TY - JOUR
T1 - Improving maps of ice-sheet surface elevation change using combined laser altimeter and stereoscopic elevation model data
AU - Fredenslund Levinsen, Joanna
AU - Howat, I.M.
AU - Tscherning, Carl Christian
PY - 2013/7/1
Y1 - 2013/7/1
N2 - We combine the complementary characteristics of laser altimeter data and stereoscopic digital elevation models (DEMs) to construct high-resolution (~100 m) maps of surface elevations and elevation changes over rapidly changing outlet glaciers in Greenland. Measurements from spaceborne and airborne laser altimeters have relatively low errors but are spatially limited to the ground tracks, while DEMs have larger errors but provide spatially continuous surfaces. The principle of our method is to fit the DEM surface to the altimeter point clouds in time and space to minimize the DEM errors and use that surface to extrapolate elevations away from altimeter flight lines. This reduces the DEM registration errors and fills the gap between the altimeter paths. We use data from ICESat and ATM as well as SPOT 5 DEMs from 2007 and 2008 and apply them to the outlet glaciers Jakobshavn Isbræ (JI) and Kangerdlugssuaq (KL). We find that the main trunks of JI and KL lowered at rates of 30-35 and 7-20ma -1, respectively. The rates decreased inland. The corresponding errors were 0.3-5.2ma-1 for JI and 0.3-5.1ma-1 for KL, with errors increasing proportionally with distance from the altimeter paths.
AB - We combine the complementary characteristics of laser altimeter data and stereoscopic digital elevation models (DEMs) to construct high-resolution (~100 m) maps of surface elevations and elevation changes over rapidly changing outlet glaciers in Greenland. Measurements from spaceborne and airborne laser altimeters have relatively low errors but are spatially limited to the ground tracks, while DEMs have larger errors but provide spatially continuous surfaces. The principle of our method is to fit the DEM surface to the altimeter point clouds in time and space to minimize the DEM errors and use that surface to extrapolate elevations away from altimeter flight lines. This reduces the DEM registration errors and fills the gap between the altimeter paths. We use data from ICESat and ATM as well as SPOT 5 DEMs from 2007 and 2008 and apply them to the outlet glaciers Jakobshavn Isbræ (JI) and Kangerdlugssuaq (KL). We find that the main trunks of JI and KL lowered at rates of 30-35 and 7-20ma -1, respectively. The rates decreased inland. The corresponding errors were 0.3-5.2ma-1 for JI and 0.3-5.1ma-1 for KL, with errors increasing proportionally with distance from the altimeter paths.
U2 - 10.3189/2013JoG12J114
DO - 10.3189/2013JoG12J114
M3 - Journal article
SN - 0022-1430
VL - 59
SP - 524
EP - 532
JO - Journal of Glaciology
JF - Journal of Glaciology
IS - 215
ER -