoff, Leif E. B. Eriksson, Georg Heygster, Christian Melsheimer, and Fanny Girard-Ardhuin
The Cryosphere Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-200, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-2019-200, 2019
Revised manuscript not accepted
Short summary
Short summary
Sea ice has been monitored with microwave satellite observations since the late 1970s. However, the question remains as to which sea ice type concentration (SITC) method is most appropriate for ice type distribution and hence climate monitoring. This paper presents key results of inter-comparison and evaluation for eight SITC methods. The SITC methods were inter-compared with sea ice age and sea ice type products. Their performances were evaluated quantitatively and qualitatively.
Dyre Oliver Dammann, Leif E. B. Eriksson, Joshua M. Jones, Andrew R. Mahoney, Roland Romeiser, Franz J. Meyer, Hajo Eicken, and Yasushi Fukamachi
The Cryosphere, 13, 1395–1408, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1395-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1395-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We evaluate single-pass synthetic aperture radar interferometry (InSAR) as a tool to assess sea ice drift and deformation. Initial validation shows that TanDEM-X phase-derived drift speed corresponds well with ground-based radar-derived motion. We further show that InSAR enables the identification of potentially important short-lived dynamic processes otherwise difficult to observe, with possible implication for engineering and sea ice modeling.
Tingfeng Dou, Cunde Xiao, Jiping Liu, Wei Han, Zhiheng Du, Andrew R. Mahoney, Joshua Jones, and Hajo Eicken
The Cryosphere, 13, 1233–1246, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-1233-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The variability and potential trends of rain-on-snow events over Arctic sea ice and their role in sea-ice losses are poorly understood. This study demonstrates that rain-on-snow events are a critical factor in initiating the onset of surface melt over Arctic sea ice, and onset of spring rainfall over sea ice has shifted to earlier dates since the 1970s, which may have profound impacts on ice melt through feedbacks involving earlier onset of surface melt.
Steven W. Fons and Nathan T. Kurtz
The Cryosphere, 13, 861–878, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-861-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-861-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
A method to measure the snow freeboard of Antarctic sea ice from CryoSat-2 data is developed. Through comparisons with data from airborne campaigns and another satellite mission, we find that this method can reasonably retrieve snow freeboard across the Antarctic and shows promise in retrieving snow depth in certain locations. Snow freeboard data from CryoSat-2 are important because they enable the calculation of sea ice thickness and help to better understand snow depth on Antarctic sea ice.
Dyre O. Dammann, Leif E. B. Eriksson, Andrew R. Mahoney, Hajo Eicken, and Franz J. Meyer
The Cryosphere, 13, 557–577, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-557-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-557-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We present an approach for mapping bottomfast sea ice and landfast sea ice stability using Synthetic Aperture Radar Interferometry. This is the first comprehensive assessment of Arctic bottomfast sea ice extent with implications for subsea permafrost and marine habitats. Our pan-Arctic analysis also provides a new understanding of sea ice dynamics in five marginal seas of the Arctic Ocean relevant for strategic planning and tactical decision-making for different uses of coastal ice.
Claudine Hauri, Seth Danielson, Andrew M. P. McDonnell, Russell R. Hopcroft, Peter Winsor, Peter Shipton, Catherine Lalande, Kathleen M. Stafford, John K. Horne, Lee W. Cooper, Jacqueline M. Grebmeier, Andrew Mahoney, Klara Maisch, Molly McCammon, Hank Statscewich, Andy Sybrandy, and Thomas Weingartner
Ocean Sci., 14, 1423–1433, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1423-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-14-1423-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
The Arctic Ocean is changing rapidly. In order to track these changes, we developed and deployed a long-term marine ecosystem observatory in the Chukchi Sea. It helps us to better understand currents, waves, sea ice, salinity, temperature, nutrient and carbon concentrations, oxygen, phytoplankton blooms and export, zooplankton abundance and vertical migration, and the occurrence of fish and marine mammals throughout the year, even during the ice covered winter months.
Rebecca J. Rolph, Andrew R. Mahoney, John Walsh, and Philip A. Loring
The Cryosphere, 12, 1779–1790, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1779-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-1779-2018, 2018
Short summary
Short summary
Using thresholds of physical climate variables developed from community observations, together with two large-scale datasets, we have produced local indices directly relevant to the impacts of a reduced sea ice cover on Alaska coastal communities. We demonstrate how community observations can inform use of large-scale datasets to derive these locally relevant indices.
Ron Kwok, Nathan T. Kurtz, Ludovic Brucker, Alvaro Ivanoff, Thomas Newman, Sinead L. Farrell, Joshua King, Stephen Howell, Melinda A. Webster, John Paden, Carl Leuschen, Joseph A. MacGregor, Jacqueline Richter-Menge, Jeremy Harbeck, and Mark Tschudi
The Cryosphere, 11, 2571–2593, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2571-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-2571-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Since 2009, the ultra-wideband snow radar on Operation IceBridge has acquired data in annual campaigns conducted during the Arctic and Antarctic springs. Existing snow depth retrieval algorithms differ in the way the air–snow and snow–ice interfaces are detected and localized in the radar returns and in how the system limitations are addressed. Here, we assess five retrieval algorithms by comparisons with field measurements, ground-based campaigns, and analyzed fields of snow depth.
Wolfgang Dierking, Oliver Lang, and Thomas Busche
The Cryosphere, 11, 1967–1985, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1967-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1967-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
Information on the sea ice surface topography is valuable in geophysical investigations such as studies on atmosphere–sea ice interactions or sea ice mechanics. We investigated whether space-borne radar systems can be used to measure sea ice elevation. The answer is yes, but disturbing effects have to be considered, in particular sea ice drift and certain technical constraints. With future satellite radar missions, a fast wide-coverage acquisition of sea ice topography may be possible.
William R. Simpson, Peter K. Peterson, Udo Frieß, Holger Sihler, Johannes Lampel, Ulrich Platt, Chris Moore, Kerri Pratt, Paul Shepson, John Halfacre, and Son V. Nghiem
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 9291–9309, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9291-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-9291-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
We investigated Arctic atmospheric bromine chemistry during March–April 2012 to improve understanding of the role of sea ice and cracks in sea ice (leads) in this phenomenon. We find that leads vertically redistribute reactive bromine but that open/re-freezing leads are not major direct reactive halogen sources. Surface ozone depletion affects the vertical distribution and amount of reactive halogens, and aerosol particles are necessary but not sufficient to maintain reactive bromine aloft.
Peter K. Peterson, Denis Pöhler, Holger Sihler, Johannes Zielcke, Stephan General, Udo Frieß, Ulrich Platt, William R. Simpson, Son V. Nghiem, Paul B. Shepson, Brian H. Stirm, Suresh Dhaniyala, Thomas Wagner, Dana R. Caulton, Jose D. Fuentes, and Kerri A. Pratt
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 17, 7567–7579, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7567-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-17-7567-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
High-spatial-resolution aircraft measurements in the Arctic showed the sustained transport of reactive bromine in a lofted layer via heterogeneous reactions on aerosol particles. This process provides an explanation for free tropospheric reactive bromine and the significant spatial extent of satellite-observed bromine monoxide. The knowledge gained herein improves our understanding of the fate and transport of atmospheric pollutants in the Arctic.
Kelly M. Brunt, Robert L. Hawley, Eric R. Lutz, Michael Studinger, John G. Sonntag, Michelle A. Hofton, Lauren C. Andrews, and Thomas A. Neumann
The Cryosphere, 11, 681–692, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-681-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-681-2017, 2017
Short summary
Short summary
This manuscript presents an analysis of NASA airborne lidar data based on in situ GPS measurements from the interior of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Results show that for two airborne altimeters, surface elevation biases are less than 0.12 m and measurement precisions are 0.09 m or better. The study concludes that two NASA airborne lidars are sufficiently characterized to form part of a satellite data validation strategy, specifically for ICESat-2, scheduled to launch in 2018.
Megan O'Sadnick, Malcolm Ingham, Hajo Eicken, and Erin Pettit
The Cryosphere, 10, 2923–2940, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2923-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-2923-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
Non-destructive in situ monitoring of sea-ice microstructure is of value to sea-ice research and operations but remains elusive to date. We relate in situ measurements of sea-ice dielectric properties at frequencies of 10 to 95 Hz to ice temperature, salinity, and microstructure. Results support the possible use of low-frequency electric measurements to monitor the seasonal evolution of brine volume fraction, pore volume, and connectivity of pore space in sea ice.
