Ice Surface Velocity Research Articles

A GIS and Remote Sensing-based Approach on Supraglacial Lake Dynamics Study in the Himalayan Glaciers

ABSTRACT The formation of supraglacial lakes is one of such essential indications for the ice mass loss as well as global warming in the glaciers of the high mountains. Here, a total of 2072 glaciers with size >2km2 and supraglacial debris cover >15% were taken for the supraglacial morphodynamic study in the Himalaya. Moreover, a detailed study was performed in Everest and Uttrakhand regions as representative of eastern and western Himalaya concerning the supraglacial lake's behavior and its future consequences. Normalized elevation, feature selection techniques, cumulative frequency, and lake density were adopted for the supraglacial lake morphodynamics analysis. Lake size and lake numbers were continuously increasing since 1990 in those two sub-regions as well as in the whole Himalaya. A total of 14421, 23215, 24263 and 26112 supraglacial lakes and 58.55km2, 72.75km2, 73.34km2 and 87.75km2 of supraglacial lake size were demarcated for the years 1995, 2010, 2015 and 2019, respectively in the Himalaya. Unlike Uttarakhand and Arunachal regions, supraglacial lake density is higher in Everest, Sikkim and Bhutan regions. Most of the supraglacial lakes were gathered at the lower part of the ablation area (NE<2). Overall lake size is higher in Everest region (8.9km2) than in the Uttarakhand region (3.2km2). Similarly, Lake coalescing was also observed in Everest region only. The feature selection technique exhibited that the lake density is controlled mostly by slope followed by ice thickness and surface velocity.

Vulnerability of firn to hydrofracture: poromechanics modeling

Abstract On the Greenland Ice Sheet, hydrofracture connects the supraglacial and subglacial hydrologic systems, coupling surface runoff dynamics and ice velocity. In recent decades, the growth of low-permeability ice slabs in the wet snow zone has expanded Greenland's runoff zone, but observations suggest that surface-to-bed connections are rare, because meltwater drains through crevasses into the porous firn beneath ice slabs. However, there is little quantitative evidence confirming the absence of surface-to-bed fracture propagation. Here, we use poromechanics to investigate whether water-filled crevasses in ice slabs can propagate vertically through an underlying porous firn layer. Based on numerical simulations, we develop an analytical estimate of the water injection-induced effective stress in the firn given the water level in the crevasse, ice slab thickness, and firn properties. We find that the firn layer substantially reduces the system's vulnerability to hydrofracture because much of the hydrostatic stress is accommodated by a change in pore pressure, rather than being transmitted to the solid skeleton. This result suggests that surface-to-bed hydrofracture will not occur in ice slab regions until all pore space proximal to the initial flaw has been filled with solid ice.

Comprehending the surface melt characteristics, calving processes, and seasonal ice velocity of Dålk glacier in Larsemann Hills, East Antarctica

Surface melting induces hydro-fracturing and deformational changes on the ice surface, which have a substantial impact on its dynamics and stability and therefore, comprehending these processes is crucial for ice sheet mass balance and stability. The present study is an attempt to understand the surface melt characteristics, seasonal ice movement, and calving processes of the Dålk glacier located in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica using multi-sensor remote sensing observations from 2017 to 2023. We identified and examined several melt features across the glacier and analysed their evolution during the study period. Frontal changes, calving events, and seasonal surface ice velocities of the glacier were also investigated during the study period. We found that the evolution and drainage of the melt features over the Dålk glacier is highly dynamic in nature with a significant inter-annual variability. We report substantial morphological changes in the ice doline structure that may be driven by the surface melt patterns, ice movement, and ice deformation in the region which also, affect the drainage of the nearby connected melt ponds and features. Several minor to very major calving events observed during the period due to immense disintegration processes during the preceding melting season that also affected the ice movement. We also highlight the need of monitoring and studying such melt features over the outlet glaciers that concerns the imminent catastrophic fragmentation and deformational changes over the glacier.

