Articles | Volume 16, issue 8
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-3123-2022
© Author(s) 2022. 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-16-3123-2022
© Author(s) 2022. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
03 Aug 2022
Research article |
| 03 Aug 2022
| 03 Aug 2022
Surge dynamics of Shisper Glacier revealed by time-series correlation of optical satellite images and their utility to substantiate a generalized sliding law
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Canada, USA
now at: Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
now at: Department of Geography and Geological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, USA
Saif Aati
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Canada, USA
Ian Delaney
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
now at: Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Surendra Adhikari
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
Jean-Philippe Avouac
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Canada, USA
Related authors
F. Beaud, G. E. Flowers, and J. G. Venditti
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 125–145, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-125-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-125-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In regions formerly, or currently, covered by glaciers, landscapes have largely been shaped by glaciers. Glaciers erode bedrock through three main mechanisms: abrasion, quarrying, and subglacial meltwater erosion (SME). The latter, however, remains enigmatic. We present the first numerical modelling study of bedrock erosion by subglacial water and find that SME is negligible compared to abrasion and quarrying across the glacier, but its localization can explain the formation of bedrock channels.
Alan Robert Alexander Aitken, Ian Delaney, Guillaume Pirot, and Mauro A. Werder
The Cryosphere, 18, 4111–4136, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4111-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-4111-2024, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Understanding how glaciers generate sediment and transport it to the ocean is important for understanding ocean ecosystems and developing knowledge of the past cryosphere from marine sediments. This paper presents a new way to simulate sediment transport in rivers below ice sheets and glaciers and quantify volumes and characteristics of sediment that can be used to reveal the hidden record of the subglacial environment for both past and present glacial conditions.
Ian Delaney, Andrew Tedstone, Mauro A. Werder, and Daniel Farinotti
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2580, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2580, 2024
Short summary
Short summary
Sediment transport in rivers and under glaciers depends on water velocity and channel width. In rivers, water discharge changes affect flow depth, width, and velocity. Under glaciers, pressurized water changes velocity more than shape. Due to these differences, this study shows that sediment transport under glaciers varies widely and peaks before water flow does, creating a complex relationship. Understanding these dynamics helps interpret sediment discharge from glaciers in different climates.
Ian Delaney, Leif Anderson, and Frédéric Herman
Earth Surf. Dynam., 11, 663–680, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-663-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-11-663-2023, 2023
Short summary
Short summary
This paper presents a two-dimensional subglacial sediment transport model that evolves a sediment layer in response to subglacial sediment transport conditions. The model captures sediment transport in supply- and transport-limited regimes across a glacier's bed and considers both the creation and transport of sediment. Model outputs show how the spatial distribution of sediment and water below a glacier can impact the glacier's discharge of sediment and erosion of bedrock.
Julien Seguinot and Ian Delaney
Earth Surf. Dynam., 9, 923–935, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-923-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-9-923-2021, 2021
Short summary
Short summary
Ancient Alpine glaciers have carved a fascinating landscape of piedmont lakes, glacial valleys, and mountain cirques. Using a previous supercomputer simulation of glacier flow, we show that glacier erosion has constantly evolved and moved to different parts of the Alps. Interestingly, larger glaciers do not always cause more rapid erosion. Instead, glacier erosion is modelled to slow down during glacier advance and peak during phases of retreat, such as the one the Earth is currently undergoing.
Eric Larour, Lambert Caron, Mathieu Morlighem, Surendra Adhikari, Thomas Frederikse, Nicole-Jeanne Schlegel, Erik Ivins, Benjamin Hamlington, Robert Kopp, and Sophie Nowicki
Geosci. Model Dev., 13, 4925–4941, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-4925-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-13-4925-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
ISSM-SLPS is a new projection system for future sea level that increases the resolution and accuracy of current projection systems and improves the way uncertainty is treated in such projections. This will pave the way for better inclusion of state-of-the-art results from existing intercomparison efforts carried out by the scientific community, such as GlacierMIP2 or ISMIP6, into sea-level projections.
