Investigating Automatic Detection Methods for Retrogressive Thaw Slumps with TanDEM-X-Derived Digital Elevation Models ...

• Main Authors: Maier, Kathrin, Bernhard, Philipp, Hajnsek, Irena
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: ETH Zurich 2023
• Subjects: Arctic; Ice; permafrost; Thermokarst
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000655440; http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11850/655440

Permafrost underlies approximately 15 % of the landmass in the Northern Hemisphere and is becoming more susceptible to rapid thawing as the climate continues to warm (Obu et al. 2019). When ice-rich permafrost thaws it can alter the surface characteristics of a landscape which is commonly referred to as thermokarst. Retrogressive Thaw Slumps (RTS) are emerging as one of the most dynamic types of thermokarst, varying strongly in shape and thawing behavior. The prevalence and distribution of RTSs on a pan-Arctic scale are not well understood and so is its potential contribution in the Arctic carbon-climate feedback (Kokelj et al. 2013). High-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) are a valuable tool for monitoring surface characteristics of thermokarst features and track changes over time, especially being able to directly measure volumetric changes in RTS development essential for deriving carbon mobilisation rates which in turn has a great potential to improve our understanding of the impact of rapid ...