Assessment of using ASTER-derived DTM for glaciological applications in the Central Andes, Mt. Aconcagua, Argentina

Monitoring glaciers has recently gained more attention, as efforts to better model climate changes are intensifying worldwide. This paper presents a feasibility study on the implementation and performance assessment of digital terrain models (DTMs), derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autor: Lenzano, María Gabriela
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2013
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/2664
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/2664
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Aster
Dtm
Glacier Volume Change
Mt. Aconcagua
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2.11
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/2
Descripción
Sumario:Monitoring glaciers has recently gained more attention, as efforts to better model climate changes are intensifying worldwide. This paper presents a feasibility study on the implementation and performance assessment of digital terrain models (DTMs), derived from Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) optical imagery, in order to determine the altimetric and volumetric changes on Las Vacas and Horcones Superior glaciers, located at 32° 41’ S and 69° 57’ W in the Mt. Aconcagua area, Mendoza, Argentina. The DTMs were created from ASTER images from 2001 and 2008 in a standard satellite digital photogrammetry environment. To assess the absolute vertical accuracy of the DTMs, GPS data was used, and the results indicated a 24 ± 10 m RMSEz, in topographically complex scenarios and with slopes greater than 30°. To obtain a robust matching as well as to minimize the residuals between DTMs, a 3D conformal transformation was applied to co-register them. To calculate the differences between DTMs, the approach of computing the differences along surface normal vectors was proposed. Next, the changes happened to the glaciers were identified, resulting in −3.15 m/a and −0.92 m/a for Las Vacas and the Horcones Superior, respectively. Finally, the results were tested using the 3D control deformation in order to determine the degree of uncertainty in the estimation of changes in the thickness and volume of glaciers.