Surendra Adhikari, Erik R. Ivins, Eric Larour, Lambert Caron, and Helene Seroussi
The Cryosphere, 14, 2819–2833, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2819-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-2819-2020, 2020
Short summary
Short summary
The mathematical formalism presented in this paper aims at simplifying computational strategies for tracking ice–ocean mass exchange in the Earth system. To this end, we define a set of generic, and quite simple, descriptions of evolving land, ocean and ice interfaces and present a unified method to compute the sea-level contribution of evolving ice sheets. The formalism can be applied to arbitrary geometries and at all timescales.
Surendra Adhikari, Erik R. Ivins, Thomas Frederikse, Felix W. Landerer, and Lambert Caron
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 11, 629–646, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-629-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-11-629-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
We compute monthly solutions of changes in relative sea level, geoid height, and vertical bedrock displacement and uncertainties therein for the period April 2002–August 2016. These are based on the Release-06 GRACE Level-2 Stokes coefficients distributed by three premier data processing centers: CSR, GFZ, and JPL. Solutions are provided with and without Earth's rotational feedback included and in both the center-of-mass and center-of-figure reference frames.
Surendra Adhikari, Erik R. Ivins, and Eric Larour
Geosci. Model Dev., 9, 1087–1109, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-1087-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-9-1087-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
We present a numerically accurate, computationally efficient, (km-scale) high-resolution model for gravitationally consistent relative sea level that, unlike contemporary state-of-the-art models, operates efficiently on an unstructured mesh. The model is useful for earth system modeling and space geodesy. A straightforward and computationally less burdensome coupling to a dynamical ice-sheet model, for example, allows a refined and realistic simulation of fast-flowing outlet glaciers.
F. Beaud, G. E. Flowers, and J. G. Venditti
Earth Surf. Dynam., 4, 125–145, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-125-2016, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-4-125-2016, 2016
Short summary
Short summary
In regions formerly, or currently, covered by glaciers, landscapes have largely been shaped by glaciers. Glaciers erode bedrock through three main mechanisms: abrasion, quarrying, and subglacial meltwater erosion (SME). The latter, however, remains enigmatic. We present the first numerical modelling study of bedrock erosion by subglacial water and find that SME is negligible compared to abrasion and quarrying across the glacier, but its localization can explain the formation of bedrock channels.
S. Kidder, J.-P. Avouac, and Y.-C. Chan
Solid Earth, 4, 1–21, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-1-2013, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-4-1-2013, 2013
Related subject area
Discipline: Glaciers | Subject: Remote Sensing
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
Five decades of Abramov glacier dynamics reconstructed with multi-sensor optical remote sensing
Observing glacier elevation changes from spaceborne optical and radar sensors – an inter-comparison experiment using ASTER and TanDEM-X data
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
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
Recent glacier and lake changes in High Mountain Asia and their relation to precipitation changes
Multisensor validation of tidewater glacier flow fields derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) intensity tracking
Detecting dynamics of cave floor ice with selective cloud-to-cloud approach
Changes of the tropical glaciers throughout Peru between 2000 and 2016 – mass balance and area fluctuations
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.
Enrico Mattea, Etienne Berthier, Amaury Dehecq, Tobias Bolch, Atanu Bhattacharya, Sajid Ghuffar, Martina Barandun, and Martin Hoelzle
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2169, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-2169, 2024
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 reference glacier. For our work we used satellite‑based optical remote sensing from multiple platforms, including recently declassified archives.
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.
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.
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.
Désirée Treichler, Andreas Kääb, Nadine Salzmann, and Chong-Yu Xu
The Cryosphere, 13, 2977–3005, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2977-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2977-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Glacier growth such as that found on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) is counterintuitive in a warming world. Climate models and meteorological data are conflicting about the reasons for this glacier anomaly. We quantify the glacier changes in High Mountain Asia using satellite laser altimetry as well as the growth of over 1300 inland lakes on the TP. Our study suggests that increased summer precipitation is likely the largest contributor to the recently observed increases in glacier and lake masses.