Alek A. Petty, Michel C. Tsamados, Nathan T. Kurtz, Sinead L. Farrell, Thomas Newman, Jeremy P. Harbeck, Daniel L. Feltham, and Jackie A. Richter-Menge
The Cryosphere, 10, 1161–1179, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1161-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-10-1161-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
This study presents an analysis of Arctic sea ice topography using high-resolution, three-dimensional surface elevation data from the Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) laser altimeter, flown as part of NASA's Operation IceBridge mission. We describe and implement a newly developed sea ice surface feature-picking algorithm and derive novel information regarding the height, volume and geometry of surface features over the western Arctic sea ice cover.
P. R. Lindgren, G. Grosse, K. M. Walter Anthony, and F. J. Meyer
Biogeosciences, 13, 27–44, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-27-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-13-27-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We mapped and characterized methane ebullition bubbles trapped in lake ice, and estimated whole-lake methane emission using high-resolution aerial images of a lake acquired following freeze-up. We identified the location and relative sizes of high- and low-flux seepage zones within the lake. A large number of seeps showed spatiotemporal stability over our study period. Our approach is applicable to other regions to improve the estimation of methane emission from lakes at the regional scale.
F. Alshawaf, B. Fersch, S. Hinz, H. Kunstmann, M. Mayer, and F. J. Meyer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 19, 4747–4764, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4747-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-19-4747-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
This work aims at deriving high spatially resolved maps of atmospheric water vapor by the fusion data from Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS), and the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The data fusion approach exploits the redundant and complementary spatial properties of all data sets to provide more accurate and high-resolution maps of water vapor. The comparison with maps from MERIS shows rms values of less than 1 mm.
C. Lavoie, E. W. Domack, E. C. Pettit, T. A. Scambos, R. D. Larter, H.-W. Schenke, K. C. Yoo, J. Gutt, J. Wellner, M. Canals, J. B. Anderson, and D. Amblas
The Cryosphere, 9, 613–629, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-613-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-613-2015, 2015
P. K. Peterson, W. R. Simpson, K. A. Pratt, P. B. Shepson, U. Frieß, J. Zielcke, U. Platt, S. J. Walsh, and S. V. Nghiem
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 15, 2119–2137, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2119-2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-15-2119-2015, 2015
Short summary
Short summary
We developed methods to measure the vertical distribution of bromine monoxide, a gas that oxidizes pollutants, above sea ice based upon MAX-DOAS observations from Barrow, Alaska, and find that atmospheric stability exerts a strong control on BrO's vertical distribution. Specifically, more stable (temperature inversion) situations result in BrO being closer to the ground while more neutral (not inverted) atmospheres allow BrO to ascend further aloft and grow to larger column abundance.
N. T. Kurtz, N. Galin, and M. Studinger
The Cryosphere, 8, 1217–1237, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1217-2014, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-8-1217-2014, 2014
A. Steffen, J. Bottenheim, A. Cole, T. A. Douglas, R. Ebinghaus, U. Friess, S. Netcheva, S. Nghiem, H. Sihler, and R. Staebler
Atmos. Chem. Phys., 13, 7007–7021, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-7007-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-13-7007-2013, 2013
N. T. Kurtz, S. L. Farrell, M. Studinger, N. Galin, J. P. Harbeck, R. Lindsay, V. D. Onana, B. Panzer, and J. G. Sonntag
The Cryosphere, 7, 1035–1056, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1035-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1035-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Discipline: Glaciers | Subject: Remote Sensing
Importance of ice elasticity in simulating tide-induced grounding line variations along prograde bed slopes
Five decades of Abramov glacier dynamics reconstructed with multi-sensor optical remote sensing
Seasonality in Terminus Ablation Rates for the Glaciers in Kalaallit Nunaat (Greenland)
The Pléiades Glacier Observatory: high-resolution digital elevation models and ortho-imagery to monitor glacier change
Monthly velocity and seasonal variations of the Mont Blanc glaciers derived from Sentinel-2 between 2016 and 2024
Improved records of glacier flow instabilities using customized NASA autoRIFT (CautoRIFT) applied to PlanetScope imagery
Observing glacier elevation changes from spaceborne optical and radar sensors – an inter-comparison experiment using ASTER and TanDEM-X data
Optimizing rock glaciers activity classification in South Tyrol (North-East Italy): integrating multisource data with statistical modelling
Lake ice break-up in Greenland: timing and spatiotemporal variability
A low-cost and open-source approach for supraglacial debris thickness mapping using UAV-based infrared thermography
Refined glacial lake extraction in a high-Asia region by deep neural network and superpixel-based conditional random field methods
Annual to seasonal glacier mass balance in High Mountain Asia derived from Pléiades stereo images: examples from the Pamir and the Tibetan Plateau
Out-of-the-box calving-front detection method using deep learning
GLAcier Feature Tracking testkit (GLAFT): a statistically and physically based framework for evaluating glacier velocity products derived from optical satellite image feature tracking
Cast shadows reveal changes in glacier surface elevation
Characterizing the surge behaviour and associated ice-dammed lake evolution of the Kyagar Glacier in the Karakoram
Constraining regional glacier reconstructions using past ice thickness of deglaciating areas – a case study in the European Alps
Climatic control on seasonal variations in mountain glacier surface velocity
High-resolution debris-cover mapping using UAV-derived thermal imagery: limits and opportunities
Automated ArcticDEM iceberg detection tool: insights into area and volume distributions, and their potential application to satellite imagery and modelling of glacier–iceberg–ocean systems
Glacier extraction based on high-spatial-resolution remote-sensing images using a deep-learning approach with attention mechanism
TermPicks: a century of Greenland glacier terminus data for use in scientific and machine learning applications
Surge dynamics of Shisper Glacier revealed by time-series correlation of optical satellite images and their utility to substantiate a generalized sliding law
Offset of MODIS land surface temperatures from in situ air temperatures in the upper Kaskawulsh Glacier region (St. Elias Mountains) indicates near-surface temperature inversions
Three different glacier surges at a spot: what satellites observe and what not
Correlation dispersion as a measure to better estimate uncertainty in remotely sensed glacier displacements
Glacier and rock glacier changes since the 1950s in the La Laguna catchment, Chile
Brief communication: Increased glacier mass loss in the Russian High Arctic (2010–2017)
Contrasting surface velocities between lake- and land-terminating glaciers in the Himalayan region
Aerodynamic roughness length of crevassed tidewater glaciers from UAV mapping
Image classification of marine-terminating outlet glaciers in Greenland using deep learning methods
Brief communication: Detection of glacier surge activity using cloud computing of Sentinel-1 radar data
InSAR-based characterization of rock glacier movement in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA
Surface composition of debris-covered glaciers across the Himalaya using linear spectral unmixing of Landsat 8 OLI imagery
Mapping seasonal glacier melt across the Hindu Kush Himalaya with time series synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
Estimating surface mass balance patterns from unoccupied aerial vehicle measurements in the ablation area of the Morteratsch–Pers glacier complex (Switzerland)
High-resolution topography of the Antarctic Peninsula combining the TanDEM-X DEM and Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica (REMA) mosaic
Measuring the state and temporal evolution of glaciers in Alaska and Yukon using synthetic-aperture-radar-derived (SAR-derived) 3D time series of glacier surface flow
Tracking changes in the area, thickness, and volume of the Thwaites tabular iceberg “B30” using satellite altimetry and imagery
Analyzing glacier retreat and mass balances using aerial and UAV photogrammetry in the Ötztal Alps, Austria
Surges of Harald Moltke Bræ, north-western Greenland: seasonal modulation and initiation at the terminus
Brief communication: An empirical relation between center frequency and measured thickness for radar sounding of temperate glaciers
Glacier Image Velocimetry: an open-source toolbox for easy and rapid calculation of high-resolution glacier velocity fields
Calving Front Machine (CALFIN): glacial termini dataset and automated deep learning extraction method for Greenland, 1972–2019
Annual and inter-annual variability and trends of albedo of Icelandic glaciers
Observing traveling waves in glaciers with remote sensing: new flexible time series methods and application to Sermeq Kujalleq (Jakobshavn Isbræ), Greenland
Detecting seasonal ice dynamics in satellite images
Sharp contrasts in observed and modeled crevasse patterns at Greenland's marine terminating glaciers
Variability in glacier albedo and links to annual mass balance for the gardens of Eden and Allah, Southern Alps, New Zealand
The seasonal evolution of albedo across glaciers and the surrounding landscape of Taylor Valley, Antarctica
Natalya Ross, Pietro Milillo, Kalyana Nakshatrala, Roberto Ballarini, Aaron Stubblefield, and Luigi Dini
The Cryosphere, 19, 1995–2015, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1995-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1995-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
Analyzing remote sensing radar data over three Antarctic glaciers, we observe short-term grounding line migrations. We simulate this phenomenon using viscous and viscoelastic continuum mechanics models. We quantify the sensitivity of the grounding zone width to bedrock slope, glacier thickness, and ice flow speed. Comparisons of the models’ predictions with the observations highlight the necessity of including ice elasticity in non-Newtonian models of glacier ice.