Estimation of Surface Ice Velocity of Durung Drung Glacier, Western Himalaya using COSI-Corr from Landsat images

Glaciers all over the world have been experiencing recession at varying rates. Alterations in glacial retreat, volume, and mass have direct implications for sea level rise and have implications for the overall health of glaciers. Measuring the surface ice velocity of glaciers presents challenges due to the rugged terrain and harsh climate at high altitudes, making field observations difficult. This study aims to address these challenges by focusing on the calculation of the surface ice velocity of the Durung Drung glacier in Zanskar Valley, Ladakh. Landsat- 7 & 8 panchromatic bands with a resolution of 15 m were used in conjunction with the COSI-Corr module of ENVI image processing software to derive surface ice velocity. The method involved the crosscorrelation of Landsat images from 1999/2000 and 2019/2020. The COSI-Corr module used in this study provided three key outputs: east–west displacement, north–south displacement, and signal-to-noise ratio. These outputs are essential for understanding the movement of the glacier and evaluating the quality of the image correlation. The results indicate that the surface velocity of Durung Drung glacier was 71 ± 6.1 m yr−1 in 1999/2000, which increased (by ∼ 50 %) to 140 ± 7.4 m yr−1 in 2019/2020. An increasing trend in velocity manifests the rising trend in temperature in the western Himalaya. Analysis of CRU TS4 gridded data reveals an increase in temperature while precipitation decreased during 1976–2020. The study recommends that the annual variations in surface ice velocity are a consequence of temperature fluctuations that influence the availability of meltwater.

Basal conditions of Denman Glacier from glacier hydrology and ice dynamics modeling

Abstract. Basal sliding in Antarctic glaciers is often modeled using a friction law that relates basal shear stresses to the effective pressure. As few ice sheet models are dynamically coupled to subglacial hydrology models, variability in subglacial hydrology associated with the effective pressure is often implicitly captured in the basal friction coefficient – an unknown parameter in the basal friction law. We investigate the impact of using effective pressures calculated from the Glacier Drainage System (GlaDS) model on basal friction coefficients calculated using inverse methods in the Ice-sheet and Sea-level System Model (ISSM) at Denman Glacier, East Antarctica, for the Schoof and Budd friction laws. For the Schoof friction law, a positive correlation emerges between the GlaDS effective pressure and basal friction coefficient in regions of fast ice flow. Using GlaDS effective pressures generally leads to smoother basal friction coefficients and basal shear stresses, and larger differences between the simulated and observed ice surface velocities compared with using an effective pressure equal to the ice overburden pressure plus the gravitational potential energy of the water. Compared with the Budd friction law, the Schoof friction law offers improved capabilities in capturing the spatial variations associated with known physics of the subglacial hydrology. Our results indicate that ice sheet model representation of basal sliding is more realistic when using direct outputs from a subglacial hydrology model, demonstrating the importance of coupling between ice sheet and subglacial hydrological systems. However, using our outputs we have also developed an empirical parameterization of effective pressure that improves the application of the Schoof friction law without requiring explicit hydrological modeling.

Extensive and anomalous grounding line retreat at Vanderford Glacier, Vincennes Bay, Wilkes Land, East Antarctica

Abstract. Wilkes Land, East Antarctica, has been losing mass at an accelerating rate over recent decades in response to enhanced oceanic forcing. Overlying the Aurora Subglacial Basin, it has been referred to as the “weak underbelly” of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet and is drained by several major outlet glaciers. Despite their potential importance, few of these glaciers have been studied in detail. This includes the six outlet glaciers which drain into Vincennes Bay, a region recently discovered to have the warmest intrusions of modified Circumpolar Deep Water (mCDW) ever recorded in East Antarctica. Here, we use satellite imagery; differential synthetic aperture radar interferometry (DInSAR); and remotely sensed datasets of ice-surface velocity, ice-surface elevation and grounding line position to investigate ice dynamics between 1963 and 2022. Our results support previous observations of extensive grounding line retreat at Vanderford Glacier, measured at 18.6 km between 1996 and 2020. The persistent grounding line retreat, averaging 0.8 km yr−1, places Vanderford Glacier as the fastest retreating glacier in East Antarctica, and the third fastest in Antarctica, across decadal timescales. Such rapid retreat is consistent with the hypothesis that warm mCDW is able to access deep cavities formed below the Vanderford Ice Shelf, driving high rates of basal melting close to the grounding line. With a retrograde slope observed inland along the Vanderford Trench, such oceanic forcing may have significant implications for the future stability of Vanderford Glacier.