Christoph Rohner, David Small, Jan Beutel, Daniel Henke, Martin P. Lüthi, and Andreas Vieli
The Cryosphere, 13, 2953–2975, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2953-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The recent increase in ice flow and calving rates of ocean–terminating glaciers contributes substantially to the mass loss of the Greenland Ice Sheet. Using in situ reference observations, we validate the satellite–based method of iterative offset tracking of Sentinel–1A data for deriving flow speeds. Our investigations highlight the importance of spatial resolution near the fast–flowing calving front, resulting in significantly higher ice velocities compared to large–scale operational products.
Jozef Šupinský, Ján Kaňuk, Zdenko Hochmuth, and Michal Gallay
The Cryosphere, 13, 2835–2851, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2835-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2835-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
Cave ice formations can be considered an indicator of long-term changes in the landscape. Using terrestrial laser scanning we generated a time series database of a 3-D cave model. We present a novel approach toward registration of scan missions into a unified coordinate system and methodology for detection of cave floor ice changes. We demonstrate the results of the ice dynamics monitoring correlated with meteorological observations in the Silická ľadnica cave situated in the Slovak Karst.
Thorsten Seehaus, Philipp Malz, Christian Sommer, Stefan Lippl, Alejo Cochachin, and Matthias Braun
The Cryosphere, 13, 2537–2556, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2537-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2537-2019, 2019
Short summary
Short summary
The glaciers in Peru are strongly affected by climate change and have shown significant ice loss in the last century. We present the first multi-temporal, countrywide quantification of glacier area and ice mass changes. A glacier area loss of −548.5 ± 65.7 km2 (−29 %) and ice mass loss of −7.62 ± 1.05 Gt is obtained for the period 2000–2016. The ice loss rate increased towards the end of the observation period. The glacier changes revealed can be attributed to regional climatic changes and ENSO.
Cited articles
Aati, S. and Avouac, J.-P.: Optimization of optical image geometric modeling,
application to topography extraction and topographic change measurements
using PlanetScope and SkySat imagery, Remote Sensing, 12, 3418, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12203418, 2020. a, b, c
Abe, T. and Furuya, M.: Winter speed-up of quiescent surge-type glaciers in Yukon, Canada, The Cryosphere, 9, 1183–1190, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-1183-2015, 2015. a, b
Adhikari, S., Ivins, E., and Larour, E.: Mass transport waves amplified by
intense Greenland melt and detected in solid Earth deformation,
Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 4965–4975, 2017. a
Armstrong, W. H., Anderson, R. S., and Fahnestock, M. A.: Spatial patterns of
summer speedup on South central Alaska glaciers, Geophys. Res. Lett., 44, 9379–9388, 2017. a
Avouac, J.-P. and Leprince, S.: Geodetic imaging using optical systems, in:
Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, 387–424,
Elsevier, https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53802-4.00067-1, 2015. a
Beaud, F., Flowers, G. E., and Pimentel, S.: Seasonal-scale abrasion and
quarrying patterns from a two-dimensional ice-flow model coupled to
distributed and channelized subglacial drainage, Geomorphology, 219,
176–191, 2014. a
Beaud, F., Aati, S., Delaney, I., Adhikari, S., and Avouac, J.-P.: Dataset and code – Shisper glacier surge and sliding law (Version 1), Zenodo [data set], https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4624397, 2021. a
