Satellite Remote Sensing of Vatnajökull, Iceland

Abstract

Iceland’s largest ice cap, Vatnajökull, has been the test site for a series of airborne and satellite remote-sensing studies since 1966. Various types of image data acquired by the Landsat Multispectral Scanner (MSS) and the Seasat Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) are assessed for their value to glaciological studies of Vatnajökull. A low Sun angle winter 1973 MSS band 7 Landsat image of Vatnajökull provides information about the distribution and size of subglacial volcanic calderas, cauldron subsidence caused by subglacial geothermal and (or) intrusive volcanic activity, and delineation of the probable position of surface ice divides. Two types of multi-spectral digital enhancements were applied to a late summer 1973 MSS image of Vatnajökull. The first type was used to prepare a planimetric base map showing the location of the principal surface features and an inventory of 38 named outlet glaciers, one internal ice cap (Öraefajökull), and two detached glaciers which comprise this complex ice cap, and to measure its area (8300 km2). The second type provides information about the position of the snow line at the approximate end of the 1973 melt season, the areas encompassed by the ice fades of the ablation area and the slush zone and wet-snow facies/percolation facies of the accumulation area. More information about the surface morphology of Vatnajökull was available from the Sow Sun angle winter and the digitally enhanced summer Landsat image of the ice cap than from the Seasat SAR image.