Antarctic Ice Sheet paleo-constraint database

Abstract. We present a database of observational constraints on past Antarctic Ice Sheet changes during the last glacial cycle intended to consolidate the observations that represent our understanding of past Antarctic changes and for state-space estimation and paleo-model calibrations. The database is a major expansion of the initial work of Briggs and Tarasov (2013). It includes new data types and multi-tier data quality assessment. The updated constraint database, AntICE2 (https://theghub.org/resources/4884, Lecavalier et al., 2022), consists of observations of past grounded- and floating-ice-sheet extent, past ice thickness, past relative sea level, borehole temperature profiles, and present-day bedrock displacement rates. In addition to paleo-observations, the present-day ice sheet geometry and surface ice velocities are incorporated to constrain the present-day ice sheet configuration. The method by which the data are curated using explicitly defined criteria is detailed. Moreover, the observational uncertainties are specified. The methodology by which the constraint database can be applied to evaluate a given ice sheet reconstruction is discussed. The implementation of the AntICE2 database for Antarctic Ice Sheet model calibrations will improve Antarctic Ice Sheet predictions during past warm and cold periods and yield more robust paleo-model spin ups for forecasting future ice sheet changes.

Glacier retreat, dynamics and bed overdeepenings of Parkachik Glacier, Ladakh Himalaya, India

Abstract This study describes the morphological and dynamic changes of Parkachik Glacier, Suru River valley, Ladakh Himalaya, India. We used medium-resolution satellite images; CORONA KH-4, Landsat and Sentinel-2A from 1971–2021, and field surveys between 2015 and 2021. In addition, we used the laminar flow-based Himalayan Glacier Thickness Mapper and provide results for recent margin fluctuations, surface ice velocity, ice thickness, and identified glacier-bed overdeepenings. The results revealed that overall the glacier retreated by −210.5 ± 80 m with an average rate of 4 ± 1 m a−1 between 1971 and 2021. Whereas a field study suggested that the glacier retreat increased to −123 ± 72 m at an average rate of −20 ± 12 m a−1 between 2015 and 2021. Surface ice velocity was estimated using COSI-Corr on the Landsat data. Surface ice velocity in the lower ablation zone was 45 ± 2 m a−1 in 1999–2000 and 32 ± 1 m a−1 in 2020–2021, thus reduced by 28%. Further, the maximum thickness of the glacier is estimated to be ~441 m in the accumulation zone, while for glacier tongue it is ~44 m. The simulation results suggest that if the glacier continues to retreat at a similar rate, three lakes of different dimensions may form in subglacial overdeepenings.

Variational inference of ice shelf rheology with physics-informed machine learning

AbstractFloating ice shelves that fringe the coast of Antarctica resist the flow of grounded ice into the ocean. One of the key factors governing the amount of flow resistance an ice shelf provides is the rigidity (related to viscosity) of the ice that constitutes it. Ice rigidity is highly heterogeneous and must be calibrated from spatially continuous surface observations assimilated into an ice-flow model. Realistic uncertainties in calibrated rigidity values are needed to quantify uncertainties in ice sheet and sea-level forecasts. Here, we present a physics-informed machine learning framework for inferring the full probability distribution of rigidity values for a given ice shelf, conditioned on ice surface velocity and thickness fields derived from remote-sensing data. We employ variational inference to jointly train neural networks and a variational Gaussian Process to reconstruct surface observations, rigidity values and uncertainties. Applying the framework to synthetic and large ice shelves in Antarctica demonstrates that rigidity is well-constrained where ice deformation is measurable within the noise level of the observations. Further reduction in uncertainties can be achieved by complementing variational inference with conventional inversion methods. Our results demonstrate a path forward for continuously updated calibrations of ice flow parameters from remote-sensing observations.