Beyer, S., Kleiner, T., Aizinger, V., Rückamp, M., and Humbert, A.: A confined–unconfined aquifer model for subglacial hydrology and its application to the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream, The Cryosphere, 12, 3931–3947, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3931-2018, 2018. a
Björnsson, H.: Hydrological characteristics of the drainage system
beneath a surging glacier, Nature, 395, 771–774, https://doi.org/10.1038/27384, 1998. a
Burgess, E. W., Forster, R. R., and Larsen, C. F.: Flow velocities of Alaskan
glaciers, Nat. Commun., 4, 1–8, 2013. a
Catania, G., Stearns, L., Moon, T., Enderlin, E., and Jackson, R.: Future
evolution of Greenland's marine-terminating outlet glaciers,
J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 125, e2018JF004873, https://doi.org/10.1029/2018JF004873 2020. a
Chundley, T. and Willis, I.: Glacier surges in the north-west West Kunlun
Shan inferred from 1972 to 2017 Landsat imagery, J. Glaciol.,
65, 1–12, https://doi.org/10.1017/jog.2018.94, 2019. a
Clarke, G.: Subglacial Processes,
Annu. Rev. Earth Pl. Sc., 33, 247–276, https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev.earth.33.092203.122621, 2005. a
Clarke, G., Collins, S., and Thompson, D.: Flow, thermal structure, and
subglacial conditions of a surge-type glacier,
Can. J. Earth Sci., 21, 232–240, https://doi.org/10.1139/e84-024, 1984. a, b, c
Crameri, F.: Geodynamic diagnostics, scientific visualisation and StagLab 3.0, Geosci. Model Dev., 11, 2541–2562, https://doi.org/10.5194/gmd-11-2541-2018, 2018b. a, b, c
Dehecq, A., Gourmelen, N., Gardner, A., Brun, F., Goldberg, D., Nienow, P.,
Berthier, E., Vincent, C., Wagnon, P., and Trouvé, E.: Twenty-first
century glacier slowdown driven by mass loss in High Mountain Asia,
Nat. Geosci., 12, 22, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-018-0271-9, 2019. a
Drusch, M., Bello, U. D., Carlier, S., Colin, O., Fernandez, V., Gascon, F.,
Hoersch, B., Isola, C., Laberinti, P., Martimort, P., Meygret, A., Spoto, F.,
Sy, O., Marchese, F., and Bargellini, P.: Sentinel-2: ESA's Optical
High-Resolution Mission for GMES Operational Services,
Remote Sens. Environ., 120, 25–36,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2011.11.026, 2012. a
Dunse, T., Schellenberger, T., Hagen, J. O., Kääb, A., Schuler, T. V., and Reijmer, C. H.: Glacier-surge mechanisms promoted by a hydro-thermodynamic feedback to summer melt, The Cryosphere, 9, 197–215, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-197-2015, 2015. a, b, c
ESA: European Space Agency, Copernicus Open Access Hub,
https://scihub.copernicus.eu/, last access: 15 August 2019. a
Farinotti, D., Brinkerhoff, D. J., Clarke, G. K. C., Fürst, J. J., Frey, H., Gantayat, P., Gillet-Chaulet, F., Girard, C., Huss, M., Leclercq, P. W., Linsbauer, A., Machguth, H., Martin, C., Maussion, F., Morlighem, M., Mosbeux, C., Pandit, A., Portmann, A., Rabatel, A., Ramsankaran, R., Reerink, T. J., Sanchez, O., Stentoft, P. A., Singh Kumari, S., van Pelt, W. J. J., Anderson, B., Benham, T., Binder, D., Dowdeswell, J. A., Fischer, A., Helfricht, K., Kutuzov, S., Lavrentiev, I., McNabb, R., Gudmundsson, G. H., Li, H., and Andreassen, L. M.: How accurate are estimates of glacier ice thickness? Results from ITMIX, the Ice Thickness Models Intercomparison eXperiment, The Cryosphere, 11, 949–970, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-949-2017, 2017. a
Farinotti, D., Huss, M., Fürst, J. J., Landmann, J., Machguth, H.,
Maussion, F., and Pandit, A.: A consensus estimate for the ice thickness
distribution of all glaciers on Earth, Nat. Geosci., 12, 168, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0300-3, 2019. a, b
Flowers, G. E.: Subglacial modulation of the hydrograph from glacierized
