Elevation Changes in Greenland over Two Decades from Cross-Platform LIDAR Analysis

NASA’s Airborne Topographic Mapper (ATM) and the Land, Vegetation, and Ice Sensor (LVIS) are two airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) systems that retrieve information about surface elevation and roughness. Both altimeters have been flown in Greenland to measure changes in ice sheet surface elevation through time. ATM surveys in the region have been conducted nearly every year since 1993, with extended, annual coverage by ATM and LVIS since 2009 during Operation IceBridge (OIB). These recent surveys provided repeat coverage of many older, previously unrepeated, ATM flight lines. Combined, these datasets offer a unique multi-decadal record of ice sheet change. The different beam trajectory technologies on each system require a specific methodology to compare coincident data between the systems. Here, a general slope-fit regression analysis is applied to difference overlapping ATM and LVIS data. This method is validated using overlapping field data over ice-free terrain. Examination is made of the spatial and temporal distribution of ice sheet surface elevation changes since 1993 revealed by cross-platform analysis.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Geodetic Science and Surveying

Grantor dc:publisher

The Ohio State University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Wheelock-Davis, Emily J.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Howat, Ian

• Remote Sensing
• Earth
• Climate Change
• Environmental Science
• Geography
• Physical Geography
• Greenland
• lidar
• laser altimeter
• ATM
• LVIS
• Operation IceBridge
• elevation change
• ice sheets

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1366223499

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:osu1366223499