scholarly journals ICESat measurement of Greenland ice sheet surface slope and roughness

2005 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 83-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donghui Yi ◽  
H. Jay Zwally ◽  
Xiaoli Sun
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Slope ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Track Surface ◽  
Cross Track ◽  
Along Track

AbstractThe Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) in its 8 day repeat orbit mode provided data not only on the along-track surface slope, but also on the cross-track surface slope from adjacent repeat ground tracks. During the first 36 days of operation, four to five such repeat orbits occurred within 1 km in the cross-track direction. This provided an opportunity to use ICESat data to measure surface slope in the cross-track direction at 1 km scale. An algorithm was developed to calculate the cross-track surface slope. Combining the slopes in the cross-track and along-track directions gives a three-dimensional surface slope at 1 km scale. The along-track surface slope and surface roughness at 10km scale are also calculated. A comparison between ICESat surface elevation and a European Remote-sensing Satellite (ERS-1) 5 km digital elevation model shows a difference of 1–2 m in central Greenland where the surface slope is small, and >20m at the edge of Greenland where the surface slope is large. The large elevation difference at the edge is most likely due to the slope-induced error in radar altimeter measurement. Accurate surface slope data from ICESat will help to correct the slope-induced error of radar altimeter missions such as Geosat, ERS-1 and ERS-2.

scholarly journals ANTARCTIC ICE SHEET SLOPE AND ASPECT BASED ON ICESAT’S REPEAT ORBIT MEASUREMENT

2017 ◽  
Vol XLII-2/W7 ◽  
pp. 1579-1583
Author(s):  
L. Yuan ◽  
F. Li ◽  
S. Zhang ◽  
S. Xie ◽  
F. Xiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Accurate Information ◽  
Surface Slope ◽  
Elevation Change ◽  
Dome A ◽  
Antarctic Ice Sheet ◽  
Surface Slopes ◽  
Track Surface ◽  
Cross Track ◽  
Along Track

Accurate information of ice sheet surface slope is essential for estimating elevation change by satellite altimetry measurement. A study is carried out to recover surface slope of Antarctic ice sheet from Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) elevation measurements based on repeat orbits. ICESat provides repeat ground tracks within 200 meters in cross-track direction and 170 meters in along-track direction for most areas of Antarctic ice sheet. Both cross-track and along-track surface slopes could be obtained by adjacent repeat ground tracks. Combining those measurements yields a surface slope model with resolution of approximately 200 meters. An algorithm considering elevation change is developed to estimate the surface slope of Antarctic ice sheet. Three Antarctic Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) were used to calculate surface slopes. The surface slopes from DEMs are compared with estimates by using in situ GPS data in Dome A, the summit of Antarctic ice sheet. Our results reveal an average surface slope difference of 0.02 degree in Dome A. High resolution remote sensing images are also used in comparing the results derived from other DEMs and this paper. The comparison implies that our results have a slightly better coherence with GPS observation than results from DEMs, but our results provide more details and perform higher accuracy in coastal areas because of the higher resolution for ICESat measurements. Ice divides are estimated based on the aspect, and are weakly consistent with ice divides from other method in coastal regions.

scholarly journals TANDEM-X MISSION STATUS

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-7/W3 ◽  
pp. 1345-1352 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Zink
Keyword(s):  
Horizontal Resolution ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
New Era ◽  
Close Orbit ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Land Surfaces ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Difficult Terrain ◽  
Cross Track ◽  
Along Track

TanDEM-X (TerraSAR-X add-on for Digital Elevation Measurements) is an innovative formation flying radar mission that opens a new era in spaceborne radar remote sensing. Its primary objective is the acquisition of a global Digital Elevation Model (DEM) with unprecedented accuracy (12 m horizontal resolution and 2 m relative height accuracy). This goal is achieved by extending the TerraSAR-X synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mission by a second TerraSAR-X like satellite, TanDEM-X (TDX). Both satellites fly in close orbit formation of a few hundred meters distance, and the resulting large single-pass SAR interferometer features flexible baseline selection enabling the acquisition of highly accurate cross-track interferograms not impacted by temporal decorrelation and atmospheric disturbances. Beyond the global DEM, several secondary mission objectives based on along-track interferometry as well as new bistatic and multistatic SAR techniques have been defined. Since 2010 both satellites have been operated in close formation to map all land surfaces at least twice and difficult terrain even up to four times. While data acquisition for the DEM generation will be concluded by the end of 2014 it is expected to complete the processing of the global DEM in the second half of 2016.

scholarly journals An algorithm for delineating and extracting hillslopes and hillslope width functions from gridded elevation data

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 8865-8901
Author(s):  
P. Noel ◽  
A. N. Rousseau ◽  
C. Paniconi
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Rainfall Runoff ◽  
Dimensional Representation ◽  
New Approach ◽  
One Dimensional ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
Average Profile ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Digital Elevation Model Resolution

