Mass deficit of glaciers at the northern antarctic peninsula derived from satellite borne SAR and altimeter measurements

Ice velocities mapped by means of TerraSAR-X images in combination with surface elevation profiles measured by the altimeter system of ICESat are used to estimate glacier thinning and the increased calving flux after collapse of northern Larsen Ice Shelf on the Antarctic Peninsula in 1995 and 2002. InSAR analysis of one-day repeat pass SAR images from the ERS-l/ERS-2 tandem mission of 1995 and 1999 are these basis for retrieving the mass fluxes in the pre- collapse state. Applications of the various satellite data are shown for analysing the mass deficit and ice flow properties of Crane Glacier after disintegration of Larsen-B Ice Shelf. The ice flow acceleration shows a similar pattern for all calving glaciers on Larsen_B. The highest acceleration is observed at the front, decreasing upstream. Due to dynamic thinning at the frontal sections all main glaciers are now floating. This condition and the ongoing mass depletion will cause further frontal retreat in the coming years.