The ice thickness distribution of Flask Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula, determined by combining radio-echo soundings, surface velocity data and flow modelling

AbstractAn interpolated bedrock topography is presented for Flask Glacier, one of the tributaries of the remnant part of the Larsen B ice shelf, Antarctic Peninsula. The ice thickness distribution is derived by combining direct but sparse measurements from airborne radio-echo soundings with indirect estimates obtained from ice-flow modelling. The ice-flow model is applied to a series of transverse profiles, and a first estimate of the bedrock is iteratively adjusted until agreement between modelled and measured surface velocities is achieved. The adjusted bedrock is then used to reinterpret the radio-echo soundings, and the recovered information used to further improve the estimate of the bedrock itself. The ice flux along the glacier center line provides an additional and independent constraint on the ice thickness. The resulting bedrock topography reveals a glacier bed situated mainly below sea level with sections having retrograde slope. The total ice volume of 120 ±15 km3 for the considered area of 215 km2 corresponds to an average ice thickness of 560 ± 70 m.

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The bedrock topography of Starbuck Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula, as determined by radio-echo soundings and flow modeling

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/2014aog67a025 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 55 (67) ◽

pp. 22-28 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Daniel Farinotti ◽

Edward C. King ◽

Anika Albrecht ◽

Matthias Huss ◽

G. Hilmar Gudmundsson

Keyword(s):

Antarctic Peninsula ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Flow Speed ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Ice Flow ◽

Bedrock Topography ◽

Radio Echo Sounding ◽

Field Season ◽

Thickness Measurements

AbstractA glacier-wide ice-thickness distribution and bedrock topography is presented for Starbuck Glacier, Antarctic Peninsula. The results are based on 90 km of ground-based radio-echo sounding lines collected during the 2012/13 field season. Cross-validation with ice-thickness measurements provided by NASA's IceBridge project reveals excellent agreement. Glacier-wide estimates are derived using a model that calculates distributed ice thickness, calibrated with the radio-echo soundings. Additional constraints are obtained from in situ ice flow-speed measurements and the surface topography. The results indicate a reverse-sloped bed extending from a riegel occurring ~ 5 km upstream of the current grounding line. The deepest parts of the glacier are as much as 500 m below sea level. The calculated total volume of 80.7 ± 7.2 km3 corresponds to an average ice thickness of 312 ± 30 m.

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Ice thickness and volume of the Renland Ice Cap, East Greenland

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/jog.2021.11 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-13

Author(s):

Iben Koldtoft ◽

Aslak Grinsted ◽

Bo M. Vinther ◽

Christine S. Hvidberg

Keyword(s):

Surface Topography ◽

Climate Model ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

High Elevation ◽

Surface Velocity ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Model Parameters ◽

East Greenland ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Ice Cap

Abstract To assess the amount of ice volume stored in glaciers or ice caps, a method to estimate ice thickness distribution is required for glaciers where no direct observations are available. In this study, we use an existing inverse method to estimate the bedrock topography and ice thickness of the Renland Ice Cap, East Greenland, using satellite-based observations of the surface topography. The inverse approach involves a procedure in which an ice dynamical model is used to build-up an ice cap in steady state with climate forcing from a regional climate model, and the bedrock is iteratively adjusted until the modelled and observed surface topography match. We validate our model results against information from airborne radar data and satellite observed surface velocity, and we find that the inferred ice thickness and thereby the stored total volume of the ice cap is sensitive to the assumed ice softness and basal slipperiness. The best basal model parameters for the Renland Ice Cap are determined and the best estimated total ice volume of 384 km3 is found. The Renland Ice Cap is particularly interesting because of its location at a high elevation plateau and hence assumed low sensitivity to climate change.