Enrico Mattea, Etienne Berthier, Amaury Dehecq, Tobias Bolch, Atanu Bhattacharya, Sajid Ghuffar, Martina Barandun, and Martin Hoelzle
The Cryosphere, 19, 219–247, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-219-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-219-2025, 2025
Short summary
Short summary
We reconstruct the evolution of terminus position, ice thickness, and surface flow velocity of the reference Abramov glacier (Kyrgyzstan) from 1968 to present. We describe a front pulsation in the early 2000s and the multi-annual present-day buildup of a new pulsation. Such dynamic instabilities can challenge the representativity of Abramov as a reference glacier. For our work we used satellite‑based optical remote sensing from multiple platforms, including recently declassified archives.
Aman KC, Ellyn M. Enderlin, Dominik Fahrner, Twila Moon, and Dustin Carroll
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3543, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3543, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The sum of ice flowing towards a glacier’s terminus and changes in the position of the terminus over time collectively make up terminus ablation. We found that terminus ablation has more seasonal variability than previously estimated from flux-based estimates of ice discharge. The findings are of importance in understanding timing and location of the freshwater input to the fjords, and surrounding ocean basins affecting local and regional ecosystems and ocean properties.
Etienne Berthier, Jérôme Lebreton, Delphine Fontannaz, Steven Hosford, Joaquín Muñoz-Cobo Belart, Fanny Brun, Liss M. Andreassen, Brian Menounos, and Charlotte Blondel
The Cryosphere, 18, 5551–5571, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5551-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-5551-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Repeat elevation measurements are crucial for monitoring glacier health and to understand how glaciers affect river flows and sea level. Until recently, high-resolution elevation data were mostly available for polar regions and High Mountain Asia. Our project, the Pléiades Glacier Observatory, now provides high-resolution topographies of 140 glacier sites worldwide. This is a novel and open dataset to monitor the impact of climate change on glaciers at high resolution and accuracy.
Fabrizio Troilo, Niccolò Dematteis, Francesco Zucca, Martin Funk, and Daniele Giordan
The Cryosphere, 18, 3891–3909, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3891-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3891-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The study of glacier sliding along slopes is relevant in many aspects of glaciology. We processed Sentinel-2 satellite optical images of Mont Blanc, obtaining surface velocities of 30 glaciers between 2016 and 2024. The study revealed different behaviours and velocity variations that have relationships with glacier morphology. A velocity anomaly was observed in some glaciers of the southern side in 2020–2022, but its origin needs to be investigated further.
Jukes Liu, Madeline Gendreau, Ellyn Mary Enderlin, and Rainey Aberle
The Cryosphere, 18, 3571–3590, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3571-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3571-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
There are sometimes gaps in global glacier velocity records produced using satellite image feature-tracking algorithms during times of rapid glacier acceleration, which hinders the study of glacier flow processes. We present an open-source pipeline for customizing the feature-tracking parameters and for including images from an additional source. We applied it to five glaciers and found that it produced accurate velocity data that supplemented their velocity records during rapid acceleration.
Livia Piermattei, Michael Zemp, Christian Sommer, Fanny Brun, Matthias H. Braun, Liss M. Andreassen, Joaquín M. C. Belart, Etienne Berthier, Atanu Bhattacharya, Laura Boehm Vock, Tobias Bolch, Amaury Dehecq, Inés Dussaillant, Daniel Falaschi, Caitlyn Florentine, Dana Floricioiu, Christian Ginzler, Gregoire Guillet, Romain Hugonnet, Matthias Huss, Andreas Kääb, Owen King, Christoph Klug, Friedrich Knuth, Lukas Krieger, Jeff La Frenierre, Robert McNabb, Christopher McNeil, Rainer Prinz, Louis Sass, Thorsten Seehaus, David Shean, Désirée Treichler, Anja Wendt, and Ruitang Yang
The Cryosphere, 18, 3195–3230, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3195-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3195-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Satellites have made it possible to observe glacier elevation changes from all around the world. In the present study, we compared the results produced from two different types of satellite data between different research groups and against validation measurements from aeroplanes. We found a large spread between individual results but showed that the group ensemble can be used to reliably estimate glacier elevation changes and related errors from satellite data.
Chiara Crippa, Stefan Steger, Giovanni Cuozzo, Francesca Bearzot, Volkmar Mair, and Claudia Notarnicola
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1511, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1511, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Our study, focused on South Tyrol (NE Italy), develops an updated and comprehensive activity classification system for all rock glaciers in the current regional inventory. Using multisource products, we integrate climatic, morphological and DInSAR data in replicable routines and multivariate statistical methods producing a comprehensive classification based on the updated RGIK 2023 guidelines. Results leave only 3.5% of the features non-classified respect to the 13–18.5% of the previous studies.
Christoph Posch, Jakob Abermann, and Tiago Silva
The Cryosphere, 18, 2035–2059, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2035-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-2035-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Radar beams from satellites exhibit reflection differences between water and ice. This condition, as well as the comprehensive coverage and high temporal resolution of the Sentinel-1 satellites, allows automatically detecting the timing of when ice cover of lakes in Greenland disappear. We found that lake ice breaks up 3 d later per 100 m elevation gain and that the average break-up timing varies by ±8 d in 2017–2021, which has major implications for the energy budget of the lakes.
Jérôme Messmer and Alexander Raphael Groos
The Cryosphere, 18, 719–746, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-719-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-719-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
The lower part of mountain glaciers is often covered with debris. Knowing the thickness of the debris is important as it influences the melting and future evolution of the affected glaciers. We have developed an open-source approach to map variations in debris thickness on glaciers using a low-cost drone equipped with a thermal infrared camera. The resulting high-resolution maps of debris surface temperature and thickness enable more accurate monitoring and modelling of debris-covered glaciers.
Yungang Cao, Rumeng Pan, Meng Pan, Ruodan Lei, Puying Du, and Xueqin Bai
The Cryosphere, 18, 153–168, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-153-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-153-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
This study built a glacial lake dataset with 15376 samples in seven types and proposed an automatic method by two-stage (the semantic segmentation network and post-processing) optimizations to detect glacial lakes. The proposed method for glacial lake extraction has achieved the best results so far, in which the F1 score and IoU reached 0.945 and 0.907, respectively. The area of the minimum glacial lake that can be entirely and correctly extracted has been raised to the 100 m2 level.
Daniel Falaschi, Atanu Bhattacharya, Gregoire Guillet, Lei Huang, Owen King, Kriti Mukherjee, Philipp Rastner, Tandong Yao, and Tobias Bolch
The Cryosphere, 17, 5435–5458, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5435-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-5435-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Because glaciers are crucial freshwater sources in the lowlands surrounding High Mountain Asia, constraining short-term glacier mass changes is essential. We investigate the potential of state-of-the-art satellite elevation data to measure glacier mass changes in two selected regions. The results demonstrate the ability of our dataset to characterize glacier changes of different magnitudes, allowing for an increase in the number of inaccessible glaciers that can be readily monitored.
Oskar Herrmann, Nora Gourmelon, Thorsten Seehaus, Andreas Maier, Johannes J. Fürst, Matthias H. Braun, and Vincent Christlein
The Cryosphere, 17, 4957–4977, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4957-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4957-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Delineating calving fronts of marine-terminating glaciers in satellite images is a labour-intensive task. We propose a method based on deep learning that automates this task. We choose a deep learning framework that adapts to any given dataset without needing deep learning expertise. The method is evaluated on a benchmark dataset for calving-front detection and glacier zone segmentation. The framework can beat the benchmark baseline without major modifications.