basins, Hydrol. Process., 22, 3903–3918, https://doi.org/10.1002/hyp.7095, 2008. a
Flowers, G. E.: Modelling water flow under glaciers and ice sheets, P. Roy. Soc. A, 471, 1–41, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2014.0907, 2015. a
Frappé, T.-P. and Clarke, G. K. C.: Slow surge of Trapridge Glacier,
Yukon Territory, Canada, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth, 112, F03S32, https://doi.org/10.1029/2006JF000607, 2007. a
Gardner, A., Fahnestock, M., and Scambos, T.: ITS_LIVE regional glacier and
ice sheet surface velocities, National Snow and Ice Data
Center (NSIDC), https://doi.org/10.5067/6II6VW8LLWJ7, 2019. a, b, c
Gascon, F., Bouzinac, C., Thépaut, O., Jung, M., Francesconi, B., Louis,
J., Lonjou, V., Lafrance, B., Massera, S., Gaudel-Vacaresse, A., Languille,
F., Alhammoud, B., Viallefont, F., Pflug, B., Bieniarz, J., Clerc, S.,
Pessiot, L., Trémas, T.and Cadau, E., De Bonis, R., Isola, C.,
Martimort, P., and Fernandez, V.: Copernicus Sentinel-2A Calibration and
Products Validation Status, Remote Sensing, 9, 584, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs9060584,
2017. a
Gelaro, R., McCarty, W., Suárez, M. J., Todling, R., Molod, A., Takacs, L.,
Randles, C. A., Darmenov, A., Bosilovich, M. G., Reichle, R., Wargan, K., Coy, L., Cullather, R., Draper, C., Akella, S., Buchard, V., Conaty, A., da Silva, A. M., Gu, W., Kim, G., Koster, R., Lucchesi, R., Merkova, D., Nielsen, J. E., Partyka, G., Pawson, S., Putman, W., Rienecker, M., Schubert, S. D., Sienkiewicz, M., and Zhao, B.: The
modern-era retrospective analysis for research and applications, version 2
(MERRA-2), J. Climate, 30, 5419–5454, 2017. a
Habermann, M., Truffer, M., and Maxwell, D.: Changing basal conditions during the speed-up of Jakobshavn Isbræ, Greenland, The Cryosphere, 7, 1679–1692, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-7-1679-2013, 2013. a, b
Heid, T. and Kääb, A.: Evaluation of existing image matching
methods for deriving glacier surface displacements globally from optical
satellite imagery, Remote Sens. Environ., 118, 339–355,
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.RSE.2011.11.024, 2012. a, b
Hewitt, K.: The Karakoram anomaly? Glacier expansion and the “Elevation
Effect”, Karakoram Himalaya, Mt. Res. Dev., 25,
332–341, 2005. a
Hewitt, K. and Liu, J.: Ice-dammed lakes and outburst floods, Karakoram
Himalaya: historical perspectives on emerging threats, Phys. Geogr.,
31, 528–551, https://doi.org/10.2747/0272-3646.31.6.528, 2010. a
Hoffman, M. and Price, S.: Feedbacks between coupled subglacial hydrology and
glacier dynamics, J. Geophys. Res., 119, 414–436,
https://doi.org/10.1002/2013JF002943, 2014. a, b
Iken, A. and Truffer, M.: The relationship between subglacial water pressure
and velocity of Findelengletscher, Switzerland, during its advance and
retreat, J. Glaciol., 43, 328–338,
https://doi.org/10.3189/S0022143000003282, 1997. a, b
Iverson, N. and Zoet, L.: Experiments on the dynamics and sedimentary products
of glacier slip, Geomorphology, 244, 121–134,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2015.03.027, 2015. a
Jay-Allemand, M., Gillet-Chaulet, F., Gagliardini, O., and Nodet, M.: Investigating changes in basal conditions of Variegated Glacier prior to and during its 1982–1983 surge, The Cryosphere, 5, 659–672, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-5-659-2011, 2011. a
Jiskoot, H.: Glacier surging, Encyclopedia of Snow, Ice and Glaciers,
415–428, 2011. a
Joughin, I., Smith, B., and Schoof, C.: Regularized Coulomb Friction Laws
for Ice Sheet Sliding: Application to Pine Island Glacier,
Antarctica, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 4764–4771,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082526, 2019. a, b, c, d
