Measuring glacier surface roughness using plot-scale, close-range digital photogrammetry

Tristram Irvine-Fynn, Enoc Sanz-Ablanedo, Nick Rutter, Mark Smith, Jim Chandler

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Glacier roughness at sub-metre scales is an important control on the ice surface energy balance and has implications for scattering energy measured by remote-sensing instruments. Ice surface roughness is dynamic as a consequence of spatial and temporal variation in ablation. To date, studies relying on singular and/or spatially discrete two-dimensional profiles to describe ice surface roughness have failed to resolve common patterns or causes of variation in glacier surface morphology. Here we demonstrate the potential of close-range digital photogrammetry as a rapid and cost-effective method to retrieve three-dimensional data detailing plot-scale supraglacial topography. The photogrammetric approach here employed a calibrated, consumer-grade 5 Mpix digital camera repeatedly imaging a plotscale (≤25m2) ice surface area on Midtre Lovénbreen, Svalbard. From stereo-pair images, digital surface models (DSMs) with sub-centimetre horizontal resolution and 3mm vertical precision were achieved at plot scales ≤4m2. Extraction of roughness metrics including estimates of aerodynamic roughness length (z0) was readily achievable, and temporal variations in the glacier surface topography were captured. Close-range photogrammetry, with appropriate camera calibration and image acquisition geometry, is shown to be a robust method to record sub-centimetre variations in ablating ice topography. While the DSM plot area may be limited through use of stereo-pair images and issues of obliquity, emerging photogrammetric packages are likely to overcome such limitations.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)957-969
JournalJournal of Glaciology
Volume60
Issue number223
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2014

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