Whyjay Zheng, Shashank Bhushan, Maximillian Van Wyk De Vries, William Kochtitzky, David Shean, Luke Copland, Christine Dow, Renette Jones-Ivey, and Fernando Pérez
The Cryosphere, 17, 4063–4078, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4063-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4063-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We design and propose a method that can evaluate the quality of glacier velocity maps. The method includes two numbers that we can calculate for each velocity map. Based on statistics and ice flow physics, velocity maps with numbers close to the recommended values are considered to have good quality. We test the method using the data from Kaskawulsh Glacier, Canada, and release an open-sourced software tool called GLAcier Feature Tracking testkit (GLAFT) to help users assess their velocity maps.
Monika Pfau, Georg Veh, and Wolfgang Schwanghart
The Cryosphere, 17, 3535–3551, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3535-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-3535-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Cast shadows have been a recurring problem in remote sensing of glaciers. We show that the length of shadows from surrounding mountains can be used to detect gains or losses in glacier elevation.
Guanyu Li, Mingyang Lv, Duncan J. Quincey, Liam S. Taylor, Xinwu Li, Shiyong Yan, Yidan Sun, and Huadong Guo
The Cryosphere, 17, 2891–2907, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2891-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2891-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Kyagar Glacier in the Karakoram is well known for its surge history and its frequent blocking of the downstream valley, leading to a series of high-magnitude glacial lake outburst floods. Using it as a test bed, we develop a new approach for quantifying surge behaviour using successive digital elevation models. This method could be applied to other surge studies. Combined with the results from optical satellite images, we also reconstruct the surge process in unprecedented detail.
Christian Sommer, Johannes J. Fürst, Matthias Huss, and Matthias H. Braun
The Cryosphere, 17, 2285–2303, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2285-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-2285-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Knowledge on the volume of glaciers is important to project future runoff. Here, we present a novel approach to reconstruct the regional ice thickness distribution from easily available remote-sensing data. We show that past ice thickness, derived from spaceborne glacier area and elevation datasets, can constrain the estimated ice thickness. Based on the unique glaciological database of the European Alps, the approach will be most beneficial in regions without direct thickness measurements.
Ugo Nanni, Dirk Scherler, Francois Ayoub, Romain Millan, Frederic Herman, and Jean-Philippe Avouac
The Cryosphere, 17, 1567–1583, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1567-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1567-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Surface melt is a major factor driving glacier movement. Using satellite images, we have tracked the movements of 38 glaciers in the Pamirs over 7 years, capturing their responses to rapid meteorological changes with unprecedented resolution. We show that in spring, glacier accelerations propagate upglacier, while in autumn, they propagate downglacier – all resulting from changes in meltwater input. This provides critical insights into the interplay between surface melt and glacier movement.
Deniz Tobias Gök, Dirk Scherler, and Leif Stefan Anderson
The Cryosphere, 17, 1165–1184, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1165-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1165-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
We performed high-resolution debris-thickness mapping using land surface temperature (LST) measured from an unpiloted aerial vehicle (UAV) at various times of the day. LSTs from UAVs require calibration that varies in time. We test two approaches to quantify supraglacial debris cover, and we find that the non-linearity of the relationship between LST and debris thickness increases with LST. Choosing the best model to predict debris thickness depends on the time of the day and the terrain aspect.
Connor J. Shiggins, James M. Lea, and Stephen Brough
The Cryosphere, 17, 15–32, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-15-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-15-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
Iceberg detection is spatially and temporally limited around the Greenland Ice Sheet. This study presents a new, accessible workflow to automatically detect icebergs from timestamped ArcticDEM strip data. The workflow successfully produces comparable output to manual digitisation, with results revealing new iceberg area-to-volume conversion equations that can be widely applied to datasets where only iceberg outlines can be extracted (e.g. optical and SAR imagery).
Xinde Chu, Xiaojun Yao, Hongyu Duan, Cong Chen, Jing Li, and Wenlong Pang
The Cryosphere, 16, 4273–4289, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4273-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-4273-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
The available remote-sensing data are increasingly abundant, and the efficient and rapid acquisition of glacier boundaries based on these data is currently a frontier issue in glacier research. In this study, we designed a complete solution to automatically extract glacier outlines from the high-resolution images. Compared with other methods, our method achieves the best performance for glacier boundary extraction in parts of the Tanggula Mountains, Kunlun Mountains and Qilian Mountains.
Sophie Goliber, Taryn Black, Ginny Catania, James M. Lea, Helene Olsen, Daniel Cheng, Suzanne Bevan, Anders Bjørk, Charlie Bunce, Stephen Brough, J. Rachel Carr, Tom Cowton, Alex Gardner, Dominik Fahrner, Emily Hill, Ian Joughin, Niels J. Korsgaard, Adrian Luckman, Twila Moon, Tavi Murray, Andrew Sole, Michael Wood, and Enze Zhang
The Cryosphere, 16, 3215–3233, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3215-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Terminus traces have been used to understand how Greenland's glaciers have changed over time; however, manual digitization is time-intensive, and a lack of coordination leads to duplication of efforts. We have compiled a dataset of over 39 000 terminus traces for 278 glaciers for scientific and machine learning applications. We also provide an overview of an updated version of the Google Earth Engine Digitization Tool (GEEDiT), which has been developed specifically for the Greenland Ice Sheet.
Flavien Beaud, Saif Aati, Ian Delaney, Surendra Adhikari, and Jean-Philippe Avouac
The Cryosphere, 16, 3123–3148, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3123-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3123-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding sliding at the bed of glaciers is essential to understand the future of sea-level rise and glacier-related hazards. Yet there is currently no universal law to describe this mechanism. We propose a universal glacier sliding law and a method to qualitatively constrain it. We use satellite remote sensing to create velocity maps over 6 years at Shisper Glacier, Pakistan, including its recent surge, and show that the observations corroborate the generalized theory.
Ingalise Kindstedt, Kristin M. Schild, Dominic Winski, Karl Kreutz, Luke Copland, Seth Campbell, and Erin McConnell
The Cryosphere, 16, 3051–3070, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3051-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3051-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
We show that neither the large spatial footprint of the MODIS sensor nor poorly constrained snow emissivity values explain the observed cold offset in MODIS land surface temperatures (LSTs) in the St. Elias. Instead, the offset is most prominent under conditions associated with near-surface temperature inversions. This work represents an advance in the application of MODIS LSTs to glaciated alpine regions, where we often depend solely on remote sensing products for temperature information.
Frank Paul, Livia Piermattei, Désirée Treichler, Lin Gilbert, Luc Girod, Andreas Kääb, Ludivine Libert, Thomas Nagler, Tazio Strozzi, and Jan Wuite
The Cryosphere, 16, 2505–2526, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2505-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2505-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier surges are widespread in the Karakoram and have been intensely studied using satellite data and DEMs. We use time series of such datasets to study three glacier surges in the same region of the Karakoram. We found strongly contrasting advance rates and flow velocities, maximum velocities of 30 m d−1, and a change in the surge mechanism during a surge. A sensor comparison revealed good agreement, but steep terrain and the two smaller glaciers caused limitations for some of them.
Bas Altena, Andreas Kääb, and Bert Wouters
The Cryosphere, 16, 2285–2300, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2285-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-2285-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Repeat overflights of satellites are used to estimate surface displacements. However, such products lack a simple error description for individual measurements, but variation in precision occurs, since the calculation is based on the similarity of texture. Fortunately, variation in precision manifests itself in the correlation peak, which is used for the displacement calculation. This spread is used to make a connection to measurement precision, which can be of great use for model inversion.
Benjamin Aubrey Robson, Shelley MacDonell, Álvaro Ayala, Tobias Bolch, Pål Ringkjøb Nielsen, and Sebastián Vivero
The Cryosphere, 16, 647–665, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-647-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-647-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
This work uses satellite and aerial data to study glaciers and rock glacier changes in La Laguna catchment within the semi-arid Andes of Chile, where ice melt is an important factor in river flow. The results show the rate of ice loss of Tapado Glacier has been increasing since the 1950s, which possibly relates to a dryer, warmer climate over the previous decades. Several rock glaciers show high surface velocities and elevation changes between 2012 and 2020, indicating they may be ice-rich.
