Glacier Mass Balance
Context
The contribution of glacial ice to sea level rise is difficult to quantify. GIS and remote sensing have can be used to measure changes in ice elevation and surface velocity. Development of novel techniques for measuring vertical ice motion from satellites can be integrated with ice sheet topography to produce a direct measure of glacial mass balance over large areas. New techniques may also be able to account for other factors, such as changes in firn densification.
Approach
A technique known as Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) allows centimetre-scale movements of glacier ice to be measured with a resolution of tens of metres over areas covering hundreds of kilometres. Grants for the Radarsat-2 (Canadian Space Agency) and Cryosat-2 (European Space Agency) are providing data for this research. This work is in collaboration with the Rick Forster at the University of Utah.
Publications
VanLooy, J., Forster, R.R. & A.L.J. FORD. 2006. Accelerating thinning of Kenai Peninsula glaciers, Alaska. Geophysical Research Letters, Vol. 33, No. 21
FORD, A.L.J., Forster, R.R. & R.L. Bruhn. 2003. Ice surface velocity patterns on the Seward Glacier, Alaska/Yukon and their implications for regional tectonics in the St. Elias mountains. Annals of Glaciology, Vol. 36, 21-28
Contact email address
Andrew Ford
| School of Conservation Sciences | |
| Bournemouth University Christchurch House Talbot Campus Poole Dorset BH12 5BB UK |
Email: consci@bournemouth.ac.uk Website: www.bournemouth.ac.uk/conservation Tel: +44 (0) 1202 965178 Fax: +44 (0) 1202 965530 |