Abstract. Subdivision of catchment into appropriate hydrological units is essential to represent rainfall-runoff processes in hydrological modelling. The commonest units used for this purpose are hillslopes (e.g. Fan and Bras, 1998; Troch et al., 2003). Hillslope width functions can therefore be utilised as one-dimensional representation of three-dimensional landscapes by introducing profile curvatures and plan shapes. An algorithm was developed to delineate and extract hillslopes and hillslope width functions by introducing a new approach to calculate an average profile curvature and plan shape. This allows the algorithm to be independent of digital elevation model resolution and to associate hillslopes to nine elementary landscapes according to Dikau (1989). This algortihm was tested on two flat and steep catchments of the province of Quebec, Canada. Results showed great area coverage for hillslope width function over individual hillslopes and entire watershed.

scholarly journals Hydrological landscape classification: investigating the performance of HAND based landscape classifications in a central European meso-scale catchment

2011 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 3275-3291 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gharari ◽  
M. Hrachowitz ◽  
F. Fenicia ◽  
H. H. G. Savenije
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Models ◽  
Overland Flow ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Landscape Classification ◽  
Surface Slope ◽  
Central European ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Meso Scale ◽  
Hydrological Regimes

Abstract. This paper presents a detailed performance and sensitivity analysis of a recently developed hydrological landscape classification method based on dominant runoff mechanisms. Three landscape classes are distinguished: wetland, hillslope and plateau, corresponding to three dominant hydrological regimes: saturation excess overland flow, storage excess sub-surface flow, and deep percolation. Topography, geology and land use hold the key to identifying these landscapes. The height above the nearest drainage (HAND) and the surface slope, which can be easily obtained from a digital elevation model, appear to be the dominant topographical controls for hydrological classification. In this paper several indicators for classification are tested as well as their sensitivity to scale and resolution of observed points (sample size). The best results are obtained by the simple use of HAND and slope. The results obtained compared well with the topographical wetness index. The HAND based landscape classification appears to be an efficient method to ''read the landscape'' on the basis of which conceptual models can be developed.

scholarly journals A computational investigation of the hydrodynamics of the Badush dam in northern Iraq

2018 ◽  
Vol 240 ◽  
pp. 04009
Author(s):  
Younis Saida Saeedrashed ◽  
Ali Cemal Benim
Keyword(s):  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Free Surface Flow ◽  
Surface Flow ◽  
Dam Failure ◽  
Northern Iraq ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Computational Fluid Dynamics Cfd ◽  
Flow Through ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Bottom Outlets

A computational analysis of the hydrodynamics of the Badush dam in Iraq is presented, which is planned to be reconstructed as a repulse dam, to prevent the Mosul city, in case of a failure of the Mosul dam. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is applied in combination with Geometric Information System (GIS) and Digital Elevation Model (DEM). In the first part of the study, a hydrologic study of a possible Mosul dam failure is performed, predicting the important parameters for a possible flooding of Mosul city. Here, a two-dimensional, depth-averaged shallow water equations are used to formulate the flow. Based on GIS and DEM, the required reservoir size and the water level of the Badush dam are predicted, for its acting as a repulse dam. Subsequently, a computational model of the reconstructed Badush dam is developed, combining the proposed construction with the local geographic topology to achieve a perfect fit. Finally, the water flow through the bottom outlets and stilling basin of the proposed dam is calculated by an unsteady, three-dimensional CFD analysis of the turbulent, free-surface flow. The CFD model is validated by comparing the predictions with measurements obtained on a physical model, where a quite satisfactory agreement is observed.

scholarly journals Terrain-Based Shadow Correction Method for Assessing Supraglacial Features on the Greenland Ice Sheet

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha. Z. Leidman ◽  
Åsa K. Rennermalm ◽  
Richard G. Lathrop ◽  
Matthew. G. Cooper
Keyword(s):  
Land Surface ◽  
Greenland Ice Sheet ◽  
Correction Method ◽  
Correction Coefficient ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Sediment Cover ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Uav Images ◽  
Gis Software

The presence of shadows in remotely sensed images can reduce the accuracy of land surface classifications. Commonly used methods for removing shadows often use multi-spectral image analysis techniques that perform poorly for dark objects, complex geometric models, or shaded relief methods that do not account for shadows cast on adjacent terrain. Here we present a new method of removing topographic shadows using readily available GIS software. The method corrects for cast shadows, reduces the amount of over-correction, and can be performed on imagery of any spectral resolution. We demonstrate this method using imagery collected with an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) over a supraglacial stream catchment in southwest Greenland. The structure-from-motion digital elevation model showed highly variable topography resulting in substantial shadowing and variable reflectance values for similar surface types. The distribution of bare ice, sediment, and water within the catchment was determined using a supervised classification scheme applied to the corrected and original UAV images. The correction resulted in an insignificant change in overall classification accuracy, however, visual inspection showed that the corrected classification more closely followed the expected distribution of classes indicating that shadow correction can aid in identification of glaciological features hidden within shadowed regions. Shadow correction also caused a substantial decrease in the areal coverage of dark sediment. Sediment cover was highly dependent on the degree of shadow correction (k coefficient), yet, for a correction coefficient optimized to maximize shadow brightness without over-exposing illuminated surfaces, terrain correction resulted in a 49% decrease in the area covered by sediment and a 29% increase in the area covered by water. Shadow correction therefore reduces the overestimation of the dark surface coverage due to shadowing and is a useful tool for investigating supraglacial processes and land cover change over a wide variety of complex terrain.