Christian Sommer, Thorsten Seehaus, Andrey Glazovsky, and Matthias H. Braun
The Cryosphere, 16, 35–42, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-35-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-35-2022, 2022
Short summary
Short summary
Arctic glaciers have been subject to extensive warming due to global climate change, yet their contribution to sea level rise has been relatively small in the past. In this study we provide mass changes of most glaciers of the Russian High Arctic (Franz Josef Land, Severnaya Zemlya, Novaya Zemlya). We use TanDEM-X satellite measurements to derive glacier surface elevation changes. Our results show an increase in glacier mass loss and a sea level rise contribution of 0.06 mm/a (2010–2017).
Jan Bouke Pronk, Tobias Bolch, Owen King, Bert Wouters, and Douglas I. Benn
The Cryosphere, 15, 5577–5599, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5577-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
About 10 % of Himalayan glaciers flow directly into lakes. This study finds, using satellite imagery, that such glaciers show higher flow velocities than glaciers without ice–lake contact. In particular near the glacier tongue the impact of a lake on the glacier flow can be dramatic. The development of current and new meltwater bodies will influence the flow of an increasing number of Himalayan glaciers in the future, a scenario not currently considered in regional ice loss projections.
Armin Dachauer, Richard Hann, and Andrew J. Hodson
The Cryosphere, 15, 5513–5528, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5513-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5513-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
This study investigated the aerodynamic roughness length (z0) – an important parameter to determine the surface roughness – of crevassed tidewater glaciers on Svalbard using drone data. The results point out that the range of z0 values across a crevassed glacier is large but in general significantly higher compared to non-crevassed glacier surfaces. The UAV approach proved to be an ideal tool to provide distributed z0 estimates of crevassed glaciers which can be used to model turbulent fluxes.
Melanie Marochov, Chris R. Stokes, and Patrice E. Carbonneau
The Cryosphere, 15, 5041–5059, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5041-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-5041-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Research into the use of deep learning for pixel-level classification of landscapes containing marine-terminating glaciers is lacking. We adapt a novel and transferable deep learning workflow to classify satellite imagery containing marine-terminating outlet glaciers in Greenland. Our workflow achieves high accuracy and mimics human visual performance, potentially providing a useful tool to monitor glacier change and further understand the impacts of climate change in complex glacial settings.
Paul Willem Leclercq, Andreas Kääb, and Bas Altena
The Cryosphere, 15, 4901–4907, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4901-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4901-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
In this study we present a novel method to detect glacier surge activity. Surges are relevant as they disturb the link between glacier change and climate, and studying surges can also increase understanding of glacier flow. We use variations in Sentinel-1 radar backscatter strength, calculated with the use of Google Earth Engine, to detect surge activity. In our case study for the year 2018–2019 we find 69 cases of surging glaciers globally. Many of these were not previously known to be surging.
George Brencher, Alexander L. Handwerger, and Jeffrey S. Munroe
The Cryosphere, 15, 4823–4844, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4823-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4823-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We use satellite InSAR to inventory and monitor rock glaciers, frozen bodies of ice and rock debris that are an important water resource in the Uinta Mountains, Utah, USA. Our inventory contains 205 rock glaciers, which occur within a narrow elevation band and deform at 1.94 cm yr-1 on average. Uinta rock glacier movement changes seasonally and appears to be driven by spring snowmelt. The role of rock glaciers as a perennial water resource is threatened by ice loss due to climate change.
Adina E. Racoviteanu, Lindsey Nicholson, and Neil F. Glasser
The Cryosphere, 15, 4557–4588, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4557-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4557-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Supraglacial debris cover comprises ponds, exposed ice cliffs, debris material and vegetation. Understanding these features is important for glacier hydrology and related hazards. We use linear spectral unmixing of satellite data to assess the composition of map supraglacial debris across the Himalaya range in 2015. One of the highlights of this study is the automated mapping of supraglacial ponds, which complements and expands the existing supraglacial debris and lake databases.
Corey Scher, Nicholas C. Steiner, and Kyle C. McDonald
The Cryosphere, 15, 4465–4482, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4465-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4465-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Time series synthetic aperture radar enables detection of seasonal reach-scale glacier surface melting across continents, a key component of surface energy balance for mountain glaciers. We observe melting across all areas of the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) cryosphere. Surface melting for the HKH lasts for close to 5 months per year on average and for just below 2 months at elevations exceeding 7000 m a.s.l. Further, there are indications that melting is more than superficial at high elevations.
Lander Van Tricht, Philippe Huybrechts, Jonas Van Breedam, Alexander Vanhulle, Kristof Van Oost, and Harry Zekollari
The Cryosphere, 15, 4445–4464, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4445-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4445-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We conducted innovative research on the use of drones to determine the surface mass balance (SMB) of two glaciers. Considering appropriate spatial scales, we succeeded in determining the SMB in the ablation area with large accuracy. Consequently, we are convinced that our method and the use of drones to monitor the mass balance of a glacier’s ablation area can be an add-on to stake measurements in order to obtain a broader picture of the heterogeneity of the SMB of glaciers.
Yuting Dong, Ji Zhao, Dana Floricioiu, Lukas Krieger, Thomas Fritz, and Michael Eineder
The Cryosphere, 15, 4421–4443, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4421-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4421-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We generated a consistent, gapless and high-resolution (12 m) topography product of the Antarctic Peninsula by combining the complementary advantages of the two most recent high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) products: the TanDEM-X DEM and the Reference Elevation Model of Antarctica. The generated DEM maintains the characteristics of the TanDEM-X DEM, has a better quality due to the correction of the residual height errors in the non-edited TanDEM-X DEM and will be freely available.
Sergey Samsonov, Kristy Tiampo, and Ryan Cassotto
The Cryosphere, 15, 4221–4239, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4221-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4221-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The direction and intensity of glacier surface flow adjust in response to a warming climate, causing sea level rise, seasonal flooding and droughts, and changing landscapes and habitats. We developed a technique that measures the evolution of surface flow for a glaciated region in three dimensions with high temporal and spatial resolution and used it to map the temporal evolution of glaciers in southeastern Alaska (Agassiz, Seward, Malaspina, Klutlan, Walsh, and Kluane) during 2016–2021.
Anne Braakmann-Folgmann, Andrew Shepherd, and Andy Ridout
The Cryosphere, 15, 3861–3876, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3861-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3861-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We investigate the disintegration of the B30 iceberg using satellite remote sensing and find that the iceberg lost 378 km3 of ice in 6.5 years, corresponding to 80 % of its initial volume. About two thirds are due to fragmentation at the sides, and one third is due to melting at the iceberg’s base. The release of fresh water and nutrients impacts ocean circulation, sea ice formation, and biological production. We show that adding a snow layer is important when deriving iceberg thickness.
Joschka Geissler, Christoph Mayer, Juilson Jubanski, Ulrich Münzer, and Florian Siegert
The Cryosphere, 15, 3699–3717, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3699-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3699-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The study demonstrates the potential of photogrammetry for analyzing glacier retreat with high spatial resolution. Twenty-three glaciers within the Ötztal Alps are analyzed. We compare photogrammetric and glaciologic mass balances of the Vernagtferner by using the ELA for our density assumption and an UAV survey for a temporal correction of the geodetic mass balances. The results reveal regions of anomalous mass balance and allow estimates of the imbalance between mass balances and ice dynamics.
Lukas Müller, Martin Horwath, Mirko Scheinert, Christoph Mayer, Benjamin Ebermann, Dana Floricioiu, Lukas Krieger, Ralf Rosenau, and Saurabh Vijay
The Cryosphere, 15, 3355–3375, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3355-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3355-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Harald Moltke Bræ, a marine-terminating glacier in north-western Greenland, undergoes remarkable surges of episodic character. Our data show that a recent surge from 2013 to 2019 was initiated at the glacier front and exhibits a pronounced seasonality with flow velocities varying by 1 order of magnitude, which has not been observed at Harald Moltke Bræ in this way before. These findings are crucial for understanding surge mechanisms at Harald Moltke Bræ and other marine-terminating glaciers.