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Numerical simulations of the ice flow dynamics of George VI Ice Shelf, Antarctica

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/002214307784409180 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 53 (183) ◽

pp. 659-664 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Angelika Humbert

Keyword(s):

High Spatial Resolution ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Satellite System ◽

Flow Dynamics ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Ice Shelf ◽

Ice Flow ◽

Ice Shelves ◽

Flow Geometry ◽

Grounding Line

A diagnostic, dynamic/thermodynamic ice-shelf model is applied to the George VI Ice Shelf, situated in the Bellinghausen Sea, Antarctica. The George VI Ice Shelf has a peculiar flow geometry which sets it apart from other ice shelves. Inflow occurs along the two longest, and almost parallel, sides, whereas outflow occurs on the two ice fronts that are relatively short and situated at opposite ends of the ice shelf. Two data sources were used to derive the ice thickness distribution: conventional radioecho sounding from the British Antarctic Survey was combined with thickness inferred from surface elevation obtained by the NASA GLAS satellite system assuming hydrostatic equilibrium. We simulate the present ice flow over the ice shelf that results from the ice thickness distribution, the inflow at the grounding line and the flow rate factor. The high spatial resolution of the ice thickness distribution leads to very detailed simulations. The flow field has some extraordinary elements (e.g. the stagnation point characteristics resulting from the unusual ice-shelf geometry).

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The bedrock topography of Gries- and Findelengletscher

Geographica Helvetica ◽

10.5194/gh-73-1-2018 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 73 (1) ◽

pp. 1-9 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Nadine Feiger ◽

Matthias Huss ◽

Silvan Leinss ◽

Leo Sold ◽

Daniel Farinotti

Keyword(s):

Spatial Interpolation ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Estimation Method ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Glacier Surface ◽

Ice Flow ◽

Bedrock Topography ◽

Abstract Knowledge ◽

Ground Penetrating ◽

Item Item

Abstract. Knowledge of the ice thickness distribution of glaciers is important for glaciological and hydrological applications. In this contribution, we present two updated bedrock topographies and ice thickness distributions for Gries- and Findelengletscher, Switzerland. The results are based on ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements collected in spring 2015 and already-existing data. The GPR data are analysed using ReflexW software and interpolated by using the ice thickness estimation method (ITEM). ITEM calculates the thickness distribution by using principles of ice flow dynamics and characteristics of the glacier surface. We show that using such a technique has a significance advantage compared to a direct interpolation of the measurements, especially for glacier areas that are sparsely covered by GPR data. The uncertainties deriving from both the interpretation of the GPR signal and the spatial interpolation through ITEM are quantified separately, showing that, in our case, GPR signal interpretation is a major source of uncertainty. The results show a total glacier volume of 0.28±0.06 and 1.00±0.34 km3 for Gries- and Findelengletscher, respectively, with corresponding average ice thicknesses of 56.8±12.7 and 56.3±19.6 m.

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Determination of total ice volume and ice-thickness distribution of two glaciers in the Hohe Tauern region, Eastern Alps, from GPR data

Annals of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/172756409789097522 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 50 (51) ◽

pp. 71-79 ◽

Cited By ~ 37

Author(s):

D. Binder ◽

E. Brückl ◽

K.H. Roch ◽

M. Behm ◽

W. Schöner ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Thickness Distribution ◽

Eastern Alps ◽

Spatial Density ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Validation Data ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Bedrock Topography ◽

Glacier System ◽

Ground Penetrating

AbstractGlobal warming is causing an apparent rapid retreat of many glaciers worldwide. In addition to mass-balance investigation, the determination and monitoring of total glacial ice volume and ice-thickness distribution are important parameters for understanding the interactions between climate and the complex glacier system. Because of spatially irregular and sparse datasets, scaling of volume and ice-thickness distribution is often a challenging problem. This study focuses on two small (<2 km2) temperate glaciers in the Hohe Tauern (Eastern Alps) region of central Austria. The period 2003–04 saw the first use of ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to determine the total ice volume and ice-thickness distribution of the two glaciers. A centre frequency of 20 MHz was used in point measuring mode. Despite variable data quality, bedrock reflections up to depths of >100m were identified in the data. The acquired GPR data are irregularly distributed and the spatial density is too low to calculate reasonable bedrock topography with standard interpolation approaches. Thus one main focus of this study was to develop an appropriate interpolation technique. Eventually, kriging technique and a glacial mechanically based interpolation parameter were used. Mean calculated ice thicknesses for the two investigated glaciers are 40–50 m, with a maximum of 150–165 m. No direct validation data are available, so different considerations support the computed bedrock topography.

