Airborne LASER (LiDAR) Terrain Mapping of Glacier Cover

 

Researchers Mike Demuth (GSC/TSD) and Al Pietroniro (DOE/NWRI), are examining the use of airborne and satellite surveys to the study of smaller glaciers and ice caps in the Canadian Rocky Mountains for measuring glacier-climate parameters. In collaboration with private sector partners Optech Inc. and Maltais Geomatics ) the team recently completed the first Airborne LASER Terrain Mapping (ALTM) survey of Rocky Mountain glaciers. Flown at a height of 4000 m asl, the survey provides vertical resolution of 15 cm allowing unprecedented ability for remote surveying of changes in glacier elevation. These techniques will be incorporated as part of Canada's long-term contribution to the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS), and contribute to ongoing studies of the impacts of climate change on the snow and ice-related water resources of western Canada. The work is supported and funded through the National Glaciology Program - an inter-departmental initiative of Natural Resources Canada and Environment Canada, and the Climate Change Action Fund - Prairie Adaptation Research Cooperative.

ALTM Glacier-climate Science Needs

• Accurate Digital Elevation Models for geometric and radiometric correction of Synthetic Aperture RADAR imagery.
• Seasonal mass balance studies in relation to climate change detection and river flow forecasting in headwater regions.
• Pluri-annual volume change studies in relation to climate change detection and water resource management.

The new CS Drill was tested on Devon Ice Cap during the spring 2000 field season. See Ice Drill for a poster style presentation of the operation.

See also: Mount Logan Ice-Coring Program.