Basal mass balance and prevalence of ice tongues in the Western ross sea

Ice tongues at the fringes of the Antarctic ice sheet lose mass primarily through both basal melting and calving. They are sensitive to ocean conditions which can weaken the ice both mechanically or through thinning. Ice tongues, which are laterally unconfined, are likely to be particularly sensitive to ocean-induced stresses. Here we examine ice tongues in the Western Ross Sea, by looking into the factors affecting their stability. We calculate the basal mass change of twelve Antarctic ice tongues using a flux gate approach, deriving thickness from ICESat-2 height measurements and ice surface velocities from Sentinel-1 feature-tracking over the same period (October 2018 to December 2021). The basal mass balance ranges between −0.14 ± 0.07 m yr−1 and −1.50 ± 1.2 m yr−1. The average basal mass change for all the ice tongues is −0.82 ± 0.68 m of ice yr−1. Low values of basal melt suggest a stable mass balance condition in this region, with low thermal ocean forcing, as other studies have shown. We found a heterogeneous basal melt pattern with no latitudinal gradient and no clear driver in basal melt indicating that local variables are important in the persistence of ice tongues in the absence of a strong oceanographic melting force. Moreover, thanks to the temporal resolution of the data we were able to resolve the seasonal variability of Drygalski and Aviator Ice Tongues, the two largest ice tongues studied.

Topographical and morphological variability explicates the regional heterogeneity in glacier surface ice velocity across Karakoram-Himalaya

Understanding the implications of variations in glacier surface ice velocity (SIV) has become an essential component of glacier research and monitoring. This study investigates the variability in SIV with respect to geography, morphology, and topography in Karakoram-Himalaya. SIVs are extracted for 1439 glaciers in the Karakoram-Himalaya region for the period 2016–2019 using Landsat-8 datasets and a feature tracking method. Glaciers are categorized based on their area, ice thickness, and ice volume in order to investigate the SIV variability with geographical, morphological, and topographical parameters. We highlight regional heterogeneities in glacier SIV across the Karakoram-Himalaya. We conclude that in addition to glacier morphology, the altitudinal heterogeneity of glaciers in the Karakoram-Himalaya best explains regional disparities in glacier SIV. For all glacier areas smaller than 20 km2, a significant negative correlation (less than −0.4) is observed between glacier minimum elevation and SIV. Heterogeneity in the role of elevation on SIV is also observed at the sub-basin scale, with a correlation of −0.47, −0.33, and −0.18 in the Hanza, Chenab, and Kosi sub-basins, respectively. An unsystematic variability of SIV for large glaciers (area >20 km2), located mostly in the Karakoram and Western Himalayan regions, suggests that the elevation and sub-glacial hydrology may have a significant impact on their dynamics.

The contribution of Humboldt Glacier, northern Greenland, to sea-level rise through 2100 constrained by recent observations of speedup and retreat

Abstract. Humboldt Glacier, northern Greenland, has retreated and accelerated through the 21st century, raising concerns that it could be a significant contributor to future sea-level rise. We use a data-constrained ensemble of three-dimensional higher-order ice sheet model simulations to estimate the likely range of sea-level rise from the continued retreat of Humboldt Glacier. We first solve for basal traction using observed ice thickness, bed topography, and ice surface velocity from the year 2007 in a PDE-constrained (partial differential equation) optimization. Next, we impose calving rates to match mean observed retreat rates from winter 2007–2008 to winter 2017–2018 in a transient calibration of the exponent in the power-law basal friction relationship. We find that power-law exponents in the range of 1/7–1/5 – rather than the commonly used 1/3–1 – are necessary to reproduce the observed speedup over this period. We then tune an iceberg calving parameterization based on the von Mises stress yield criterion in another transient-calibration step to approximate both observed ice velocities and terminus position in 2017–2018. Finally, we use the range of basal friction relationship exponents and calving parameter values to generate the ensemble of model simulations from 2007–2100 under three climate forcing scenarios from CMIP5 (two RCP8.5 forcings, Representative Concentration Pathway) and CMIP6 (one SSP5-8.5 forcing, Shared Socioeconomic Pathway). Our simulations predict 5.2–8.7 mm of sea-level rise from Humboldt Glacier, significantly higher than a previous estimate (∼ 3.5 mm) and equivalent to a substantial fraction of the 40–140 mm predicted by ISMIP6 from the whole Greenland Ice Sheet. Our larger future sea-level rise prediction results from the transient calibration of our basal friction law to match the observed speedup, which requires a semi-plastic bed rheology. In many simulations, our model predicts the growth of a sizable ice shelf in the middle of the 21st century. Thus, atmospheric warming could lead to more retreat than predicted here if increased surface melt promotes hydrofracture of the ice shelf. Our data-constrained simulations of Humboldt Glacier underscore the sensitivity of model predictions of Greenland outlet glacier response to warming to choices of basal shear stress and iceberg calving parameterizations. Further, transient calibration of these parameterizations, which has not typically been performed, is necessary to reproduce observed behavior. Current estimates of future sea-level rise from the Greenland Ice Sheet could, therefore, contain significant biases.