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A method to estimate the ice volume and ice-thickness distribution of alpine glaciers

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/002214309788816759 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 55 (191) ◽

pp. 422-430 ◽

Cited By ~ 158

Author(s):

Daniel Farinotti ◽

Matthias Huss ◽

Andreas Bauder ◽

Martin Funk ◽

Martin Truffer

Keyword(s):

Mass Balance ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Average Deviation ◽

Glacier Surface ◽

Ice Flow ◽

Thickness Change ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Alpine Glaciers ◽

Direct Measurements

AbstractSound knowledge of the ice volume and ice-thickness distribution of a glacier is essential for many glaciological applications. However, direct measurements of ice thickness are laborious, not feasible everywhere and necessarily restricted to a small number of glaciers. In this paper, we present a method to estimate the ice-thickness distribution and the total ice volume of alpine glaciers. This method is based on glacier mass turnover and principles of ice-flow mechanics. The required input data are the glacier surface topography, the glacier outline and a set of borders delineating different ‘ice-flow catchments’. Three parameters describe the distribution of the ‘apparent mass balance’, which is defined as the difference between the glacier surface mass balance and the rate of ice-thickness change, and two parameters define the ice-flow dynamics. The method was developed and validated on four alpine glaciers located in Switzerland, for which the bedrock topography is partially known from radio-echo soundings. The ice thickness along 82 cross-profiles can be reproduced with an average deviation of about 25% between the calculated and the measured ice thickness. The cross-sectional areas differ by less than 20% on average. This shows the potential of the method for estimating the ice-thickness distribution of alpine glaciers without the use of direct measurements.

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Combining SAR interferometry and the equation of continuity to estimate the three-dimensional glacier surface-velocity vector

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.3189/s0022143000001398 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 45 (151) ◽

pp. 533-538 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Niels Reeh ◽

Søren Nørvang Madsen ◽

Johan Jakob Mohr

Keyword(s):

Steady State ◽

Mass Balance ◽

Vertical Velocity ◽

Velocity Vector ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Vertical Surface ◽

Horizontal Velocity ◽

Sar Interferometry ◽

Surface Velocity ◽

Ice Thickness

AbstractUntil now, an assumption of surface-parallel glacier flow has been used to express the vertical velocity component in terms of the horizontal velocity vector, permitting all three velocity components to be determined from synthetic aperture radar interferometry. We discuss this assumption, which neglects the influence of the local mass balance and a possible contribution to the vertical velocity arising if the glacier is not in steady state. We find that the mass-balance contribution to the vertical surface velocity is not always negligible as compared to the surface-slope contribution. Moreover, the vertical velocity contribution arising if the ice sheet is not in steady state can be significant. We apply the principle of mass conservation to derive an equation relating the vertical surface velocity to the horizontal velocity vector. This equation, valid for both steady-state and non-steady-state conditions, depends on the ice-thickness distribution. Replacing the surface-parallel-flow assumption with a correct relationship between the surface velocity components requires knowledge of additional quantities such as surface mass balance or ice thickness.

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Ice thickness distribution of all Swiss glaciers based on extended ground-penetrating radar data and glaciological modeling

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/jog.2021.55 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Melchior Grab ◽

Enrico Mattea ◽

Andreas Bauder ◽

Matthias Huss ◽

Lasse Rabenstein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ground Penetrating Radar ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Radar Data ◽

Tourism Industry ◽

Swiss Alps ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Hazard Management ◽

Bed Topography ◽

Ice Volume ◽

Ground Penetrating

Abstract Accurate knowledge of the ice thickness distribution and glacier bed topography is essential for predicting dynamic glacier changes and the future developments of downstream hydrology, which are impacting the energy sector, tourism industry and natural hazard management. Using AIR-ETH, a new helicopter-borne ground-penetrating radar (GPR) platform, we measured the ice thickness of all large and most medium-sized glaciers in the Swiss Alps during the years 2016–20. Most of these had either never or only partially been surveyed before. With this new dataset, 251 glaciers – making up 81% of the glacierized area – are now covered by GPR surveys. For obtaining a comprehensive estimate of the overall glacier ice volume, ice thickness distribution and glacier bed topography, we combined this large amount of data with two independent modeling algorithms. This resulted in new maps of the glacier bed topography with unprecedented accuracy. The total glacier volume in the Swiss Alps was determined to be 58.7 ± 2.5 km3 in the year 2016. By projecting these results based on mass-balance data, we estimated a total ice volume of 52.9 ± 2.7 km3 for the year 2020. Data and modeling results are accessible in the form of the SwissGlacierThickness-R2020 data package.

