Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf
Reliable in situ surface mass balance (SMB) estimates in polar regions are scarce due to limited spatial and temporal data availability. This study aims at deriving automated and continuous specific SMB time series for fast-moving parts of ice sheets and shelves (flow velocity > 10 m a −1 ) by de...
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ftcopernicus:oai:publications.copernicus.org:tc112192 2023-12-24T10:09:26+01:00 Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf Steiner, Ladina Schmithüsen, Holger Wickert, Jens Eisen, Olaf 2023-11-22 application/pdf https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4903/2023/ eng eng doi:10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4903/2023/ eISSN: 1994-0424 Text 2023 ftcopernicus https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 2023-11-27T17:24:17Z Reliable in situ surface mass balance (SMB) estimates in polar regions are scarce due to limited spatial and temporal data availability. This study aims at deriving automated and continuous specific SMB time series for fast-moving parts of ice sheets and shelves (flow velocity > 10 m a −1 ) by developing a combined global navigation satellite system (GNSS) reflectometry and refractometry (GNSS-RR) method. In situ snow density, snow water equivalent (SWE), and snow deposition or erosion are estimated simultaneously as an average over an area of several square meters and independently on weather conditions. The combined GNSS-RR method is validated and investigated regarding its applicability to a moving, high-latitude ice shelf. A combined GNSS-RR system was therefore installed in November 2021 on the Ekström ice shelf (flow velocity ≈ 150 m a −1 ) in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The reflected and refracted GNSS observations from the site are post-processed to obtain snow accumulation (deposition and erosion), SWE, and snow density estimates with a 15 min temporal resolution. The results of the first 16 months of data show a high level of agreement with manual and automated reference observations from the same site. Snow accumulation, SWE, and density are derived with uncertainties of around 9 cm, 40 kg m −2 a −1 , and 72 kg m −3 , respectively. This pilot study forms the basis for extending observational networks with GNSS-RR capabilities, particularly in polar regions. Regional climate models, local snow modeling, and extensive remote sensing data products will profit from calibration and validation based on such in situ time series, especially if many such sensors will be deployed over larger regional scales. Text Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Ice Shelf Copernicus Publications: E-Journals Antarctic Dronning Maud Land Ekström Ice Shelf ENVELOPE(-8.000,-8.000,-71.000,-71.000) The Cryosphere 17 11 4903 4916 |
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Open Polar |
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Copernicus Publications: E-Journals |
op_collection_id |
ftcopernicus |
language |
English |
description |
Reliable in situ surface mass balance (SMB) estimates in polar regions are scarce due to limited spatial and temporal data availability. This study aims at deriving automated and continuous specific SMB time series for fast-moving parts of ice sheets and shelves (flow velocity > 10 m a −1 ) by developing a combined global navigation satellite system (GNSS) reflectometry and refractometry (GNSS-RR) method. In situ snow density, snow water equivalent (SWE), and snow deposition or erosion are estimated simultaneously as an average over an area of several square meters and independently on weather conditions. The combined GNSS-RR method is validated and investigated regarding its applicability to a moving, high-latitude ice shelf. A combined GNSS-RR system was therefore installed in November 2021 on the Ekström ice shelf (flow velocity ≈ 150 m a −1 ) in Dronning Maud Land, Antarctica. The reflected and refracted GNSS observations from the site are post-processed to obtain snow accumulation (deposition and erosion), SWE, and snow density estimates with a 15 min temporal resolution. The results of the first 16 months of data show a high level of agreement with manual and automated reference observations from the same site. Snow accumulation, SWE, and density are derived with uncertainties of around 9 cm, 40 kg m −2 a −1 , and 72 kg m −3 , respectively. This pilot study forms the basis for extending observational networks with GNSS-RR capabilities, particularly in polar regions. Regional climate models, local snow modeling, and extensive remote sensing data products will profit from calibration and validation based on such in situ time series, especially if many such sensors will be deployed over larger regional scales. |
format |
Text |
author |
Steiner, Ladina Schmithüsen, Holger Wickert, Jens Eisen, Olaf |
spellingShingle |
Steiner, Ladina Schmithüsen, Holger Wickert, Jens Eisen, Olaf Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
author_facet |
Steiner, Ladina Schmithüsen, Holger Wickert, Jens Eisen, Olaf |
author_sort |
Steiner, Ladina |
title |
Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
title_short |
Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
title_full |
Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
title_fullStr |
Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
title_full_unstemmed |
Combined GNSS reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an Antarctic ice shelf |
title_sort |
combined gnss reflectometry–refractometry for automated and continuous in situ surface mass balance estimation on an antarctic ice shelf |
publishDate |
2023 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4903/2023/ |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-8.000,-8.000,-71.000,-71.000) |
geographic |
Antarctic Dronning Maud Land Ekström Ice Shelf |
geographic_facet |
Antarctic Dronning Maud Land Ekström Ice Shelf |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Ice Shelf |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctic Antarctica Dronning Maud Land Ice Shelf |
op_source |
eISSN: 1994-0424 |
op_relation |
doi:10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 https://tc.copernicus.org/articles/17/4903/2023/ |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-17-4903-2023 |
container_title |
The Cryosphere |
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17 |
container_issue |
11 |
container_start_page |
4903 |
op_container_end_page |
4916 |
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1786208205668352000 |