Articles | Volume 19, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-19-645-2025
© Author(s) 2025. 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-19-645-2025
© Author(s) 2025. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
07 Feb 2025
Research article |
| 07 Feb 2025
| 07 Feb 2025
Physics-aware machine learning for glacier ice thickness estimation: a case study for Svalbard
Chair of Data Science in Earth Observation, Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
Jonathan Louis Bamber
Chair of Data Science in Earth Observation, Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
Bristol Glaciology Centre, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, BS8 1SS, UK
Xiao Xiang Zhu
Chair of Data Science in Earth Observation, Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
Munich Center for Machine Learning, 80538 Munich, Germany
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Xiao Xiang Zhu, Sining Chen, Fahong Zhang, Yilei Shi, and Yuanyuan Wang
Earth Syst. Sci. Data Discuss., https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-327, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-2025-327, 2025
Preprint under review for ESSD
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We introduce GlobalBuildingAtlas, a publicly available dataset offering global and complete coverage of building polygons (GBA.Polygon), heights (GBA.Height) and Level of Detail 1 3D models (GBA.LoD1). This is the first open dataset to offer high quality, consistent, and complete building data in 2D and 3D at the individual building level on a global scale. With more than 2.75 billion buildings worldwide, it surpasses the most comprehensive database to date by more than 1 billion buildings.
Adam Igneczi and Jonathan Louis Bamber
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 3203–3218, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-3203-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-3203-2025, 2025
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Freshwater from Arctic land ice loss strongly affects the Arctic and North Atlantic oceans. Datasets describing this freshwater discharge have low resolution and do not cover the entire Arctic. We statistically enhanced coarse-resolution climate model data – from approximately 6 km to 250 m – and routed meltwater towards the coastlines to provide high-resolution data covering all Arctic regions. This approach has far fewer computational requirements than running climate models at high resolution.
Gavin A. Schmidt, Kenneth D. Mankoff, Jonathan L. Bamber, Dustin Carroll, David M. Chandler, Violaine Coulon, Benjamin J. Davison, Matthew H. England, Paul R. Holland, Nicolas C. Jourdain, Qian Li, Juliana M. Marson, Pierre Mathiot, Clive R. McMahon, Twila A. Moon, Ruth Mottram, Sophie Nowicki, Anne Olivé Abelló, Andrew G. Pauling, Thomas Rackow, and Damien Ringeisen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1940, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-1940, 2025
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The impact of increasing mass loss from the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets has not so far been included in historical climate model simulations. This paper describes the protocols and data available for modeling groups to add this anomalous freshwater to their ocean modules to better represent the impacts of these fluxes on ocean circulation, sea ice, salinity and sea level.
Zhenghang Yuan, Zhitong Xiong, Lichao Mou, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 17, 1245–1263, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1245-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-17-1245-2025, 2025
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ChatEarthNet is an image–text dataset that provides high-quality, detailed natural language descriptions for global-scale satellite data. It consists of 163 488 image-text pairs with captions generated by ChatGPT-3.5 and an additional 10 000 image-text pairs with captions generated by ChatGPT-4V(ision). This dataset has significant potential for training and evaluating vision–language geo-foundation models in remote sensing.
Yifan Tian, Yao Sun, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
Abstr. Int. Cartogr. Assoc., 7, 171, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-7-171-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-7-171-2024, 2024
Erik Loebel, Mirko Scheinert, Martin Horwath, Angelika Humbert, Julia Sohn, Konrad Heidler, Charlotte Liebezeit, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
The Cryosphere, 18, 3315–3332, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3315-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-18-3315-2024, 2024
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Comprehensive datasets of calving-front changes are essential for studying and modeling outlet glaciers. Current records are limited in temporal resolution due to manual delineation. We use deep learning to automatically delineate calving fronts for 23 glaciers in Greenland. Resulting time series resolve long-term, seasonal, and subseasonal patterns. We discuss the implications of our results and provide the cryosphere community with a data product and an implementation of our processing system.
Weiyan Lin, Jiasong Zhu, Yuansheng Hua, Qingyu Li, Lichao Mou, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLVIII-1-2024, 371–378, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-1-2024-371-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-1-2024-371-2024, 2024
Tian Li, Konrad Heidler, Lichao Mou, Ádám Ignéczi, Xiao Xiang Zhu, and Jonathan L. Bamber
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 16, 919–939, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-919-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-16-919-2024, 2024
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Our study uses deep learning to produce a new high-resolution calving front dataset for 149 marine-terminating glaciers in Svalbard from 1985 to 2023, containing 124 919 terminus traces. This dataset offers insights into understanding calving mechanisms and can help improve glacier frontal ablation estimates as a component of the integrated mass balance assessment.
