Articles | Volume 13, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2189-2019
© 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-13-2189-2019
© Author(s) 2019. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
19 Aug 2019
Research article |
| 19 Aug 2019
| 19 Aug 2019
Glacier thickness estimations of alpine glaciers using data and modeling constraints
Lisbeth Langhammer
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Melchior Grab
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Andreas Bauder
Laboratory of Hydraulics, Hydrology and Glaciology (VAW), ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Hansruedi Maurer
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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32 citations as recorded by crossref.
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- The Chinese Glacier inventory of Xinjiang in 2020 (CGI-XJ2020): Compilation, features and primary results Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.001
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- Development of a drone-based ground-penetrating radar system for efficient and safe 3D and 4D surveying of alpine glaciers B. Ruols et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.83
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- Transparentize A Shallow Cryosphere: High-Resolution Subsurface Imaging Using UAV-Borne Ground-Penetrating Radar: A review and prospective W. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/MGRS.2026.3712358
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- Dynamic Evolution Modeling of a Lake-Terminating Glacier in the Western Himalayas Using a Two-Dimensional Higher-Order Flowline Model Z. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14246189
- Helm Glacier projected to vanish within a decade J. Crompton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2026.10043
32 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Volume estimation and dynamics of the Purog Kangri ice field on the inner Tibetan Plateau P. Liang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejrh.2026.103257
- Influence of glacier inventories on ice thickness estimates and future glacier change projections in the Tian Shan range, Central Asia F. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2022.60
- Volume, evolution, and sedimentation of future glacier lakes in Switzerland over the 21st century T. Steffen et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-10-723-2022
- 4D GPR imaging of a near-terminus glacier collapse feature B. Ruols et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4045-2025
- Potential glacier contributions to the 2024 La Bérarde flood C. Ogier et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/nhess-26-3901-2026
- A Bayesian ice thickness estimation model for large-scale applications M. Werder et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2019.93
- A Glacier Ice Thickness Estimation Method Based on Deep Convolutional Neural Networks Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15070242
- Estimation of glacier ice storage in western China constrained by field ground-penetrating Radar surveys P. Liang & L. Tian https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2022.04.002
- An imbalancing act: the delayed dynamic response of the Kaskawulsh Glacier to sustained mass loss E. Young et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.107
- Brief communication: Bed mapping of southern Greenland outlet glaciers using helicopter-borne ground penetrating radar (AIRETH) I. Santin et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-20-3435-2026
- Local environmental context drives heterogeneity of early succession dynamics in alpine glacier forefields A. Bayle et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-20-1649-2023
- Modeling the retreat of the Aneto Glacier (Spanish Pyrenees) since the Little Ice Age, and its accelerated shrinkage over recent decades N. Campos et al. https://doi.org/10.1177/09596836211011678
- The Chinese Glacier inventory of Xinjiang in 2020 (CGI-XJ2020): Compilation, features and primary results Z. Li et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rcar.2025.09.001
- Glacier thickness modelling and monitoring with geophysical data constraints: A case study on the Indren Glacier (NW Italy) V. Strallo et al. https://doi.org/10.1002/esp.6068
- Development of a drone-based ground-penetrating radar system for efficient and safe 3D and 4D surveying of alpine glaciers B. Ruols et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2023.83
- Spectral characteristics of seismic ambient vibrations reveal changes in the subglacial environment of Glacier de la Plaine Morte, Switzerland J. van Ginkel et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-1469-2025
- Ice thickness distribution of all Swiss glaciers based on extended ground-penetrating radar data and glaciological modeling M. Grab et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2021.55
- Ice thickness and subglacial topography of Swedish reference glaciers revealed by radio-echo sounding Z. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-18-4241-2026
- Deriving seasonal and annual surface mass balance for debris-covered glaciers from flow-corrected satellite stereo DEM time series S. Bhushan et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2024.57
- Towards Bedmap Himalayas: development of an airborne ice-sounding radar for glacier thickness surveys in High-Mountain Asia H. Pritchard et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2020.29
- Reconciling ice dynamics and bed topography with a versatile and fast ice thickness inversion T. Frank et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4021-2023
- Integrating GPR and ice-thickness models for improved bedrock detection: the case study of Rutor temperate glacier A. Vergnano et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-6965-2025
- Glacier dynamics, proglacial lake expansion, and GLOF risk assessment in the lato basin, Trans-Himalayan Ladakh R. Ahmed et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2026.1740374
- Estimating glacier-bed overdeepenings as possible sites of future lakes in the de-glaciating Mont Blanc massif (Western European Alps) F. Magnin et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.106913
- Measuring and inferring the ice thickness distribution of four glaciers in the Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan L. Van Tricht et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2020.104
- Transparentize A Shallow Cryosphere: High-Resolution Subsurface Imaging Using UAV-Borne Ground-Penetrating Radar: A review and prospective W. Luo et al. https://doi.org/10.1109/MGRS.2026.3712358
- Estimating surface mass balance patterns from unoccupied aerial vehicle measurements in the ablation area of the Morteratsch–Pers glacier complex (Switzerland) L. Van Tricht et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-4445-2021
- Numerical modeling of ice detachment tipping processes: insights from the Sedongpu Glacier, southeastern Tibetan Plateau T. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-4487-2025
- Global Data Gaps in Our Knowledge of the Terrestrial Cryosphere H. Pritchard https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2021.689823
- Results from the Ice Thickness Models Intercomparison eXperiment Phase 2 (ITMIX2) D. Farinotti et al. https://doi.org/10.3389/feart.2020.571923
- Dynamic Evolution Modeling of a Lake-Terminating Glacier in the Western Himalayas Using a Two-Dimensional Higher-Order Flowline Model Z. Yan et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs14246189
- Helm Glacier projected to vanish within a decade J. Crompton et al. https://doi.org/10.1017/aog.2026.10043
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 29 Oct 2026
Short summary
We have developed a novel procedure for glacier thickness estimations that combines traditional glaciological modeling constraints with ground-truth data, for example, those obtained with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. This procedure is very useful for determining ice volume when only limited data are available. Furthermore, we outline a strategy for acquiring GPR data on glaciers, such that the cost/benefit ratio is optimized.
We have developed a novel procedure for glacier thickness estimations that combines traditional...
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