Accurately forecasting the contribution of the Greenland Ice Sheet to global sea-level requires precise observations to constrain present-day processes and incorporate them into models. However, the spatial and temporal resolution of satellite imagery and representativeness of in situ measurements often precludes or obscures our understanding of mass loss processes. This thesis investigates whether imagery from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have the potential to 1) bridge the scale gap between in situ and satellite observations and, 2) resolve processes of mass loss which are beyond the resolution of satellite imagery. It is found that the footprints of ground-based pyranometers are insufficient to capture the spatial heterogeneity of the ice surface as it progressively ablates and darkens. Point-to-pixel albedo comparisons are therefore often invalid, meaning that satellite-derived albedo measurements may be more accurate than previously thought. A 25 km transect intersecting the dark zone reveals that distributed impurities, not cryoconite nor surface water, govern spatial albedo patterns and may have implications for the future expansion of the dark zone. Repeat surveys over Store Glacier show that UAVs can be used to quantify calving rates and surface velocities of tidewater glaciers. The surveys indicate that large calving events cause short-term terminus velocity accelerations and can explain the seasonal pattern of acceleration and retreat. Any process which accelerates calving, such as removal of the ice m Ěelange, therefore has important implications for the glaciers future behaviour.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:752879 |
| Date | January 2018 |
| Creators | Ryan, Jonathan |
| Contributors | Snooke, Neal ; Hubbard, Alun |
| Publisher | Aberystwyth University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://hdl.handle.net/2160/018cf7b7-fc9b-4327-a80e-6ec866193d5f |
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