Y. Sun, A. Kruspe, L. Meng, Y. Tian, E. J. Hoffmann, S. Auer, and X. X. Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLVIII-1-W2-2023, 225–232, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-1-W2-2023-225-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLVIII-1-W2-2023-225-2023, 2023
J. Zhao, F. Roth, B. Bauer-Marschallinger, W. Wagner, M. Chini, and X. X. Zhu
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., X-1-W1-2023, 911–918, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-X-1-W1-2023-911-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-X-1-W1-2023-911-2023, 2023
Yao Sun, Stefan Auer, Liqiu Meng, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
Abstr. Int. Cartogr. Assoc., 6, 250, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-6-250-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/ica-abs-6-250-2023, 2023
Benoit S. Lecavalier, Lev Tarasov, Greg Balco, Perry Spector, Claus-Dieter Hillenbrand, Christo Buizert, Catherine Ritz, Marion Leduc-Leballeur, Robert Mulvaney, Pippa L. Whitehouse, Michael J. Bentley, and Jonathan Bamber
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 3573–3596, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-3573-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-3573-2023, 2023
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The Antarctic Ice Sheet Evolution constraint database version 2 (AntICE2) consists of a large variety of observations that constrain the evolution of the Antarctic Ice Sheet over the last glacial cycle. This includes observations of past ice sheet extent, past ice thickness, past relative sea level, borehole temperature profiles, and present-day bedrock displacement rates. The database is intended to improve our understanding of past Antarctic changes and for ice sheet model calibrations.
Alice C. Frémand, Peter Fretwell, Julien A. Bodart, Hamish D. Pritchard, Alan Aitken, Jonathan L. Bamber, Robin Bell, Cesidio Bianchi, Robert G. Bingham, Donald D. Blankenship, Gino Casassa, Ginny Catania, Knut Christianson, Howard Conway, Hugh F. J. Corr, Xiangbin Cui, Detlef Damaske, Volkmar Damm, Reinhard Drews, Graeme Eagles, Olaf Eisen, Hannes Eisermann, Fausto Ferraccioli, Elena Field, René Forsberg, Steven Franke, Shuji Fujita, Yonggyu Gim, Vikram Goel, Siva Prasad Gogineni, Jamin Greenbaum, Benjamin Hills, Richard C. A. Hindmarsh, Andrew O. Hoffman, Per Holmlund, Nicholas Holschuh, John W. Holt, Annika N. Horlings, Angelika Humbert, Robert W. Jacobel, Daniela Jansen, Adrian Jenkins, Wilfried Jokat, Tom Jordan, Edward King, Jack Kohler, William Krabill, Mette Kusk Gillespie, Kirsty Langley, Joohan Lee, German Leitchenkov, Carlton Leuschen, Bruce Luyendyk, Joseph MacGregor, Emma MacKie, Kenichi Matsuoka, Mathieu Morlighem, Jérémie Mouginot, Frank O. Nitsche, Yoshifumi Nogi, Ole A. Nost, John Paden, Frank Pattyn, Sergey V. Popov, Eric Rignot, David M. Rippin, Andrés Rivera, Jason Roberts, Neil Ross, Anotonia Ruppel, Dustin M. Schroeder, Martin J. Siegert, Andrew M. Smith, Daniel Steinhage, Michael Studinger, Bo Sun, Ignazio Tabacco, Kirsty Tinto, Stefano Urbini, David Vaughan, Brian C. Welch, Douglas S. Wilson, Duncan A. Young, and Achille Zirizzotti
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 2695–2710, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-2695-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-2695-2023, 2023
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This paper presents the release of over 60 years of ice thickness, bed elevation, and surface elevation data acquired over Antarctica by the international community. These data are a crucial component of the Antarctic Bedmap initiative which aims to produce a new map and datasets of Antarctic ice thickness and bed topography for the international glaciology and geophysical community.
Tian Li, Geoffrey J. Dawson, Stephen J. Chuter, and Jonathan L. Bamber
The Cryosphere, 17, 1003–1022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1003-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-1003-2023, 2023
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The Totten and Moscow University glaciers in East Antarctica have the potential to make a significant contribution to future sea-level rise. We used a combination of different satellite measurements to show that the grounding lines have been retreating along the fast-flowing ice streams across these two glaciers. We also found two tide-modulated ocean channels that might open new pathways for the warm ocean water to enter the ice shelf cavity.
Jingliang Hu, Rong Liu, Danfeng Hong, Andrés Camero, Jing Yao, Mathias Schneider, Franz Kurz, Karl Segl, and Xiao Xiang Zhu
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 15, 113–131, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-113-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-15-113-2023, 2023
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Multimodal data fusion is an intuitive strategy to break the limitation of individual data in Earth observation. Here, we present a multimodal data set, named MDAS, consisting of synthetic aperture radar (SAR), multispectral, hyperspectral, digital surface model (DSM), and geographic information system (GIS) data for the city of Augsburg, Germany, along with baseline models for resolution enhancement, spectral unmixing, and land cover classification, three typical remote sensing applications.