Inverting ice surface elevation and velocity for bed topography and slipperiness beneath Thwaites Glacier

Abstract. There is significant uncertainty over how ice sheets and glaciers will respond to rising global temperatures. Limited knowledge of the topography and rheology of the ice–bed interface is a key cause of this uncertainty as models show that small changes in the bed can have a large influence on predicted rates of ice loss. Most of our detailed knowledge of bed topography comes from airborne and ground-penetrating radar observations. However, these direct observations are not spaced closely enough to meet the requirements of ice-sheet models, so interpolation and inversion methods are used to fill in the gaps. Here we present the results of a new inversion of surface elevation and velocity data over Thwaites Glacier, West Antarctica, for bed topography and slipperiness (i.e. the degree of basal slip for a given level of drag). The inversion is based on a steady-state linear perturbation analysis of the shallow-ice-stream equations. The method works by identifying disturbances to surface flow which are caused by obstacles or sticky patches in the bed and can therefore be applied wherever the shallow-ice-stream equations hold and where surface data are available, even where the ice thickness is not well known. We assess the performance of the inversion for topography with the available radar data. Although the topographic output from the inversion is less successful where the bed slopes steeply, it compares well with radar data from the central trunk of the glacier for medium-wavelength features (5–50 km). This method could therefore be useful as an independent test of other interpolation methods such as mass conservation and kriging. We do not have data to allow us to assess the success of the slipperiness results from our inversions, but we provide maps that may guide future seismic data collection across Thwaites Glacier. The methods presented here show significant promise for using high-resolution satellite datasets, calibrated by sparser field datasets, to generate high-resolution bed topography products across the ice sheets and therefore contribute to reduced uncertainty in predictions of future sea-level rise.

ICE FLOW VELOCITY MAPPING IN GREENLAND USING HISTORICAL IMAGES FROM 1960s TO 1980s: SCHEME DESIGN

Abstract. Ice flow velocity over long time series in Greenland plays a vital role in estimating and predicting the mass balance of the Greenland Ice Sheet and its contribution to global sea level rise. However, there are few Greenland ice flow velocity products with large spatial coverage available showing the Greenland ice flow velocity pattern before the 1990s. We proposed three methods, including parallax decomposition, grid-based NCC image matching, feature and gird-based image matching with constraints for estimation of surface velocity in East Antarctica based on ARGON KH-5 and LANDSAT imagery, and a systematic compilation method for the ice surface velocity in East Antarctica from the 1960s to 1980s. Based on the above methods and cartographic processes, this study designed a framework for the mapping of the historical ice flow velocity of the Greenland ice sheet. Currently, the early LANDSAT images covering several glaciers in North Greenland and Northwest Greenland have been processed and applied to velocity mapping using the cartographic process proposed in this study, and some preliminary results have been obtained.

