Corner Reflectors for Validation of Ice Flow Velocity Derived from SAR Images along the CHINARE-Route in Antarctica

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gang Qiao ◽  
Rongxing Li ◽  
Tong Hao ◽  
Xiaohua Tong ◽  
Yanjun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Incident Angle ◽  
Surface Shape ◽  
Sar Images ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Ground Truth Data ◽  
Radar Images ◽  
Ice Velocity

<p>Ice flow velocity is an important parameter for evaluating the stability of Antarctic ice shelves and analyzing the mass balance of the ice sheet. Large scale ice flow maps can be produced from satellite images with ground control and validation. Among various ground targets, corner reflectors show distinct intensity characteristics on SAR images due to its highly reflective surface shape and have been used for calibration and validation. This paper focuses on design and implementation of a set of corner reflectors to obtain the first-hand data of in-situ ice flow velocity for SAR image based ice velocity maps. The results should further help evaluate mass balance changes in East Antarctica using the input-output method.</p><p>Generally, the remote sensing method uses airborne or satellite optical and radar images from multiple periods to map ice flow velocity fields. The ground truth data are often sparse due to the harsh environment in the polar region. The annual Chinese Antarctic Research Expedition (CHINARE) makes it possible to obtain period field data of ice velocity within its campaign regions. The ~1200 km CHINARE-Route runs from Zhongshan Station to Kunlun Station along which the ice flow velocity varies from a few meters per year to 100s meters per year. 5 corner reflectors have been designed and installed along the 31st CHINARE-Route in 2015 and the 35th CHINARE-Route in 2019 (M1, M2 and M3 in the 31st CHINARE, A1and A2 in the 35th CHINARE). The ice flow velocities at the installation locations are of different orders of magnitude, about 44 m per year at the locations of M1 and A1, 93 m per year at M2 and M3 and 73 m per year at A2. The satellite orbit inclination, incident angle and the installation location were used to calculate the azimuth and elevation angles of the corner reflectors for installation. At all reflector locations GPS positions were collected at the time of installation. After that, the second time GPS coordinates of M3 in the 34th CHINARE in 2018, the third time GPS coordinates of M3, the second time GPS coordinates of A1 and A2 in the 36th CHINARE at the end of 2019 were measured respectively. TerraSAR-X was used to image the reflectors.</p><p>The results show that the mean in-situ ice flow velocity of M3 is 96.83 m per year between Feb. 2015 and Dec. 2019, with 97.51 m per year between Feb. 2015 and Jan. 2018 and 95.81m per year between Jan. 2018 and Dec. 2019. The in-situ ice flow velocity is 54.9 m per year at A1 between Jan. 2019 and Dec. 2019 and 86.92 m per year at A2 between Feb. 2019 and Dec. 2019. More TerraSAR-X and COSMO-SkyMed data will be used to extract the ice velocity corresponding to GPS measurements. The detailed information will be presented at the meeting.</p>

scholarly journals ICE FLOW VELOCITY MAPPING IN EAST ANTARCTICA USING HISTORICAL IMAGES FROM 1960s TO 1980s: RECENT PROGRESS

2021 ◽  
Vol XLIII-B3-2021 ◽  
pp. 491-496
Author(s):  
S. Luo ◽  
Y. Cheng ◽  
Z. Li ◽  
Y. Wang ◽  
K. Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
East Antarctica ◽  
Input Output ◽  
Velocity Mapping ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Optical Images ◽  
Elevation Changes ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Surface Ice

Abstract. Recent research indicates that the estimated elevation changes and associated mass balance in East Antarctica are of some degree of uncertainty; a light accumulation has occurred in its vast inland regions, while mass loss in Wilkes Land appears significant. It is necessary to study the mass change trend in the context of a long period of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS). The input-output method based on surface ice flow velocity and ice thickness is one of the most important ways to estimate the mass balance, which can provide longer-term knowledge of mass balance because of the availability of the early satellites in 1960s. In this study, we briefly describe the method of extracting ice velocity based on the historical optical images from 1960s to 1980s. Based on the draft ice velocity map of the EAIS using this method, we conduct a series of validation experiments, including comparisons with in-situ measurement, existing historical maps and rock outcrop dataset. Finally, we use the input-output method to estimate mass balance in some regions of EAIS using the generated velocity map.

scholarly journals Wave Ogives

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (112) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.D. Waddington
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Method Of Characteristics ◽  
Wave Pattern ◽  
Wave Excitation ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Forcing Function ◽  
Excitation Potential ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Balance Functions ◽  
Velocity Channel

