Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären
Glacier and ice sheet retreat exposes freshly deglaciated terrain which often contains small-scale fragile geomorphological features which could provide insight into subglacial or submarginal processes. Subaerial exposure results in potentially rapid landscape modification or even disappearance of t...
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ftloughboroughun:oai:figshare.com:article/9482501 2023-05-15T16:41:30+02:00 Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären J. Ely C. Graham Iestyn D. Barr B.R. Rea M. Spagnolo Jeffrey Evans 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Using_UAV_acquired_photography_and_structure_from_motion_techniques_for_studying_glacier_landforms_application_to_the_glacial_flutes_at_Isfallsglaci_ren/9482501 unknown 2134/22633 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Using_UAV_acquired_photography_and_structure_from_motion_techniques_for_studying_glacier_landforms_application_to_the_glacial_flutes_at_Isfallsglaci_ren/9482501 CC BY 4.0 CC-BY Geology Earth Sciences not elsewhere classified UAV Structure from motion DEM Glacial flutes Glacial geomorphology Text Journal contribution 2016 ftloughboroughun 2022-01-01T20:09:14Z Glacier and ice sheet retreat exposes freshly deglaciated terrain which often contains small-scale fragile geomorphological features which could provide insight into subglacial or submarginal processes. Subaerial exposure results in potentially rapid landscape modification or even disappearance of the minor-relief landforms as wind, weather, water and vegetation impact on the newly exposed surface. Ongoing retreat of many ice masses means there is a growing opportunity to obtain high resolution geospatial data from glacier forelands to aid in the understanding of recent subglacial and submarginal processes. Here we used an unmanned aerial vehicle to capture close-range aerial photography of the foreland of Isfallsglaciären, a small polythermal glacier situated in Swedish Lapland. An orthophoto and a digital elevation model with ~2cm horizontal resolution were created from this photography using structure from motion software. These geospatial data was used to create a geomorphological map of the foreland, documenting moraines, fans, channels and flutes. The unprecedented resolution of the data enabled us to derive morphological metrics (length, width and relief) of the smallest flutes, which is not possible with other data products normally used for glacial landform metrics mapping. The map and flute metrics compare well with previous studies, highlighting the potential of this technique for rapidly documenting glacier foreland geomorphology at an unprecedented scale and resolution. The vast majority of flutes were found to have an associated stoss-side boulder, with the remainder having a likely explanation for boulder absence (burial or erosion). Furthermore, the size of this boulder was found to strongly correlate with the width and relief of the lee-side flute. This is consistent with the lee-side cavity infill model of flute formation. Whether this model is applicable to all flutes, or multiple mechanisms are required, awaits further study. Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper Ice Sheet Lapland Loughborough University: Figshare |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Loughborough University: Figshare |
op_collection_id |
ftloughboroughun |
language |
unknown |
topic |
Geology Earth Sciences not elsewhere classified UAV Structure from motion DEM Glacial flutes Glacial geomorphology |
spellingShingle |
Geology Earth Sciences not elsewhere classified UAV Structure from motion DEM Glacial flutes Glacial geomorphology J. Ely C. Graham Iestyn D. Barr B.R. Rea M. Spagnolo Jeffrey Evans Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
topic_facet |
Geology Earth Sciences not elsewhere classified UAV Structure from motion DEM Glacial flutes Glacial geomorphology |
description |
Glacier and ice sheet retreat exposes freshly deglaciated terrain which often contains small-scale fragile geomorphological features which could provide insight into subglacial or submarginal processes. Subaerial exposure results in potentially rapid landscape modification or even disappearance of the minor-relief landforms as wind, weather, water and vegetation impact on the newly exposed surface. Ongoing retreat of many ice masses means there is a growing opportunity to obtain high resolution geospatial data from glacier forelands to aid in the understanding of recent subglacial and submarginal processes. Here we used an unmanned aerial vehicle to capture close-range aerial photography of the foreland of Isfallsglaciären, a small polythermal glacier situated in Swedish Lapland. An orthophoto and a digital elevation model with ~2cm horizontal resolution were created from this photography using structure from motion software. These geospatial data was used to create a geomorphological map of the foreland, documenting moraines, fans, channels and flutes. The unprecedented resolution of the data enabled us to derive morphological metrics (length, width and relief) of the smallest flutes, which is not possible with other data products normally used for glacial landform metrics mapping. The map and flute metrics compare well with previous studies, highlighting the potential of this technique for rapidly documenting glacier foreland geomorphology at an unprecedented scale and resolution. The vast majority of flutes were found to have an associated stoss-side boulder, with the remainder having a likely explanation for boulder absence (burial or erosion). Furthermore, the size of this boulder was found to strongly correlate with the width and relief of the lee-side flute. This is consistent with the lee-side cavity infill model of flute formation. Whether this model is applicable to all flutes, or multiple mechanisms are required, awaits further study. |
format |
Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper |
author |
J. Ely C. Graham Iestyn D. Barr B.R. Rea M. Spagnolo Jeffrey Evans |
author_facet |
J. Ely C. Graham Iestyn D. Barr B.R. Rea M. Spagnolo Jeffrey Evans |
author_sort |
J. Ely |
title |
Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
title_short |
Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
title_full |
Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
title_fullStr |
Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
title_full_unstemmed |
Using UAV acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at Isfallsglaciären |
title_sort |
using uav acquired photography and structure from motion techniques for studying glacier landforms: application to the glacial flutes at isfallsglaciären |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Using_UAV_acquired_photography_and_structure_from_motion_techniques_for_studying_glacier_landforms_application_to_the_glacial_flutes_at_Isfallsglaci_ren/9482501 |
genre |
Ice Sheet Lapland |
genre_facet |
Ice Sheet Lapland |
op_relation |
2134/22633 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Using_UAV_acquired_photography_and_structure_from_motion_techniques_for_studying_glacier_landforms_application_to_the_glacial_flutes_at_Isfallsglaci_ren/9482501 |
op_rights |
CC BY 4.0 |
op_rightsnorm |
CC-BY |
_version_ |
1766031943631110144 |