Initial validation of Randolph Glacier inventory: version 5.0 data over Canada using 250 m MODIS-derived annual minimum snow/ice extent

Abstract

This report describes the background, methodology and results of using annual Minimum Snow and Ice (MSI) extent derived from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) 250 m data to validate glacier outline data from the Randolph Glacier Inventory: Version 5.0 (RGI 5.0). This work was a four part collaborative effort conducted by 1) a team from the Canada Centre for Remote Sensing (CCRS) who produced the MODIS MSI raster data and worked with the Atlas of Canada Data (Atlas Data) team to facilitate the use of the raster imagery, 2) the CCRS GeoAnalytics team who evaluated sources of glacier data, 3) the Atlas Data team who carried out the classification and vectorization of the MODIS raster imagery and the validation of the RGI 5.0 glaciers and 4) the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) who advised on the interpretation of Google Earth and LANDSAT 8 OLI_TIRS image products that were used as references. In particular, it was observed that seventeen glaciers with an area greater than 2.0 km2 are suspected of having either fully or significantly melted. They are distributed across northern Canada, with four located in the Yukon, seven located in Arctic Canada South region and six located in Arctic Canada North region. The validated glacier data will be generalized to the 1:1,000,000 scale and used as a national scale dataset for Canadian glaciers.