AbstractWave ogives arise in a solution of the continuity equation by the method of characteristics. Steady ice flow is assumed. Ice velocity, channel width, and mass-balance functions combine to form a wave-excitation potential that yields the forcing function for wave ogives. This linear-systems formulation extends the ogive theory of Nye. Convolution of the temporal cumulative mass balance and spatial forcing functions gives the total wave pattern below an ice fall. Many ice falls do not generate ogives because the wave amplitude is modulated by a factor related to ice-fall length. The wave ogives at Austerdalsbreen, Norway, are due almost entirely to ice acceleration at the top of the ice-fall, i.e. the same zone that King and Lewis showed was responsible for forming Forbes bands.

scholarly journals Simulating ice thickness and velocity evolution of Upernavik Isstrøm 1849–2012 by forcing prescribed terminus positions in ISSM

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1511-1522 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstanze Haubner ◽  
Jason E. Box ◽  
Nicole J. Schlegel ◽  
Eric Y. Larour ◽  
Mathieu Morlighem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Loss ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Mass Balance ◽  
Position Change ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Total Mass Loss ◽  
Negative Surface ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Glacier Velocity

Abstract. Tidewater glacier velocity and mass balance are known to be highly responsive to terminus position change. Yet it remains challenging for ice flow models to reproduce observed ice margin changes. Here, using the Ice Sheet System Model (Larour et al., 2012), we simulate the ice velocity and thickness changes of Upernavik Isstrøm (north-western Greenland) by prescribing a collection of 27 observed terminus positions spanning 164 years (1849–2012). The simulation shows increased ice velocity during the 1930s, the late 1970s and between 1995 and 2012 when terminus retreat was observed along with negative surface mass balance anomalies. Three distinct mass balance states are evident in the reconstruction: (1849–1932) with near zero mass balance, (1932–1992) with ice mass loss dominated by ice dynamical flow, and (1998–2012), when increased retreat and negative surface mass balance anomalies led to mass loss that was twice that of any earlier period. Over the multi-decadal simulation, mass loss was dominated by thinning and acceleration responsible for 70 % of the total mass loss induced by prescribed change in terminus position. The remaining 30 % of the total ice mass loss resulted directly from prescribed terminus retreat and decreasing surface mass balance. Although the method can not explain the cause of glacier retreat, it enables the reconstruction of ice flow and geometry during 1849–2012. Given annual or seasonal observed terminus front positions, this method could be a useful tool for evaluating simulations investigating the effect of calving laws.

scholarly journals The Equation of Continuity and its Application to the Ice Sheet Near “byrd” Station, Antarctica

1977 ◽  
Vol 18 (80) ◽  
pp. 359-371 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. M. Whillans
Keyword(s):  
Steady State ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Ice Thickness ◽  
Surface Mass Balance ◽  
Velocity Measurements ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Measured Velocity ◽  
Surface Mass ◽  
Ice Velocity

Abstract The continuity relationship that is often used in the study of ice sheets and ice shelves is developed by integrating the equation of continuity through the ice thickness. This equation is then integrated again with respect to horizontal distance from an ice divide, showing that the difference between the true ice velocity and the balance velocity, which is defined, is a measure of the time chance of the mass of a column through the ice thickness. The relationship is applied using data from along the “Byrd” station strain network, Antarctica. This region is found to be thinning slowly (0.03 m a−1 of ice of mean density) and uniformly, but it is still close to steady-state. The calculations would show a larger thinning rate if bottom sliding contributed more to the ice movement and integral shear contributed less, but the “Byrd” station bore-hole tilting results of Garfield and Ueda (1975, 1976), together with surface velocity measurements at “Byrd” station, indicate that most of the ice flow is by deformation within the ice mass. This large amount of internal deformation is more than that predicted by most “flow laws”, probably because of the strongly oriented ice-crystal fabric in the ice sheet. The cause of ice thinning is probably decreased surface mass balance beginning before A.D. 1550. The consistent relationship between measured velocity and balance velocity indicates that the ice flow is simple and that flow lines are in the same direction at depth as at the surface when considered smoothed over a distance of 10 km. Because the ice sheet is at present thinning, the balance velocity, calculated only from flow line and surface mass-balance data, and the somewhat mistaken assumption of steady-state is 15% less than the true ice velocity. This rather small difference confirms the use of balance-velocity estimates where velocity measurements are not available.

scholarly journals Modelling mass balance using photogrammetric and geophysical data: a pilot study at Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps

1999 ◽  
Vol 45 (151) ◽  
pp. 575-583 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Kääb ◽  
Martin Funk
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Surface Strain ◽  
Swiss Alps ◽  
Surface Velocity ◽  
Glacier Mass Balance ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Applied Model ◽  
Ice Velocity

AbstractThe kinematic boundary condition al the glacier surface can be used to give glacier mass balance at a point as a function of changes in the surface elevation, and of the horizontal and vertical velocities. Vertical velocity can in turn be estimated from basal slope, basal ice velocity and surface strain. In a pilot study on the tongue of Griesgletscher, Swiss Alps, the applicability of the relation for modelling area-wide ice flow and mass-balance distribution is tested. The key input of the calculations, i.e. the area-wide surface velocity field, is obtained using a newly developed photogrammetric technique. Ice thickness is derived from radar-echo soundings. Error estimates and comparisons with stake measurements show an average accuracy of approximately ±0.3 ma-1for the calculated vertical ice velocity at the surface and ±0.7 ma-1for the calculated mass balance. Due to photogrammetric restrictions and model-inherent sensitivities the applied model appeared to be most suitable for determining area-wide mass balance and ice flow on flat-lying ablation areas, but is so far not very well suited for steep ablation areas and most parts of accumulation areas. Nevertheless, the study on Griesgletscher opens a new and promising perspective for the monitoring of spatial and temporal glacier mass-balance variations.

scholarly journals Wave Ogives

1986 ◽  
Vol 32 (112) ◽  
pp. 325-334 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.D. Waddington
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Method Of Characteristics ◽  
Wave Pattern ◽  
Wave Excitation ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Forcing Function ◽  
Excitation Potential ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Balance Functions ◽  
Velocity Channel

AbstractWave ogives arise in a solution of the continuity equation by the method of characteristics. Steady ice flow is assumed. Ice velocity, channel width, and mass-balance functions combine to form a wave-excitation potential that yields the forcing function for wave ogives. This linear-systems formulation extends the ogive theory of Nye. Convolution of the temporal cumulative mass balance and spatial forcing functions gives the total wave pattern below an ice fall. Many ice falls do not generate ogives because the wave amplitude is modulated by a factor related to ice-fall length. The wave ogives at Austerdalsbreen, Norway, are due almost entirely to ice acceleration at the top of the ice-fall, i.e. the same zone that King and Lewis showed was responsible for forming Forbes bands.

scholarly journals A complete map of Greenland ice velocity derived from satellite data collected over 20 years

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (243) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
IAN JOUGHIN ◽  
BEN E. SMITH ◽  
IAN M. HOWAT
Keyword(s):  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Feature Tracking ◽  
Ice Sheet ◽  
Synthetic Aperture ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Interferometric Phase ◽  
Ice Velocity ◽  
Slow Moving ◽  
Good Agreement

ABSTRACTWhile numerous maps of Greenland ice flow velocity exist, most have gaps in coverage and/or accuracy is limited. We processed a large volume of synthetic aperture radar and Landsat 8 imagery collected between 1995 and 2015 to produce a nearly complete map of ice flow velocity for Greenland at a far greater accuracy than most prior products. We evaluated the accuracy of this map by comparing it with a variety of measured and estimated velocities. For the slow-moving interior of the ice sheet, where estimates are determined from interferometric phase, the errors are ~2 m a−1 or better. For coastal areas, where estimates are determined entirely from speckle- or feature-tracking methods, errors are 2–3 m a−1, which is in good agreement with the estimated formal errors. Especially for the slow-moving majority of the ice sheet, this map provides an important source of data for numerous types of glaciological studies.

scholarly journals Comparison of direct and geodetic mass balances on an annual time scale

2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 565-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Fischer ◽  
H. Schneider ◽  
G. Merkel ◽  
R. Sailer
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Volume Change ◽  
Glacier Surface ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Total Period ◽  
Elevation Data ◽  
Order Of Magnitude ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance

Abstract. Very accurate airborne laserscanning (ALS) elevation data was used to calculate the annual volume changes for Hintereisferner and Kesselwandferner in the Ötztal Alps, Austria for 2001/2002–2008/2009. The comparison of the altitude of 51 recently GPS surveyed ground control points showed that the accuracy of the ALS DEMs is better than 0.3 m. The geodetic mass balance was calculated from the volume change using detailed maps of the firn cover and applying corrections for the seasonal snow cover. The maximum snow height at the time of the elevation data flight was 0.5 m averaged over the glacier surface. The volume change data was compared to in situ mass balance data for the total area and at the stakes. For the total period of 8 yr, the difference between the geodetic and the direct mass balance is 2.398 m w.e. on Hintereisferner and 1.380 m w.e. on Kesselwandferner, corresponding to about two times the mean annual mass balance. The vertical ice flow velocity was measured and found to be on the same order of magnitude as the mass balance at KWF. This is an indicator that volume change data does not allow the calculation of ablation or accumulation rates without detailed measurements or models of the vertical ice flow velocity. Therefore, only direct mass balance data allow process studies or investigation of the climatic controls of the resulting mass changes.