MONITORING HANGING GLACIER DYNAMICS FROM SAR IMAGES USING CORNER REFLECTORS AND FIELD MEASUREMENTS IN THE MONT-BLANC MASSIF

Abstract. This paper focuses on the monitoring of a small hanging glacier with Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) images using a combination of artificial Corner Reflectors (CRs) and dGNSS field measurements. First, to test the performance of the CRs in high-resolution X-band and medium-resolution C-band images acquired by PAZ and Sentinel-1 satellites respectively, a series of tests was performed with two CRs installed in the Chamonix valley. After the confirmation of good visibility in the valley datasets from both satellites, four CRs were installed in summer 2021 on a steep (≈ 52° average slope) hanging glacier on the North face of Aiguille du Midi (3842 ma.s.l., Mont-Blanc massif). After the successful installation on the hanging glacier, all CRs were visible in both sets of images (PAZ and Sentinel-1). Using the CRs as a reference, glacier displacements were estimated in SAR images using complex cross-correlation, and validated by using ground measurements (dGNSS) and theoretical relationships between ice thickness and surface velocity. We observed average summer velocities of ≈ 0.05 m/day at the front of the glacier from field measurements and ≈ 0.04 m/day from SAR displacement estimates. The study shows the potential and limitations of using CRs as a tool for monitoring glaciers in complex topographies.

Airborne ultra-wideband radar sounding over the shear margins and along flow lines at the onset region of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream

Abstract. We present a high-resolution airborne radar data set (EGRIP-NOR-2018) for the onset region of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS). The radar data were acquired in May 2018 with the Alfred Wegener Institute's multichannel ultra-wideband (UWB) radar mounted on the Polar 6 aircraft. Radar profiles cover an area of ∼24 000 km2 and extend over the well-defined shear margins of the NEGIS. The survey area is centered at the location of the drill site of the East Greenland Ice-Core Project (EastGRIP), and several radar lines intersect at this location. The survey layout was designed to (i) map the stratigraphic signature of the shear margins with radar profiles aligned perpendicular to ice flow, (ii) trace the radar stratigraphy along several flow lines, and (iii) provide spatial coverage of ice thickness and basal properties. While we are able to resolve radar reflections in the deep stratigraphy, we cannot fully resolve the steeply inclined reflections at the tightly folded shear margins in the lower part of the ice column. The NEGIS is causing the most significant discrepancies between numerically modeled and observed ice surface velocities. Given the high likelihood of future climate and ocean warming, this extensive data set of new high-resolution radar data in combination with the EastGRIP ice core will be a key contribution to understand the past and future dynamics of the NEGIS. The EGRIP-NOR-2018 radar data products can be obtained from the PANGAEA data publisher (https://doi.pangaea.de/10.1594/PANGAEA.928569; Franke et al., 2021a).

Dulung Proglacial Lake, Suru Sub-Basin, Western Himalaya: Evolution, Controls and Impacts on Glacier Stability

Proglacial lakes are continually developing and expanding across the Himalayan glaciered terrain in response to climate change. These lakes are known to destabilize the glaciers by enhancing their frontal ablation, causing higher than average glacier area and mass losses. Thus, to comprehend the dynamics of proglacial lakes and their influence on the overall glacier health, we study the lake-terminating Dulung Glacier located in the Suru sub-basin, Ladakh, western Himalaya and compare it with the adjacent land-terminating Chilung Glacier. The pronounced melting of the Dulung Glacier, supported by glacier topography (surface gradient between accumulation and ablation zone) and valley morphology (wider near the snout and narrower downwards), seems to be the prime reason for the formation, accommodation and sustenance of the proglacial lake. The expansion in proglacial lake (.008 km2a−1) during 1977–2018 is accompanied by an enhanced degeneration of the Dulung Glacier (mass balance: −.47 ± .06 m w.e.a−1, shrinkage rate: .3 ± .001% a−1; retreat rate: 32 ± .7 ma−1, surface ice velocity reduction: 16%), which has accelerated post-1993. In comparison, land-terminating Chilung Glacier shows lower degeneration rates (mass balance: −.28 ± .02 m w.e.a−1; shrinkage rate: .2 ± .001% a−1; retreat rate: 17 ± 0.7 ma−1, surface ice velocity reduction: 8%) during 1971–2018. This suggests a substantial impact of the proglacial lake in enhancing the Dulung Glacier’s sensitivity towards climate change compared to the Chilung Glacier. If the current rate of lake expansion continues, it would further enhance the Dulung Glaciers’ degeneration rates, thus impacting its stability.