Kääb, A., Treichler, D., Nuth, C., and Berthier, E.: Brief Communication: Contending estimates of 2003–2008 glacier mass balance over the Pamir–Karakoram–Himalaya, The Cryosphere, 9, 557–564, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-557-2015, 2015. a, b, c
Kääb, A., Winsvold, S., Altena, B., N., C., Nagler, T., and Wuite,
J.: Glacier Remote Sensing Using Sentinel-2. Part I:
Radiometric and Geometric Performance, and Application to Ice
Velocity, Remote Sensing, 8, 598, https://doi.org/10.3390/rs8070598, 2016. a
Kamb, B.: Glacier surge mechanism based on linked cavity configuration of the
basal water conduit system, J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 92,
9083–9100, 1987. a
Karim, D., Karim, I., Anwar, W., Uddin, K., Ali, A., and Gurung, D.: Glacier
hazard associated with surging glaciers–story of the Shishper Glacier from
Hunza, Pakistan, in: Debris Flows: Disaster, Risk, Forecast, Protection,
Proceedings of the 6th conference, Dushanbe-Khorog, Tajikistan, 20–26 September 2020, edited by: Chernomorets, S. S. and Viskhadzhieva, K. S., 1, 234–245, Dushanbe: “Promotion” LLC, 2020. a
King, M. D., Howat, I. M., Jeong, S., Noh, M. J., Wouters, B., Noël, B., and van den Broeke, M. R.: Seasonal to decadal variability in ice discharge from the Greenland Ice Sheet, The Cryosphere, 12, 3813–3825, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-3813-2018, 2018. a
Leprince, S., Barbot, S., Ayoub, F., and Avouac, J.-P.: Automatic and precise
orthorectification, coregistration, and subpixel correlation of satellite
images, application to ground deformation measurements, IEEE T. Geosci. Remote, 45, 1529–1558,
https://doi.org/10.1109/TGRS.2006.888937, 2007 (data available at: http://www.tectonics.caltech.edu/slip_history/spot_coseis/download_software.html, last access: 15 February 2020). a, b, c, d
MacAyeal, D. R.: Revisiting Weertman's tombstone bed, Ann. Glaciol., 60,
21–29, 2019. a
Mair, D., Nienow, P., Sharp, M., Wohlleben, T., and Willis, I.: Influence of
subglacial drainage system evolution on glacier surface motion: Haut
Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, J. Geophys. Res., 107,
10–1029, 2002. a
Mayer, C., Fowler, A., Lambrecht, A., and Scharrer, K.: A surge of North
Gasherbrum Glacier, Karakoram, China, J. Glaciol., 57,
904–916, https://doi.org/10.3189/002214311798043834, 2011. a
Moon, T., Joughin, I., Smith, B., Van Den Broeke, M. R., Van De Berg, W. J.,
Noël, B., and Usher, M.: Distinct patterns of seasonal Greenland glacier
velocity, Geophys. Res. Lett., 41, 7209–7216, 2014. a
Müller, F. and Iken, A.: Velocity fluctuations and water regime of Arctic
valley glaciers, International Association of Scientific Hydrology
Publication, 95, 165–182, 1973. a
Murray, T., Stuart, G., Miller, P., Woodward, J., Smith, A., Porter, P., and
Jiskoot, H.: Glacier surge propagation by thermal evolution at the bed,
J. Geophys. Res.-Sol. Ea., 105, 13491–13507,
https://doi.org/10.1029/2000JB900066, 2000. a, b
Pamir Times: Flood from advancing Shisper glacier damages a portion of KKH in
Hasanabad, Hunza,
https://pamirtimes.net/2019/06/23/flood-from-advancing-shisper-glacier-damages-a-portion-of-kkh-in-hasanabad-hunza/ (last access: 15 February 2020),
2019. a, b, c
Pattyn, F. and Morlighem, M.: The uncertain future of the Antarctic Ice Sheet,
Science, 367, 1331–1335, 2020. a
Paul, F.: A 60-year chronology of glacier surges in the central Karakoram
from the analysis of satellite image time-series, Geomorphology, 352,
106993, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.geomorph.2019.106993, 2020. a
Pfeffer, W., Arendt, A., Bliss, A., Bolch, T., Cogley, J., Gardner, A., Hagen,
J.-O., Hock, R., Kaser, G., Kienholz, C., Miles, E. S., Moholdt, G., Mölg, N., Paul, F., Radić, V., Rastner, P., Raup, B. H., Rich, J., Sharp, M. J., and The Randolph Consortium: The Randolph
Glacier Inventory: a globally complete inventory of glaciers, J.
