{"id":{"repo_id":"cambridge","oai_identifier":"oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/311597"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/cambridge/oai:www.repository.cam.ac.uk:1810/311597","repository":{"repo_id":"cambridge","name":"Cambridge University","base_url":"https://api.repository.cam.ac.uk/server/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"UAV-based investigations into the hydrology and dynamics of the Greenland Ice Sheet","abstract":"Variation in the rate of meltwater input into the subglacial system of the Greenland Ice Sheet can force dynamic responses on a range of scales from hourly to interannual. Observations of the ice sheet dynamic response are commonly made either through ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements, which can provide continuous and accurate point measurements, or through satellite remote sensing, which can provide regional-scale observations but at coarse temporal resolutions. This thesis investigates the potential of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to provide intermediate-level observations of the interactions between ice sheet hydrology and dynamics at a fast-flowing, marine terminating glacier in West Greenland. I first describe the development of a low- cost UAV suitable for deriving ice sheet velocity fields from Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. In order to geolocate products without using ground control, image locations are determined directly using an on-board L1 GNSS receiver. I validate this method, showing that accuracies are sufficient for producing velocity fields in the ice sheet interior. Next, this method is used, alongside in-situ geophysical observations, to characterise the causes and dynamic influence of a rapid supraglacial lake drainage. I show that rapid drainage can induce a significant dynamic response up to 4 km away from the lake itself, and that fracture history can exert controls on interannual lake drainage behaviour. Finally, I upscale UAV ob- servations using satellite datasets over a ~3,000 km² area, exploring dynamic controls on crevasse hydrology. I find that in compressive mean stress compressive regimes, crevasses are more likely to display ponding and rapid hydrofracture than in extensional regimes, where continuous slow drainage is typical. Continued high-resolution observations are necessary to further identify key controls on the hydrological influences of Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics.","abstract_html":"Variation in the rate of meltwater input into the subglacial system of the Greenland Ice Sheet can force dynamic responses on a range of scales from hourly to interannual. Observations of the ice sheet dynamic response are commonly made either through ground-based Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) measurements, which can provide continuous and accurate point measurements, or through satellite remote sensing, which can provide regional-scale observations but at coarse temporal resolutions. This thesis investigates the potential of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to provide intermediate-level observations of the interactions between ice sheet hydrology and dynamics at a fast-flowing, marine terminating glacier in West Greenland. I first describe the development of a low- cost UAV suitable for deriving ice sheet velocity fields from Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. In order to geolocate products without using ground control, image locations are determined directly using an on-board L1 GNSS receiver. I validate this method, showing that accuracies are sufficient for producing velocity fields in the ice sheet interior. Next, this method is used, alongside in-situ geophysical observations, to characterise the causes and dynamic influence of a rapid supraglacial lake drainage. I show that rapid drainage can induce a significant dynamic response up to 4 km away from the lake itself, and that fracture history can exert controls on interannual lake drainage behaviour. Finally, I upscale UAV ob- servations using satellite datasets over a ~3,000 km² area, exploring dynamic controls on crevasse hydrology. I find that in compressive mean stress compressive regimes, crevasses are more likely to display ponding and rapid hydrofracture than in extensional regimes, where continuous slow drainage is typical. Continued high-resolution observations are necessary to further identify key controls on the hydrological influences of Greenland Ice Sheet dynamics.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Chudley, Thomas"],"institution":"University of Cambridge","degree_name":"Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)","degree_level":"Doctoral","degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Christoffersen, Poul"],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2020,"date_issued":"2020-09-30","date_published":"2020-09-30","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:24:07Z","subjects":["glaciology","ice sheet","Greenland Ice Sheet","Greenland","Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle","UAV","remote sensing","feature tracking","GNSS","GPS","photogrammetry","supraglacial hydrology","supraglacial lake drainage","crevasses","crevasse hydrology","ice dynamics","hydrofracture","Store Glacier","Sermeq Kujalleq"],"languages":["eng"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["https://apollo8-f-pro.lib.cam.ac.uk/bitstreams/fd135b53-b860-429d-a7b3-b563598ad96f/download","https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:creator.authoridentifier","label":"Author Identifier","values":["0000000185471132"],"render_values":[{"text":"0000-0001-8547-1132","href":"https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8547-1132","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.17863/CAM.58689","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.doi"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Christoffersen, Poul"]},{"key":"dc:contributor.sponsor","label":"Sponsor","values":["Funded by a Natural Environment Research Council studentship awarded through the Cambridge Earth System Science Doctoral Training Partnership (Grant NE/L002507/1). 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Next, this method is used, alongside in-situ geophysical observations, to characterise the causes and dynamic influence of a rapid supraglacial lake drainage. I show that rapid drainage can induce a significant dynamic response up to 4 km away from the lake itself, and that fracture history can exert controls on interannual lake drainage behaviour. Finally, I upscale UAV ob- servations using satellite datasets over a ~3,000 km² area, exploring dynamic controls on crevasse hydrology. I find that in compressive mean stress compressive regimes, crevasses are more likely to display ponding and rapid hydrofracture than in extensional regimes, where continuous slow drainage is typical. 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This thesis investigates the potential of Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) to provide intermediate-level observations of the interactions between ice sheet hydrology and dynamics at a fast-flowing, marine terminating glacier in West Greenland. I first describe the development of a low- cost UAV suitable for deriving ice sheet velocity fields from Structure-from-Motion photogrammetry. In order to geolocate products without using ground control, image locations are determined directly using an on-board L1 GNSS receiver. I validate this method, showing that accuracies are sufficient for producing velocity fields in the ice sheet interior. Next, this method is used, alongside in-situ geophysical observations, to characterise the causes and dynamic influence of a rapid supraglacial lake drainage. I show that rapid drainage can induce a significant dynamic response up to 4 km away from the lake itself, and that fracture history can exert controls on interannual lake drainage behaviour. 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