Joseph A. MacGregor, Michael Studinger, Emily Arnold, Carlton J. Leuschen, Fernando Rodríguez-Morales, and John D. Paden
The Cryosphere, 15, 2569–2574, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2569-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2569-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We combine multiple recent global glacier datasets and extend one of them (GlaThiDa) to evaluate past performance of radar-sounding surveys of the thickness of Earth's temperate glaciers. An empirical envelope for radar performance as a function of center frequency is determined, its limitations are discussed and its relevance to future radar-sounder survey and system designs is considered.
Maximillian Van Wyk de Vries and Andrew D. Wickert
The Cryosphere, 15, 2115–2132, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-2115-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
We can measure glacier flow and sliding velocity by tracking patterns on the ice surface in satellite images. The surface velocity of glaciers provides important information to support assessments of glacier response to climate change, to improve regional assessments of ice thickness, and to assist with glacier fieldwork. Our paper describes Glacier Image Velocimetry (GIV), a new, easy-to-use, and open-source toolbox for calculating high-resolution velocity time series for any glacier on earth.
Daniel Cheng, Wayne Hayes, Eric Larour, Yara Mohajerani, Michael Wood, Isabella Velicogna, and Eric Rignot
The Cryosphere, 15, 1663–1675, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1663-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-1663-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Tracking changes in Greenland's glaciers is important for understanding Earth's climate, but it is time consuming to do so by hand. We train a program, called CALFIN, to automatically track these changes with human levels of accuracy. CALFIN is a special type of program called a neural network. This method can be applied to other glaciers and eventually other tracking tasks. This will enhance our understanding of the Greenland Ice Sheet and permit better models of Earth's climate.
Andri Gunnarsson, Sigurdur M. Gardarsson, Finnur Pálsson, Tómas Jóhannesson, and Óli G. B. Sveinsson
The Cryosphere, 15, 547–570, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-547-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-547-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Surface albedo quantifies the fraction of the sunlight reflected by the surface of the Earth. During the melt season in the Northern Hemisphere solar energy absorbed by snow- and ice-covered surfaces is mainly controlled by surface albedo. For Icelandic glaciers, air temperature and surface albedo are the dominating factors governing annual variability of glacier surface melt. Satellite data from the MODIS sensor are used to create a data set spanning the glacier melt season.
Bryan Riel, Brent Minchew, and Ian Joughin
The Cryosphere, 15, 407–429, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-407-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-407-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
The availability of large volumes of publicly available remote sensing data over terrestrial glaciers provides new opportunities for studying the response of glaciers to a changing climate. We present an efficient method for tracking changes in glacier speeds at high spatial and temporal resolutions from surface observations, demonstrating the recovery of traveling waves over Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland. Quantification of wave properties may ultimately enhance understanding of glacier dynamics.
Chad A. Greene, Alex S. Gardner, and Lauren C. Andrews
The Cryosphere, 14, 4365–4378, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4365-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4365-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Seasonal variability is a fundamental characteristic of any Earth surface system, but we do not fully understand which of the world's glaciers speed up and slow down on an annual cycle. Such short-timescale accelerations may offer clues about how individual glaciers will respond to longer-term changes in climate, but understanding any behavior requires an ability to observe it. We describe how to use satellite image feature tracking to determine the magnitude and timing of seasonal ice dynamics.
Ellyn M. Enderlin and Timothy C. Bartholomaus
The Cryosphere, 14, 4121–4133, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4121-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-4121-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Accurate predictions of future changes in glacier flow require the realistic simulation of glacier terminus position change in numerical models. We use crevasse observations for 19 Greenland glaciers to explore whether the two commonly used crevasse depth models match observations. The models cannot reproduce spatial patterns, and we largely attribute discrepancies between modeled and observed depths to the models' inability to account for advection.
Angus J. Dowson, Pascal Sirguey, and Nicolas J. Cullen
The Cryosphere, 14, 3425–3448, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3425-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3425-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
Satellite observations over 19 years are used to characterise the spatial and temporal variability of surface albedo across the gardens of Eden and Allah, two of New Zealand’s largest ice fields. The variability in response of individual glaciers reveals the role of topographic setting and suggests that glaciers in the Southern Alps do not behave as a single climatic unit. There is evidence that the timing of the minimum surface albedo has shifted to later in the summer on 10 of the 12 glaciers.
Anna Bergstrom, Michael N. Gooseff, Madeline Myers, Peter T. Doran, and Julian M. Cross
The Cryosphere, 14, 769–788, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-769-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-769-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
This study sought to understand patterns of reflectance of visible light across the landscape of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. We used a helicopter-based platform to measure reflectance along an entire valley with a particular focus on the glaciers, as reflectance strongly controls glacier melt and available water to the downstream ecosystem. We found that patterns are controlled by gradients in snowfall, wind redistribution, and landscape structure, which can trap snow and sediment.
Cited articles
Akbari, V. and Brekke, C.: Iceberg detection in open and ice-infested
waters using C-band polarimetric synthetic aperture radar, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 56, 407–421, 2018.
Aoki, S.: Seasonal and spatial variations of iceberg drift off Dronning Maud
Land, Antarctica, detected by satellite scatterometers, J.
Oceanogr., 59, 629–635, 2003.
Arrigo, K. R. and van Dijken, G. L.: Impact of iceberg C-19 on Ross Sea
primary production, Geophys. Res. Lett., 30, 1836, https://doi.org/10.1029/2003GL017721, 2003.
Ballantyne, J. and Long, D. G.: A multidecadal study of the number of
Antarctic icebergs using scatterometer data, IEEE International Geoscience
and Remote Sensing Symposium, 24–28 June 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 5, 3029–3031, 2002.
Barker, A., Sayed, M., and Carrieres, T.: Determination of iceberg draft,
mass and cross-sectional areas, The fourteenth international offshore and
polar engineering conference, 23–28 May 2004, Toulon, France, 2004.
Bass, D.: Stability of icebergs, Ann. Glaciol., 1, 43–47, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0260305500016943, 1980.
Bigg, G. R., Cropper, T., O'Neill, C. K., Arnold, A. K., Fleming, A. H.,
Marsh, R., Ivchenko, V., Fournier, N., Osborne, M., and Stephens, R.: A
model for assessing iceberg hazard, Nat. Hazards, 92, 1113–1136, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11069-018-3243-x, 2018.
Blundell, G. M., Womble, J. N., Pendleton, G. W., Karpovich, S. A., Gende,
S. M., and Herreman, J. K.: Use of glacial and terrestrial habitats by
harbor seals in Glacier Bay, Alaska: costs and benefits, Mar. Ecol.
Prog. Ser., 429, 277–290, https://doi.org/10.3354/meps09073, 2011.
Crawford, A. J., Mueller, D., and Joyal, G.: Surveying Drifting Icebergs and
Ice Islands: Deterioration Detection and Mass Estimation with Aerial
Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning, Remote Sens., 10, 575, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs10040575, 2018.
Dammann, D. O., Eicken, H., Meyer, F., and Mahoney, A.: Assessing
small-scale deformation and stability of landfast sea ice on seasonal
timescales through L-band SAR interferometry and inverse modeling, Remote
Sens. Environ., 187, 492–504, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.10.032, 2016.
Dammann, D. O., Eicken, H., Saiet, E., Mahoney, A., Meyer, F., and George,
J. C.: Traversing sea ice – linking surface roughness and ice trafficability
through SAR polarimetry and interferometry, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Appl., 11, 416–433, https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2017.2764961, 2017.
Davis, C. H. and Poznyak, V. I.: The depth of penetration in Antarctic firn
at 10 GHz, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 31,
1107–1111, https://doi.org/10.1109/36.263784, 1993.
Dehecq, A., Millan, R., Berthier, E., Gourmelen, N., Trouvé, E., and Vionnet, V.:
Elevation Changes Inferred From TanDEM-X Data Over the Mont-Blanc Area: Impact of the X-Band Interferometric Bias, IEEE J. Sel. Top. Appl., 9, 3870–3882,
https://doi.org/10.1109/JSTARS.2016.2581482, 2016.
Denbina, M. and Collins, M. J.: Iceberg detection using compact
polarimetric synthetic aperture radar, Atmos.-Ocean, 50, 437–446, 2012.
Dierking, W. and Wesche, C.: C-Band radar polarimetry – useful for
detection of icebergs in sea ice?, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 52, 25–37, https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2012.2234756, 2014.