An observation-based approach to calculating ice-shelf calving mass flux

In order to determine whether the calving flux of an ice shelf is changing, the long-term calving flux needs to be established. Methods used to estimate the calving flux either take into account non-steady-state behaviour by capturing movement of the calving-front location (e.g., using satellite observations), or they assume the calving front is stationary and that the ice is in steady state (e.g., flux-gate methods). Non-steady-state methods are hampered by the issue of temporal aliasing, i.e., when the satellite observation frequency is insufficient to capture the cyclic nature of the calving-front position. Methods that assume a steady state to estimate the calving flux accrue uncertainties if the ice shelf changes its physical state. In order to overcome these limitations we propose and implement a new observation-based approach that combines a time series of calving-front locations with a flux-gate method. The approach involves the creation of a unique semi-temporal domain as a mechanism to overcome the issue of temporal aliasing, and only requires easily accessible ice thickness and surface velocity estimates of the ice shelf. This approach allows for complex calving-front geometries and captures calving events of all sizes that are visible within the satellite imagery. Application of the approach allows the long-term average calving flux to be estimated (provided sufficient temporal coverage by satellite imagery), as well as identification of the minimum temporal baseline needed to produce a representative estimate of the long-term average calving flux, for any ice shelf. Implementation of the approach to multiple ice shelves would enable comparisons to be made regarding the spatial variability in the long-term calving flux of Antarctica's ice shelves, thereby highlighting calving regime change around the continent.

Automatically Structuralize the Curvilinear Glacier Using Phase-Coded Convolution

The morphological structure of glaciers is essential to understand and model their dynamics. In this letter, a novel method based on phase-coded disk (PCD) and phase-coded convolution is presented to automatically delineate the morphological structure of curvilinear glaciers from ice surface velocities. First, a region-growing algorithm is used to identify the glacier image object from an ice surface velocity remote sensing product. Secondly, the phase-coded convolution is applied to derive the image object’s magnitude surface. A Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach is then developed to extract the centerlines of glacier tributaries. Finally, the morphological structure and attributes of the glacier image object are numerically derived based on the centerlines. A glacier in Alaska was employed to test the proposed method and conventional hydrologic method. The results proved the effectiveness of the proposed PCD-based method. This study is a trailblazing pilot study that novelly employs computer vision technology to automatically structuralize curvilinear glaciers. The outcomes enable the inspection and monitoring of complex glacier dynamics on a tributary level.

Satellite and ground based estimates for ice surface velocities in the part of central Dronning Maud Land, East Antarctica: Implications for ice flux calculations

The ice sheet and glaciers of Antarctica and Greenland represent the largest sources of freshwater on planet Earth. The understanding and quantification of their dynamic properties such as albedo, precipitation, ice mass movement, and ice elevation changes are critical for the improved climate and mass balance models. The present study utilizes space-borne optical and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery to measure the ice surface velocity at high spatial resolution for a part of the central Dronning Maud Land (cDML), East Antarctica. The datasets from Landsat-8 and Sentinel-1 SAR satellite are used for ice stream velocity estimation using feature-offset tracking and differential interferometric SAR (DInSAR) methods. The derived velocity products are validated with ground based stakes network at annual time scale. The fundamental ice flow laws are used to estimate the ice outflux or discharge for selected ice stream drainage basins of cDML at fluxgate locations. The ice stream basin has been delineated using combination of elevation, slope and continental scale velocity maps. The ice influx for study area is estimated using ECMWF fifth generation reanalysis (ERA5) and Regional Atmospheric Climate Model (RACMO) v2.3 model outputs. The estimated influx and outflux are in the ranges of 0.18–4.167 Gt/y and 0.201 to 1.278 Gt/y respectively, indicating net positive mass balance for the selected area.