Glaciol., 60, 537–552, https://doi.org/10.3189/2014JoG13J176, 2014. a
Pimentel, S. and Flowers, G. E.: A numerical study of hydrologically driven
glacier dynamics and subglacial flooding, P. Roy. Soc. A,
467, 537–558, https://doi.org/10.1098/rspa.2010.0211, 2010. a, b, c
Post, A.: Distribution of surging glaciers in western North America, J.
Glaciol., 8, 229–240, 1969. a
Quincey, D., Braun, M., Glasser, N., Bishop, M., Hewitt, K., and Luckman, A.:
Karakoram glacier surge dynamics, Geophys. Res. Lett., 38, L18504, https://doi.org/10.1029/2011GL049004, 2011. a
Quincey, D., Glasser, N., Cook, S., and Luckman, A.: Heterogeneity in
Karakoram glacier surges, J. Geophys. Res.-Earth,
120, 1288–1300, https://doi.org/10.1002/2015JF003515, 2015. a, b, c, d
Rada, C. and Schoof, C.: Channelized, distributed, and disconnected: subglacial drainage under a valley glacier in the Yukon, The Cryosphere, 12, 2609–2636, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-2609-2018, 2018. a
Roe, G. H. and O'Neal, M. A.: The response of glaciers to intrinsic climate
variability: observations and models of late-Holocene variations in the
Pacific Northwest, J. Glaciol., 55, 839–854, 2009. a
Rosu, A.-M., Pierrot-Deseilligny, M., Delorme, A., Binet, R., and Klinger, Y.:
Measurement of ground displacement from optical satellite image correlation
using the free open-source software MicMac,
ISPRS J. Photogramm., 100, 48–59, https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ISPRSJPRS.2014.03.002, 2015. a, b
Röthlisberger, H.: Water pressure in intra- and subglacial channels,
J. Glaciol., 11, 177–203, 1972. a
Round, V., Leinss, S., Huss, M., Haemmig, C., and Hajnsek, I.: Surge dynamics and lake outbursts of Kyagar Glacier, Karakoram, The Cryosphere, 11, 723–739, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-11-723-2017, 2017. a, b, c, d
Roy, D., Wulder, M., Loveland, T., C.E., W., Allen, R., Anderson, M. C.,
Helder, D., Irons, J., Johnson, D., Kennedy, R., Scambos, T., Schaaf, C.,
Schott, J., Sheng, Y., Vermote, E., Belward, A., Bindschadler, R., Cohen, W.,
Gao, F., Hipple, J., Hostert, P., Huntington, J., Justice, C., Kilic, A.,
Kovalskyy, V., Lee, Z., Lymburner, L., Masek, J., McCorkel, J., Shuai, Y.,
Trezza, R., Vogelmann, J., Wynne, R., and Zhu, Z.: Landsat-8: Science and
product vision for terrestrial global change research, Remote Sens. Environ., 145, 154–172, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rse.2014.02.001,
2014. a
Rupnik, E., Daakir, M., and Pierrot-Deseilligny, M.: MicMac – a free,
open-source solution for photogrammetry, Open Geospatial Data,
Software and Standards, 2, 14, https://doi.org/10.1186/s40965-017-0027-2, 2017. a
Sevestre, H. and Benn, D.: Climatic and geometric controls on the global
distribution of surge-type glaciers: implications for a unifying model of
surging, J. Glaciol., 61, 646–662, https://doi.org/10.3189/2015JoG14J136,
2015. a, b, c
Shah, A., Ali, K., Nizami, S., Jan, I., Hussain, I., and Begum, F.: Risk
assessment of Shishper Glacier, Hassanabad Hunza, North Pakistan,