Sam Royston, Rory J. Bingham, and Jonathan L. Bamber
Ocean Sci., 18, 1093–1107, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1093-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/os-18-1093-2022, 2022
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Decadal sea-level variability masks longer-term changes and increases uncertainty in observed trend and acceleration estimates. We use numerical ocean models to determine the magnitude of decadal variability we might expect in sea-level trends at coastal locations around the world, resulting from natural, internal variability. A proportion of that variability can be replicated from known climate modes, giving a range to add to short- to mid-term projections of regional sea-level trends.
S. Zhao, S. Saha, and X. X. Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B3-2022, 1407–1413, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2022-1407-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2022-1407-2022, 2022
S. Saha, J. Gawlikowski, and X. X. Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B3-2022, 423–428, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2022-423-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2022-423-2022, 2022
T. Beker, H. Ansari, S. Montazeri, Q. Song, and X. X. Zhu
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., V-3-2022, 85–92, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2022-85-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2022-85-2022, 2022
K. R. Traoré, A. Camero, and X. X. Zhu
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., V-3-2022, 217–224, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2022-217-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2022-217-2022, 2022
Stephen J. Chuter, Andrew Zammit-Mangion, Jonathan Rougier, Geoffrey Dawson, and Jonathan L. Bamber
The Cryosphere, 16, 1349–1367, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1349-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-1349-2022, 2022
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We find the Antarctic Peninsula to have a mean mass loss of 19 ± 1.1 Gt yr−1 over the 2003–2019 period, driven predominantly by changes in ice dynamic flow like due to changes in ocean forcing. This long-term record is crucial to ascertaining the region’s present-day contribution to sea level rise, with the understanding of driving processes enabling better future predictions. Our statistical approach enables us to estimate this previously poorly surveyed regions mass balance more accurately.
Tom Mitcham, G. Hilmar Gudmundsson, and Jonathan L. Bamber
The Cryosphere, 16, 883–901, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-883-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-16-883-2022, 2022
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We modelled the response of the Larsen C Ice Shelf (LCIS) and its tributary glaciers to the calving of the A68 iceberg and validated our results with observations. We found that the impact was limited, confirming that mostly passive ice was calved. Through further calving experiments we quantified the total buttressing provided by the LCIS and found that over 80 % of the buttressing capacity is generated in the first 5 km of the ice shelf downstream of the grounding line.
Tian Li, Geoffrey J. Dawson, Stephen J. Chuter, and Jonathan L. Bamber
Earth Syst. Sci. Data, 14, 535–557, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-535-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/essd-14-535-2022, 2022
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Accurate knowledge of the Antarctic grounding zone is important for mass balance calculation, ice sheet stability assessment, and ice sheet model projections. Here we present the first ICESat-2-derived high-resolution grounding zone product of the Antarctic Ice Sheet, including three important boundaries. This new data product will provide more comprehensive insights into ice sheet instability, which is valuable for both the cryosphere and sea level science communities.
Fanny Lehmann, Bramha Dutt Vishwakarma, and Jonathan Bamber
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 35–54, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-35-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-35-2022, 2022
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Many data sources are available to evaluate components of the water cycle (precipitation, evapotranspiration, runoff, and terrestrial water storage). Despite this variety, it remains unclear how different combinations of datasets satisfy the conservation of mass. We conducted the most comprehensive analysis of water budget closure on a global scale to date. Our results can serve as a basis to select appropriate datasets for regional hydrological studies.
Y. Xie, K. Schindler, J. Tian, and X. X. Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B2-2021, 247–254, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2021-247-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B2-2021-247-2021, 2021
P. Ebel, S. Saha, and X. X. Zhu
Int. Arch. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., XLIII-B3-2021, 243–249, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2021-243-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-archives-XLIII-B3-2021-243-2021, 2021
S. Saha, L. Kondmann, and X. X. Zhu
ISPRS Ann. Photogramm. Remote Sens. Spatial Inf. Sci., V-3-2021, 311–316, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2021-311-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/isprs-annals-V-3-2021-311-2021, 2021
Tian Li, Geoffrey J. Dawson, Stephen J. Chuter, and Jonathan L. Bamber
The Cryosphere, 14, 3629–3643, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3629-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3629-2020, 2020
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Accurate knowledge of the Antarctic grounding zone is critical for the understanding of ice sheet instability and the evaluation of mass balance. We present a new, fully automated method to map the grounding zone from ICESat-2 laser altimetry. Our results of Larsen C Ice Shelf demonstrate the efficiency, density, and high spatial accuracy with which ICESat-2 can image complex grounding zones.
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Short summary
Glacier ice thickness is difficult to measure directly but is essential for glacier evolution modelling. In this work, we employ a novel approach combining physical knowledge and data-driven machine learning to estimate the ice thickness of multiple glaciers in Spitsbergen, Barentsøya, and Edgeøya in Svalbard. We identify challenges for the physics-aware machine learning model and opportunities for improving the accuracy and physical consistency that would also apply to other geophysical tasks.
Glacier ice thickness is difficult to measure directly but is essential for glacier evolution...
