Tracking Glaciers Ice Shelf Movement with Remote Sensing

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Tracking Glaciers / Ice Shelf Movementwith
Remote Sensing

• Matt Hudson
• ASCI 511, Winter 2007
• Dr. Goedecke
• Case Study 1

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Overview

• Background
• Study of Larsen B Ice Shelf
• Glacier Movement
• Environmental Effects

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Background

• Climate Change
• Temperature Change
• Use of satellites to monitor heat-sensitive
  objects
• Melting Ice Shelves
• Brakes for glaciers

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Larsen B Ice Shelf

• Located on Antarctic Peninsula
• Disintegrated in 35 Days between Jan 31-Mar 7
  2002
• 1,255 square miles of ice broke away

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Larsen B Ice Shelf Aug 8, 2000 RADARSAT
Data/Landsat 7/Landsat Panchromatic Band
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1996
2003
Images from ESAs ERS-1 / CSAs Radarsat-1
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Glacier Movement

• Glacier Movement up to 8X Quicker
• NASA
• National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC)
• Used Landsat 7 Images / found similar results
• Tracked holes/splits in surface of the glacier
• Dropped in Elevation

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Satellite Image from a MODIS sensor on the Terra
Spacecraft Landsat 7 Image Red Dots ICESat
Blue Lines (Glacier Elevations)
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Environmental Effects

• Changes in Sea Level
• Decrease in Albedo
• Warmer Temperatures
• Differences of effects
• Similar studies being conducted in Greenland

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References

• http//www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/earthandsun/gl
  acier_breakup.html
• http//www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news-print.cfm?releas
  e2006-023