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Measuring and inferring the ice thickness distribution of four glaciers in the Tien Shan, Kyrgyzstan

Journal of Glaciology ◽

10.1017/jog.2020.104 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-18

Author(s):

Lander Van Tricht ◽

Philippe Huybrechts ◽

Jonas Van Breedam ◽

Johannes J. Fürst ◽

Oleg Rybak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cross Validation ◽

Thickness Distribution ◽

Tien Shan ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Ice Volume ◽

In Situ Data ◽

Radio Echo Sounding ◽

Thickness Measurements ◽

Tien Shan Mountains

Abstract Glaciers in the Tien Shan mountains contribute considerably to the fresh water used for irrigation, households and energy supply in the dry lowland areas of Kyrgyzstan and its neighbouring countries. To date, reconstructions of the current ice volume and ice thickness distribution remain scarce, and accurate data are largely lacking at the local scale. Here, we present a detailed ice thickness distribution of Ashu-Tor, Bordu, Golubin and Kara-Batkak glaciers derived from radio-echo sounding measurements and modelling. All the ice thickness measurements are used to calibrate three individual models to estimate the ice thickness in inaccessible areas. A cross-validation between modelled and measured ice thickness for a subset of the data is performed to attribute a weight to every model and to assemble a final composite ice thickness distribution for every glacier. Results reveal the thickest ice on Ashu-Tor glacier with values up to 201 ± 12 m. The ice thickness measurements and distributions are also compared with estimates composed without the use of in situ data. These estimates approach the total ice volume well, but local ice thicknesses vary substantially.

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Antarctic ice shelf thickness change from multimission lidar mapping

The Cryosphere ◽

10.5194/tc-13-1801-2019 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1801-1817 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Tyler C. Sutterley ◽

Thorsten Markus ◽

Thomas A. Neumann ◽

Michiel van den Broeke ◽

J. Melchior van Wessem ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Resolution ◽

Climate Models ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Regional Climate Models ◽

Surface Velocity ◽

Ice Thickness ◽

Flux Divergence ◽

Ice Shelf ◽

Thickness Change ◽

Ice Shelves

Abstract. We calculate rates of ice thickness change and bottom melt for ice shelves in West Antarctica and the Antarctic Peninsula from a combination of elevation measurements from NASA–CECS Antarctic ice mapping campaigns and NASA Operation IceBridge corrected for oceanic processes from measurements and models, surface velocity measurements from synthetic aperture radar, and high-resolution outputs from regional climate models. The ice thickness change rates are calculated in a Lagrangian reference frame to reduce the effects from advection of sharp vertical features, such as cracks and crevasses, that can saturate Eulerian-derived estimates. We use our method over different ice shelves in Antarctica, which vary in terms of size, repeat coverage from airborne altimetry, and dominant processes governing their recent changes. We find that the Larsen-C Ice Shelf is close to steady state over our observation period with spatial variations in ice thickness largely due to the flux divergence of the shelf. Firn and surface processes are responsible for some short-term variability in ice thickness of the Larsen-C Ice Shelf over the time period. The Wilkins Ice Shelf is sensitive to short-timescale coastal and upper-ocean processes, and basal melt is the dominant contributor to the ice thickness change over the period. At the Pine Island Ice Shelf in the critical region near the grounding zone, we find that ice shelf thickness change rates exceed 40 m yr−1, with the change dominated by strong submarine melting. Regions near the grounding zones of the Dotson and Crosson ice shelves are decreasing in thickness at rates greater than 40 m yr−1, also due to intense basal melt. NASA–CECS Antarctic ice mapping and NASA Operation IceBridge campaigns provide validation datasets for floating ice shelves at moderately high resolution when coregistered using Lagrangian methods.

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