HR: 1340h
AN: C23A-0936 [Abstracts]
TI: Satellite Interferometry and Antarctic Ice Thickness Estimation
AU: * Edwards, L A
EM: laura.edwards@bristol.ac.uk
AF: Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences, University
Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
AU: Bamber, J
EM: j.bamber@bristol.ac.uk
AF: Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences, University
Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
AU: Joughin, I
EM: ian@apl.washington.edu
AF: Polar Science Center, University of Washington, Applied Physics Laboratory, 1013 NE 40th
Street, Seattle, WA 98105-6698, United States
AU: Kwok, R
EM: ron.kwok@jpl.nasa.gov
AF: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA 91109, United
States
AU: Vaughan, D
EM: dgv@bas.ac.uk
AF: British Antarctic Survey, High Cross, Madingley Road, Cambridge, CB3 0ET, United
Kingdom
AU: Payne, T
EM: a.j.payne@bristol.ac.uk
AF: Bristol Glaciology Centre, University of Bristol, School of Geographical Sciences, University
Road, Bristol, BS8 1SS, United Kingdom
AB:
In regions of sparse measured ice thickness data the BEDMAP dataset can be vastly inaccurate (up to a factor
three). This study estimates ice thickness using measured velocity data in an attempt to assess their potential for
future use in sparse data regions of BEDMAP. Four methods, all using satellite interferometry ice surface velocity
data and based on conservation of mass, have been employed to produce estimates over approximately 65 %
of the Antarctic ice sheet. Methods range from simple point approximations to two dimensional velocity
divergence methods. Other datasets, such as balance flux and accumulation, were also used in the calculations.
Estimates of ice thickness were compared to the measured ice thickness input data from BEDMAP to assess
their accuracy. Another study was performed to aid in the explanation of the contribution of errors associated with
the balance flux and accumulation datasets. This study involved estimating fluxes into box areas using ice
thickness measurements from the BEDMAP dataset, the surface velocity data and accumulation datasets. Fluxes
were then compared to balance flux estimates calculated for the box areas and also converted to give elevation
change estimates. Estimates of elevation change were compared with elevation change data from satellite radar
altimetry.
The methods produced estimates of varying accuracy and ultimately it is the conclusion of the study that
inaccuracies in current accumulation datasets are too large to allow accurate estimation of ice thickness.
DE: 0700 CRYOSPHERE (4540)
DE: 0730 Ice streams
DE: 0750 Sea ice (4540)
DE: 0758 Remote sensing
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2007 Fall Meeting