Journal of Himalayan Earth Sciences Volume, 52, 1–11, 2019. a
Sharp, M., Richards, K., Willis, I., Arnold, N., Nienow, P., Lawson, W., and
Tison, J.-L.: Geometry, bed topography and drainage system structure of the
Haut Glacier d'Arolla, Switzerland, Earth Surf. Proc. Land.,
18, 557–571, 1993. a
Solgaard, A., Simonsen, S., Grinsted, A., Mottram, R., Karlsson, N., Hansen,
K., Kusk, A., and Sørensen, L.: Hagen Bræ: A surging glacier in North
Greenland–35 years of observations, Geophys. Res. Lett., 47,
2019GL085802, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL085802, 2020. a
Steiner, J. F., Kraaijenbrink, P. D. A., Jiduc, S. G., and Immerzeel, W. W.: Brief communication: The Khurdopin glacier surge revisited – extreme flow velocities and formation of a dammed lake in 2017, The Cryosphere, 12, 95–101, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-12-95-2018, 2018. a, b, c
NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Spacesystems and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team: ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model V003. 2018, NASA EOSDIS Land Processes DAAC, https://doi.org/10.5067/ASTER/ASTGTM.003, 2018. a
U.S. Geological Survey: Digital Elevation – Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
(SRTM) 1 Arc-Second Global, U. S. Geological Survey, Earth Resources
Observation and Science (EROS) Center, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7PR7TFT, 2014. a, b
U.S. Geological Survey: Landsat 8 images, United States Geological Survey,
https://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/, last access: 15 August 2019. a
Vallot, D., Pettersson, R., Luckman, A., Benn, D. I., Zwinger, T., Van Pelt,
W. J., Kohler, J., Schäfer, M., Claremar, B., and Hulton, N. R.: Basal
dynamics of Kronebreen, a fast-flowing tidewater glacier in Svalbard:
non-local spatio-temporal response to water input, J. Glaciol., 63,
1012–1024, 2017. a, b, c, d, e
van de Wal, R. S. W., Smeets, C. J. P. P., Boot, W., Stoffelen, M., van Kampen, R., Doyle, S. H., Wilhelms, F., van den Broeke, M. R., Reijmer, C. H., Oerlemans, J., and Hubbard, A.: Self-regulation of ice flow varies across the ablation area in south-west Greenland, The Cryosphere, 9, 603–611, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-9-603-2015, 2015. a
Weertman, J.: On the sliding of glaciers, J. Glaciol., 3, 33–38,
1957. a
Werder, M. A. and Funk, M.: Dye tracing a jökulhlaup: II. Testing a
jökulhlaup model against flow speeds inferred from measurements, J. Glaciol., 55, 899–908, 2009. a
Werder, M. A., Hewitt, I. J., Schoof, C. G., and Flowers, G. E.: Modeling
channelized and distributed subglacial drainage in two dimensions, J.
Geophys. Res.-Earth, 118, 2140–2158, 2013. a
Zhan, Z.: Seismic Noise Interferometry Reveals Transverse Drainage
Configuration Beneath the Surging Bering Glacier, Geophys. Res. Lett., 46, 4747–4756, https://doi.org/10.1029/2019GL082411, 2019.
a
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.
Understanding sliding at the bed of glaciers is essential to understand the future of sea-level...
