Uncertainty of Satellite-Derived Glacier Flow Velocities in a Temperate Alpine Setting (Juneau Icefield, Alaska)
Published version
Published version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Change log
Authors
Abstract
jats:pCross-correlation of image-pairs derived from both optical and synthetic aperture radar satellite imagery is the most common technique for measuring glacier flow velocity and quantifying the dynamics and discharge of glaciers. While the technique has been shown to be effective on polar ice sheets, the accuracy of satellite-derived velocities in temperate alpine regions is poorly constrained. Flow velocities were measured in situ using an RTK-GPS along four profiles on Taku, Matthes, Vaughan-Lewis, and Llewellyn Glaciers in southeast Alaska from 2016 through 2018. These GNSS-measured velocities were correlated against spatially coincident and contemporaneous satellite-derived velocity datasets, including both versions 1 and 2 of ITS_LIVE and velocities determined by offset tracking of SAR data in the Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) and GAMMA (RETREAT dataset). Significant gaps in velocity maps derived from optical imagery (Landsat/Sentinel-2) were observed and determined to be due to low coherence rather than cloud contamination. Cross-correlation of SAR data (Sentinel-1) in SNAP and RETREAT achieved better accuracy compared to optical, although a strong dichotomy in performance was observed. SAR-derived velocities in the accumulation zone and transient snowline area showed overall poor correlation to GNSS-measured velocities that were likely due to significant shifts in the backscatter amplitude of the homogenous, snow-covered surface, although both SAR-derived SNAP and RETREAT velocities were anomalously accurate where GNSS velocities were below 0.10 m/day along the glacier margins. SNAP and RETREAT achieved the most accurate results in the study in the ablation zone of the Llewellyn Glacier where stable backscatter targets on the glacier surface (crevasses, supraglacial debris) facilitated high coherence in the cross-correlation procedure. SAR data are likely the most suitable for the derivation of satellite-derived velocities on temperate alpine glaciers, particularly in slow-moving and ablation zones, but should be subject to scrutiny for fast-flowing glaciers and those with an active hydrologic surface system.</jats:p>
Description
Peer reviewed: True
Funder: Foundation for Glacier & Environmental Research and California State University, Los Angeles
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
2072-4292