Mapping Glacier Forelands Based on UAV BVLOS Operation in Antarctica

The aim of this article is to show geomorphological mapping of remote Antarctic locations using images taken by a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. We mapped landform assemblages developed in forelands of Ecology Glacier (EGF), Sphinx...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Remote Sensing
Main Authors: Dąbski, Maciej, Zmarz, Anna, Rodzewicz, Mirosław, Korczak-Abshire, Małgorzata, Karsznia, Izabela, Lach, Katarzyna, Rachlewicz, Grzegorz, Chwedorzewska, Katarzyna
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:unknown
Published: 2020
Subjects:
Antarctic
King George Island
South Shetland Islands
Sphinx
Ecology Glacier
Baranowski Glacier
Sphinx Glacier
Antarc*
Antarctica
Tidewater
Online Access:https://zenodo.org/record/7809009
https://doi.org/10.3390/rs12040630
Description
Summary:The aim of this article is to show geomorphological mapping of remote Antarctic locations using images taken by a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) during the Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations. We mapped landform assemblages developed in forelands of Ecology Glacier (EGF), Sphinx Glacier (SGF) and Baranowski Glacier (BGF) in Antarctic Specially Protected Area No. 128 (ASPA 128) on King George Island (South Shetland Islands) and inferred about glacial dynamics. The orthophoto and digital elevation model allowed for geomorphological mapping of glacial forelands, including (i) glacial depositional landforms, (ii) fluvial and fluvioglacial landforms, (iii) littoral and lacustrine landforms, (iv) bodies of water, and (v) other. The largest area is occupied by ground moraine and glacial lagoons on EGF and BGF. The most profound features of EGF are the large latero-frontal moraine ridges from Little Ice Age and the first half of the 20th century. Large areas of ground moraine, frequently fluted and marked with large recessional moraine ridges, dominate on SGF. A significant percentage of bedrock outcrops and end moraine complexes characterize BGF. The landform assemblages are typical for discontinuous fast ice flow of tidewater glaciers over a deformable bed. It is inferred that ice flow velocity decreased as a result of recession from the sea coast, resulting in a significant decrease in the length of ice cliffs and decrease in calving rate. Image acquisition during the fixed-wing UAV BVLOS operation proved to be a very robust technique in harsh polar conditions of King George Island.

Similar Items