Photogrammetric Investigation of Byrd Glacier Surface Lowering (Abstract only)

Abstract

While carrying out photogrammetric measurements to provide surface velocities and elevations for use in studies of the equilibrium and dynamics of Byrd Glacier, I noted that comparison of elevations obtained by ground surveys in 1978-79 with US Geological Survey topographic maps made from 1960-62 aerial photography indicated a very large apparent lowering of the glacier surface in this short timeinterval. The apparent lowering varied between 50 and 150 m along a 60 km section of the glacier for which data were available (Brecher 1980).The ground measurements were estimated to be in error by no more than 3 in but the accuracy of elevations on the maps was unknown. Because these are reconnaissance maps, however, substantial errors would not be unexpected. It was therefore necessary to obtain more accurate glacier surface elevations for 1960–62 in order to determine whether the lowering is real. Photogrammetric strip triangulations of three individual strips of photography, two taken in November 1960 and the third in February 1963, which cover the region of the greatest apparent lowering, have now been completed. The old strips were oriented to fixed points on the two “banks” of the glacier derived for this purpose from the 1978–79 photogrammetric work, thus bringing the measurements from the old and new photography into a common coordinate system.The glacier surface elevations for 1960–62 are the same as those obtained from the 1978–79 ground survey and photogrammetry. While it is difficult to give measures of accuracy of the results since no independent data are available for comparison, internal evidence indicates that precision higher than the expected 10 m has been achieved in the measurements. It can thus be stated unambiguously that no detectable surface lowering has occurred on any of the parts of the glacier which have been investigated.