Dierking, W., Lang, O., and Busche, T.: Sea ice local surface topography from single-pass satellite InSAR measurements: a feasibility study, The Cryosphere, 11, 1967–1985, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-1967-2017, 2017.
Dominguez, R.: IceBridge DMS L1B Geolocated and Orthorectified Images, version 1, NASA DAAC at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, Boulder, Colorado USA, 2010 (updated 2013).
Eik, K. and Gudmestad, O. T.: Iceberg management and impact on design of
offshore structures, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 63, 15–28, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2010.04.008, 2010.
Enderlin, E. and Hamilton, G.: Estimates of iceberg submarine melting from
high-resolution digital elevation models: application to Sermilik Fjord,
East Greenland, J. Glaciol., 60, 1084–1092, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG14J085,
2014.
Enderlin, E. M., Hamilton, G. S., Straneo, F., and Sutherland, D. A.:
Iceberg meltwater fluxes dominate the freshwater budget in Greenland's
iceberg-congested glacial fjords, Geophys. Res. Lett., 43, 11287–11294,
2016.
Frost, A., Ressel, R., and Lehner, S.: Automated iceberg detection using
high-resolution X-band SAR images, Can. J. Remote Sens., 42,
354–366, 2016.
García, J. A., Eyssartier, K., López-Dekker, P., Prats, P., De Zan,
F., Krieger, G., and Busche, T.: Monitoring the Petermann ice island with
TanDEM-X, Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 22–27 July 2012, Munich, Germany, 2012 IEEE
International, 1912–1915, 2012.
Gardelle, J., Berthier, E., and Arnaud, Y.: Impact of resolution and radar
penetration on glacier elevation changes computed from DEM differencing,
J. Glaciol., 58, 419–422, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012JoG11J175, 2012.
Gladstone, R. M., Bigg, G. R., and Nicholls, K. W.: Iceberg trajectory
modeling and meltwater injection in the Southern Ocean, J.
Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 106, 19903–19915, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JC000347, 2001.
Goldstein, R. M. and Werner, C. L.: Radar interferogram filtering for
geophysical applications, Geophys. Res. Lett., 25, 4035–4038, https://doi.org/10.1029/1998GL900033, 1998.
Guttenberg, N., Abbot, D. S., Amundson, J. M., Burton, J. C., Mac Cathles,
L., MacAYEAL, D. R., and Zhang, W. W.: A computational investigation of
iceberg capsize as a driver of explosive ice-shelf disintegration, Ann.
Glaciol., 52, 51–59, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756411799096178, 2011.
Hall, D. K. and Martinec, J.: Remote sensing of ice and snow, Chapman and Hall, New York, NY, USA, 189 pp., 1985.
Hamley, T. and Budd, W.: Antarctic iceberg distribution and dissolution,
J. Glaciol., 32, 242–251, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000015574, 1986.
Helly, J. J., Kaufmann, R. S., Stephenson Jr, G. R., and Vernet, M.:
Cooling, dilution and mixing of ocean water by free-drifting icebergs in the
Weddell Sea, Deep-Sea Res. Pt. II, 58,
1346–1363, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr2.2010.11.010, 2011.
Howell, C., Youden, J., Lane, K., Power, D., Randell, C., and Flett, D.:
Iceberg and ship discrimination with ENVISAT multipolarization ASAR, IGARSS
2004, 2004 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium, 20–24 September 2004, Anchorage, AK, USA, 2004.
Jacka, T. H. and Giles, A. B.: Antarctic iceberg distribution and
dissolution from ship-based observations, J. Glaciol., 53,
341–356, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214307783258521, 2007.
Jacobs, S., Helmer, H., Doake, C., Jenkins, A., and Frolich, R.: Melting of
ice shelves and the mass balance of Antarctica, J. Glaciol., 38,
375–387, https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000002252, 1992.
Kim, J.-W., Kim, D.-J., and Hwang, B. J.: Characterization of Arctic Sea ice
thickness using high-resolution spaceborne polarimetric SAR data, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 50, 13–22, 2012.
Kollmeyer, R. C.: West Greenland glaciers: iceberg sources, in: Iceberg
Utilization, Proceedings of the First International Conference and Workshops on Iceberg Utilization for Fresh Water Production, Weather Modification and Other Applications, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA, 2–6 October 1977, edited by: Husseiny, A. A., Elsevier, 25–28, 1978.
Lazzara, M., Jezek, K., Scambos, T., MacAyeal, D., and Van der Veen, C.: On
the recent calving of icebergs from the Ross Ice Shelf, Polar Geography, 23,
201–212, https://doi.org/10.1080/10889379909377676, 1999.
Liu, Z., Amdahl, J., and Løset, S.: Integrated numerical analysis of an
iceberg collision with a foreship structure, Mar. Struct., 24, 377–395, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marstruc.2011.05.004, 2011.
Long, D. G., Ballantyn, J., and Bertoia, C.: Is the number of Antarctic
icebergs really increasing?, Eos, Transactions American Geophysical Union,
83, 469–474, 2002.
Lydersen, C., Assmy, P., Falk-Petersen, S., Kohler, J., Kovacs, K. M.,
Reigstad, M., Steen, H., Strøm, H., Sundfjord, A., and Varpe, Ø.: The
importance of tidewater glaciers for marine mammals and seabirds in
Svalbard, Norway, J. Marine Syst., 129, 452–471, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmarsys.2013.09.006, 2014.
Marino, A., Dierking, W., and Wesche, C.: A depolarization ratio anomaly
detector to identify icebergs in sea ice using dual-polarization SAR images,
IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 54, 5602–5615, 2016.
Markus, T., Neumann, T., Martino, A., Abdalati, W., Brunt, K., Csatho, B.,
Farrell, S., Fricker, H., Gardner, A., and Harding, D.: The Ice, Cloud, and
land Elevation Satellite-2 (ICESat-2): science requirements, concept, and
implementation, Remote Sens. Environ., 190, 260–273, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.12.029, 2017.
Martin, C. F., Krabill, W. B., Manizade, S. S., Russell, R. L., Sonntag, J.
G., Swift, R. N., and Yungel, J. K.: Airborne topographic mapper calibration
procedures and accuracy assessment, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center,
Greenbelt, MD, USA, 2012.
Massom, R., Hill, K., Lytle, V., Worby, A., Paget, M., and Allison, I.:
Effects of regional fast-ice and iceberg distributions on the behaviour of
the Mertz Glacier polynya, East Antarctica, Ann. Glaciol., 33,
391–398, https://doi.org/10.3189/172756401781818518, 2001.
Mazur, A. K., WÅhlin, A. K., and Krężel, A.: An object-based SAR
image iceberg detection algorithm applied to the Amundsen Sea, Remote Sens.
Environ., 189, 67–83, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2016.11.013, 2017.
McGuire, P., Younan, A., Wang, Y., Bruce, J., Gandi, M., King, T., Keeping,
K., and Regular, K.: Smart iceberg management system–rapid iceberg
profiling system, Arctic Technology Conference, 24–26 October 2016,
St. John's, NL, Canada, 2016.
McIntyre, N. and Cudlip, W.: Observation of a giant Antarctic tabular
iceberg by satellite radar altimetry, Polar Rec., 23, 458–462, 1987.
McNabb, R. W., Womble, J. N., Prakash, A., Gens, R., and Haselwimmer, C. E.:
Quantification and analysis of icebergs in a tidewater glacier fjord using
an object-based approach, Plos One, 11, e0164444, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0164444, 2016.
Merino, N., Le Sommer, J., Durand, G., Jourdain, N. C., Madec, G., Mathiot,
P., and Tournadre, J.: Antarctic icebergs melt over the Southern Ocean:
Climatology and impact on sea ice, Ocean Model., 104, 99–110, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocemod.2016.05.001, 2016.
Moon, T., Sutherland, D., Carroll, D., Felikson, D., Kehrl, L., and Straneo,
F.: Subsurface iceberg melt key to Greenland fjord freshwater budget, Nat.
Geosci., 11, 49–54, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-017-0018-z, 2018.
Moreira, A., Krieger, G., Hajnsek, I., Papathanassiou, K., Younis, M.,
Lopez-Dekker, P., Huber, S., Villano, M., Pardini, M., and Eineder, M.:
Tandem-L: A highly innovative bistatic SAR mission for global observation of
dynamic processes on the Earth's surface, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Magazine, 3, 8–23, https://doi.org/10.1109/MGRS.2015.2437353, 2015.
