Measuring glacier surface roughness using plot-scale, close-range digital photogrammetry

[EN] lacier roughness at sub-metre scales is an important control on the ice surface energy balance and has implications for scattering energy measured by remote-sensing instruments. Ice surface roughness is dynamic as a consequence of spatial and temporal variation in ablation. To date, studies rel...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Irvine-Fynn, Tristram D.L., Sanz Ablanedo, Enoc, Rutter, Nick, Smith, Mark W., Chandler, Jim H.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2017
País:España
Institución:Universidad de León
Repositorio:BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
OAI Identifier:oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/23744
Acceso en línea:https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-glaciology/article/measuring-glacier-surface-roughness-using-plotscale-closerange-digital-photogrammetry/33D2760F1B3C702E76D13F1A48E9C59F
https://hdl.handle.net/10612/23744
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Topografía
Applied glaciology
Energy balance
Glaciological instruments and methods
Snow/ice surface processes
Surface melt
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] lacier roughness at sub-metre scales is an important control on the ice surface energy balance and has implications for scattering energy measured by remote-sensing instruments. Ice surface roughness is dynamic as a consequence of spatial and temporal variation in ablation. To date, studies relying on singular and/or spatially discrete two-dimensional profiles to describe ice surface roughness have failed to resolve common patterns or causes of variation in glacier surface morphology. Here we demonstrate the potential of close-range digital photogrammetry as a rapid and cost-effective method to retrieve three-dimensional data detailing plot-scale supraglacial topography. The photogrammetric approach here employed a calibrated, consumer-grade 5 Mpix digital camera repeatedly imaging a plot- scale (�25 m2) ice surface area on Midtre Lovénbreen, Svalbard. From stereo-pair images, digital surface models (DSMs) with sub-centimetre horizontal resolution and 3 mm vertical precision were achieved at plot scales �4 m2. Extraction of roughness metrics including estimates of aerodynamic roughness length (z0) was readily achievable, and temporal variations in the glacier surface topography were captured. Close-range photogrammetry, with appropriate camera calibration and image acquisition geometry, is shown to be a robust method to record sub-centimetre variations in ablating ice topography. While the DSM plot area may be limited through use of stereo-pair images and issues of obliquity, emerging photogrammetric packages are likely to overcome such limitations