scholarly journals Geomorphometric analysis of cave ceiling channels mapped with 3D terrestrial laser scanning

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michal Gallay ◽  
Zdenko Hochmuth ◽  
Ján Kaňuk ◽  
Jaroslav Hofierka
Keyword(s):  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Terrestrial Laser Scanning ◽  
Scalar Fields ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Unique Manner ◽  
Elevation Model ◽  
Different Levels

Abstract. The change of hydrological conditions during the evolution of caves in carbonate rocks often results in a complex subterranean geomorphology which comprises specific landforms such as ceiling channels, anastomosing half tubes, or speleothems organised vertically in different levels. Studying such complex environments traditionally requires tedious mapping, however, this is being replaced with terrestrial laser scanning technology. Laser scanning overcomes the problem of reaching high ceilings providing new options to map underground landscapes with unprecedented level of detail and accuracy. The acquired point cloud can be handled conveniently with dedicated software, but applying traditional geomorphometry to analyse the cave surface is limited. This is because geomorphometry has been focused on parameterisation and analysis of surficial terrain. The theoretical and methodological concept has been based on two-dimensional scalar fields which is sufficient for most cases of the surficial terrain. The terrain surface is modelled with a bivariate function of altitude (elevation) and represented by a raster digital elevation model. However, the cave is a three-dimensional entity therefore a different approach is required for geomorphometric analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate the benefits of high resolution cave mapping and 3-D modelling to better understand the palaeohydrography of the Domica cave in Slovakia. This methodological approach adopted traditional geomorphometric methods in a unique manner and also new methods used in 3D computer graphics which can be applied to study other 3-D geomorphological forms

scholarly journals Ocean Surface Topography Altimetry by Large Baseline Cross-Interferometry from Satellite Formation

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (21) ◽  
pp. 3519
Author(s):  
Weiya Kong ◽  
Bo Liu ◽  
Xiaohong Sui ◽  
Running Zhang ◽  
Jinping Sun
Keyword(s):  
Surface Topography ◽  
Ocean Surface ◽  
Baseline Length ◽  
Radar Altimeter ◽  
Satellite Formation ◽  
Satellite Platform ◽  
Marine Gravity ◽  
Development Tendency ◽  
Cross Track ◽  
Along Track

Imaging Radar Altimeter (IRA) is the current development tendency for ocean surface topography (OST) altimetry, which utilizes Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) and interferometry to improve the spatial resolution of OST to several kilometers or even better. Meanwhile, centimetric altimetry accuracy should be guaranteed for applications such as geostrophic currents or marine gravity anomaly inversion. However, the baseline length of IRA which determines the altimetric sensitivity is confined by the satellite platform, in consideration of baseline vibration and payload capability. Therefore, the baseline length from a single satellite can extend to only tens of meters, making it difficult to achieve centimetric accuracy. Referring to the successful experience from TerraSAR-X/TanDEM-X, satellite formation can easily extend the baseline length to hundreds or thousands of meters, depending on the helix orbit. Therefore, we propose the large baseline IRA (LB-IRA) from satellite formation for OST altimetry: the carrier frequency shift (CFS) is brought in to compensate for the severe baseline decorrelation, and the helix orbit is carefully selected to prevent severe time decorrelation from along-track baseline. The numerical results indicate that the LB-IRA, whose cross-track baseline ranges between 629~1000 m and along-tack baseline ranges between 0~40 m, can achieve ~1 cm relative accuracy at 1 km resolution.

scholarly journals Automated detection of ice cliffs within supraglacial debris cover

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1811-1829 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sam Herreid ◽  
Francesca Pellicciotti
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Input Parameter ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Surface Slope ◽  
Alaska Range ◽  
Data Intensive ◽  
Digital Elevation ◽  
Debris Cover ◽  
Elevation Model

Abstract. Ice cliffs within a supraglacial debris cover have been identified as a source for high ablation relative to the surrounding debris-covered area. Due to their small relative size and steep orientation, ice cliffs are difficult to detect using nadir-looking space borne sensors. The method presented here uses surface slopes calculated from digital elevation model (DEM) data to map ice cliff geometry and produce an ice cliff probability map. Surface slope thresholds, which can be sensitive to geographic location and/or data quality, are selected automatically. The method also attempts to include area at the (often narrowing) ends of ice cliffs which could otherwise be neglected due to signal saturation in surface slope data. The method was calibrated in the eastern Alaska Range, Alaska, USA, against a control ice cliff dataset derived from high-resolution visible and thermal data. Using the same input parameter set that performed best in Alaska, the method was tested against ice cliffs manually mapped in the Khumbu Himal, Nepal. Our results suggest the method can accommodate different glaciological settings and different DEM data sources without a data intensive (high-resolution, multi-data source) recalibration.

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