Title :
Improved elevation change measurement of the Greenland ice sheet from satellite radar altimetry
Author :
Davis, Curt H. ; Perez, Cesar
Author_Institution :
Dept. of Electr. & Comput. Eng., Missouri Univ., Columbia, MO, USA
Abstract :
Elevation change measurements from satellite altimetry for the southern Greenland ice sheet (south of 72°N) are re-examined after incorporating technical advancements that significantly improve measurement accuracy. A spatial average of 33,610 crossover points between the Seasat and Geosat altimeters yields a 5.4±0.4 cm/yr growth rate from 1978 to 1988. This is over four times smaller than previously reported results. Large spatial variations in elevation change from -7 to +20 cm/yr are observed over the ice sheet for the first time. Interannual variations in elevation change of 5-10 cm/yr are also observed. Given the large spatial and interannual variations in elevation change, the 5.4±0.4 cm/yr growth rate is too small to determine whether or not the Greenland ice sheet is undergoing a long-term change due to a warmer polar climate
Keywords :
glaciology; topography (Earth); AD 1978 to 1988; Greenland ice sheet; glaciology; growth rate; interannual variation; polar ice sheet; satellite radar altimetry observations; spatial variation; surface elevation change; Altimetry; Cities and towns; Electric variables measurement; Ice; Ocean temperature; Radar measurements; Satellites; Sea level; Sea measurements; Spaceborne radar;
Conference_Titel :
Geoscience and Remote Sensing, 1997. IGARSS '97. Remote Sensing - A Scientific Vision for Sustainable Development., 1997 IEEE International
Print_ISBN :
0-7803-3836-7
DOI :
10.1109/IGARSS.1997.615896