Murphy, D. L. and Cass, J. L.: The International Ice Patrol: safeguarding
life and property at sea, Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at
Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council, Washington, D.C., USA, 13–16, 2012.
Nghiem, S. V., Busche, T., Kraus, T., Tinto, K., Rack, W., Langhorne, P.,
Haas, C., Panowicz, C., Rigor, I., Morin, P., Nguyen, L., and Neumann, G.:
Remote Sensing of Antarctic Sea Ice with Coordinated Aircraft and Satellite
Data Acquisitions, Proc. of the International Geoscience and Remote Sensing
Symposium, 22–27 July 2018, Valencia, Spain, 18244459, 2018.
Parmiggiani, F., Moctezuma-Flores, M., Guerrieri, L., and Battagliere, M.:
SAR analysis of the Larsen-C A-68 iceberg displacements, Int. J. Remote Sens.,
39, 5850–5858, https://doi.org/10.1080/01431161.2018.1508921, 2018.
Pham, A. T.: Vietnam roadmap to master satellite technology, Vietnam Journal
of Science, Technology and Engineering, 59, 6–9, https://doi.org/10.31276/VJSTE.59(1).06,
2017.
Rignot, E., Echelmeyer, K., and Krabill, W.: Penetration depth of
interferometric synthetic-aperture radar signals in snow and ice, Geophys. Res. Lett., 28, 3501–3504, https://doi.org/10.1029/2000GL012484, 2001.
Romanov, Y. A., Romanova, N. A., and Romanov, P.: Shape and size of
Antarctic icebergs derived from ship observation data, Antarct. Sci.,
24, 77–87, https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954102011000538, 2012.
Romanov, Y. A., Romanova, N. A., and Romanov, P.: Geographical distribution
and volume of Antarctic icebergs derived from ship observation data, Ann. Glaciol., 58, 28–40, https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.2, 2017.
Rosen, P. A., Hensley, S., Joughin, I. R., Li, F. K., Madsen, S. N.,
Rodriguez, E., and Goldstein, R. M.: Synthetic aperture radar
interferometry, P. IEEE, 88, 333–382, 2000.
Scambos, T., Sergienko, O., Sargent, A., MacAyeal, D., and Fastook, J.:
ICESat profiles of tabular iceberg margins and iceberg breakup at low
latitudes, Geophys. Res. Lett., 32, L23S09, https://doi.org/10.1029/2005GL023802, 2005.
Schodlok, M., Hellmer, H., Rohardt, G., and Fahrbach, E.: Weddell Sea
iceberg drift: Five years of observations, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 111, C06018, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JC002661, 2006.
Silva, T. A. and Bigg, G. R.: Computer-based identification and tracking of
Antarctic icebergs in SAR images, Remote Sens. Environ., 94, 287–297, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2004.10.002, 2005.
Silva, T. A. M., Bigg, G., and Nicholls, K.: Contribution of giant icebergs to the
Southern Ocean freshwater flux, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans,
111, C03004, https://doi.org/10.1029/2004JC002843, 2006.
Smith, K. L., Robison, B. H., Helly, J. J., Kaufmann, R. S., Ruhl, H. A.,
Shaw, T. J., Twining, B. S., and Vernet, M.: Free-drifting icebergs: hot
spots of chemical and biological enrichment in the Weddell Sea, Science,
317, 478–482, https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1142834, 2007.
Stern, A. A., Johnson, E., Holland, D. M., Wagner, T. J., Wadhams, P.,
Bates, R., Abrahamsen, E. P., Nicholls, K. W., Crawford, A., and Gagnon, J.:
Wind-driven upwelling around grounded tabular icebergs, J.
Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 120, 5820–5835, 2015.
Stuart, K. M. and Long, D. G.: Iceberg size and orientation estimation
using SeaWinds, Cold Reg. Sci. Technol., 69, 39–51, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coldregions.2011.07.006, 2011.
Studinger, M.: IceBridge ATM L2 Icessn Elevation, Slope, and Roughness, Version 2. NASA Distrib. Active Archive Center, Nat. Snow Ice Data Center, Boulder, CO, USA, 2016.
Sulak, D. J., Sutherland, D. A., Enderlin, E. M., Stearns, L. A., and
Hamilton, G. S.: Iceberg properties and distributions in three Greenlandic
fjords using satellite imagery, Ann. Glaciol., 58, 92–106, https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2017.5, 2017.
Surdyk, S.: Using microwave brightness temperature to detect short-term
surface air temperature changes in Antarctica: An analytical approach,
Remote Sens. Environ., 80, 256–271, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0034-4257(01)00308-X, 2002.
Tournadre, J., Whitmer, K., and Girard-Ardhuin, F.: Iceberg detection in
open water by altimeter waveform analysis, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 113, C08040, https://doi.org/10.1029/2007JC004587, 2008.
Tournadre, J., Girard-Ardhuin, F., and Legrésy, B.: Antarctic icebergs
distributions, 2002–2010, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 117, C05004, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011JC007441, 2012.
Tournadre, J., Bouhier, N., Girard-Ardhuin, F., and Rémy, F.: Large
icebergs characteristics from altimeter waveforms analysis, J. Geophys. Res.-Oceans, 120, 1954–1974, 2015.
Wagner, T. J., Wadhams, P., Bates, R., Elosegui, P., Stern, A., Vella, D.,
Abrahamsen, E. P., Crawford, A., and Nicholls, K. W.: The “footloose”
mechanism: Iceberg decay from hydrostatic stresses, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41,
5522–5529, 2014.
Werner, C., Wegmüller, U., Strozzi, T., and Wiesmann, A.: Gamma SAR and
interferometric processing software, Proceedings of the ERS-ENVISAT
symposium, 16–20 October 2000, Gothenburg, Sweden, 1620, 2000.
Wesche, C. and Dierking, W.: Iceberg signatures and detection in SAR images
in two test regions of the Weddell Sea, Antarctica, J. Glaciol.,
58, 325–339, https://doi.org/10.3189/2012J0G11J020, 2012.
Williams, R., Rees, W., and Young, N.: A technique for the identification
and analysis of icebergs in synthetic aperture radar images of Antarctica,
Int. J. Remote Sens., 20, 3183–3199, https://doi.org/10.1080/014311699211697, 1999.
Willis, C., Macklin, J., Partington, K., Teleki, K., Rees, W., and Williams,
R.: Iceberg detection using ERS-1 synthetic aperture radar, Int. J. Remote
Sens., 17, 1777–1795, https://doi.org/10.1080/01431169608948739, 1996.
Yitayew, T. G., Dierking, W., Divine, D. V., Eltoft, T., Ferro-Famil, L.,
Rösel, A., and Negrel, J.: Validation of Sea-Ice Topographic Heights
Derived From TanDEM-X Interferometric SAR Data With Results From Laser
Profiler and Photogrammetry, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 56, 6504–6520, https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2018.2839590, 2018.
Zakharov, I., Power, D., Puestow, T., Howell, M., Warren, S., and Lynch, M.:
3D mapping of icebergs in sea ice with TanDEM-X interferomery, 2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS), 23–28 July 2017, Fort Worth, TX, USA,
938–940, 2017.
Zakharov, I., Puestow, T., Power, D., and Howell, M.: Icebergs in Sea Ice
With TanDEM-X Interferometry, IEEE Geosci. Remote S., 16, 1070–1074, https://doi.org/10.1109/LGRS.2019.2892896,
2019.
Zwally, H., Schutz, B., Abdalati, W., Abshire, J., Bentley, C., Brenner, A.,
Bufton, J., Dezio, J., Hancock, D., and Harding, D.: ICESat's laser
measurements of polar ice, atmosphere, ocean, and land, J.
Geodyn., 34, 405–445, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0264-3707(02)00042-X, 2002.
Short summary
We validate TanDEM-X interferometry as a tool for deriving iceberg subaerial morphology using Operation IceBridge data. This approach enables a volumetric classification of icebergs, according to volume relevant to iceberg drift and decay, freshwater contribution, and potential impact on structures. We find iceberg volumes to generally match within 7 %. These results suggest that TanDEM-X could pave the way for future interferometric systems of scientific and operational iceberg classification.
We validate TanDEM-X interferometry as a tool for deriving iceberg subaerial morphology using...