scholarly journals Surface lowering of the debris-covered area of Kanchenjunga Glacier in the eastern Nepal Himalaya since 1975, as revealed by Hexagon KH-9 and ALOS satellite observations

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 2815-2827 ◽  
Author(s):  
Damodar Lamsal ◽  
Koji Fujita ◽  
Akiko Sakai
Keyword(s):  
Velocity Field ◽  
Mass Balance ◽  
Flow Velocity ◽  
Area Fraction ◽  
Ice Flow ◽  
Nepal Himalaya ◽  
Flow Velocity Field ◽  
Covered Area ◽  
Glacier Ice ◽  
Geodetic Mass Balance

Abstract. This study presents the geodetic mass balance of Kanchenjunga Glacier, one of the largest debris-covered glaciers in the easternmost Nepal Himalaya, which possesses a negative mass balance of −0.18 ± 0.17 m w.e. a−1 for the 1975–2010 study period, estimated using digital elevation models (DEMs) generated from Hexagon KH-9 and ALOS PRISM stereo images. Accurate DEMs, with a relative uncertainty of ±5.5 m, were generated from the intensive and manual editing of triangulated irregular network (TIN) models on a stereo MirrorTM/3D Monitor. The glacier ice-flow velocity field was also calculated using a feature-tracking method that was applied to two ALOS orthoimages taken in 2010. The elevation differences between the two DEMs highlight considerable surface lowering across the debris-covered area, and a slight thickening in the accumulation area of Kanchenjunga Glacier between 1975 and 2010. The magnitude and gradient of surface lowering are similar among the six glacier tributaries, even though they are situated at different elevations, which may reflect variations in the ice-flow velocity field. The pattern of surface lowering correlates well with the ice-flow velocity field over the debris-covered portion of the main tributary, suggesting that the glacier dynamics significantly affect surface lowering by altering the emergence velocity along the glacier, particularly in the compressive ablation area. Surface-lowering patterns partially correspond to the supraglacial pond area fraction of the glacier, with enhanced surface lowering observed in areas that possess a larger pond area fraction. These findings support the hypothesis that supraglacial ponds may intensify ice wastage and play a key role in the heterogeneous surface lowering of debris-covered glaciers. The estimated mass loss of Kanchenjunga Glacier is moderate compared with other debris-covered glaciers in neighboring Himalayan regions, which may be due to the lower pond area fraction of Kanchenjunga Glacier relative to other glaciers.

scholarly journals MONITORING OF WET SNOW AND ACCUMULATIONS AT HIGH ALPINE GLACIERS USING RADAR TECHNOLOGIES

2015 ◽  
Vol XL-7/W3 ◽  
pp. 1063-1068 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Wendleder ◽  
A. Heilig ◽  
A. Schmitt ◽  
C. Mayer
Keyword(s):  
Mass Balance ◽  
Single Point ◽  
Ground Truth ◽  
Radar Data ◽  
Sar Images ◽  
Ground Truth Data ◽  
Temporal Shift ◽  
Spatial Coverage ◽  
Wet Snow ◽  
Periodic Monitoring

Conventional studies to assess the annual mass balance for glaciers rely on single point observations in combination with model and interpolation approaches. Just recently, airborne and spaceborne data is used to support such mass balance determinations. Here, we present an approach to map temporal changes of the snow cover in glaciated regions of Tyrol, Austria, using SAR-based satellite data. Two dual-polarized SAR images are acquired on 22 and 24 September 2014. As X and C-band reveal different backscattering properties of snow, both TerraSAR-X and RADARSAT-2 images are analysed and compared to ground truth data. Through application of filter functions and processing steps containing a Kennaugh decomposition, ortho-rectification, radiometric enhancement and normalization, we were able to distinguish between dry and wet parts of the snow surface. The analyses reveal that the wet-snow can be unambiguously classified by applying a threshold of -11 dB. Bare ice at the surface or a dry snowpack does not appear in radar data with such low backscatter values. From the temporal shift of wet-snow, a discrimination of accumulation areas on glaciers is possible for specific observation dates. Such data can reveal a periodic monitoring of glaciers with high spatial coverage independent from weather or glacier conditions.

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