Measuring centimeter-scale and smaller surface changes by satellite-based systems on the periglacial terrains and permafrost zones of the northern hemisphere is an ongoing challenge. We are investigating this challenge by using data from the NASA Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (ICESat GLAS) and the JAXA Advanced Land Observing Satellite Phased Array t...

[1] ICESat elevation profiles of tabular iceberg margins and the Ronne Ice Shelf edge reveal shapes indicative of two types of bending forces. Icebergs and shelf fronts in sea-ice-covered areas have broad ( 1000 m wide), rounded, 0.6 m high ‘berms’ and outer edges that slope down several meters toward the water. Bergs in warmer water have 2 to 5m ‘ramparts’ with 1500 m wide edge-parallel ‘moats...

The determination of spatial changes in the arctic regions contributes to the understanding and quantification of spatio-temporal phenomena occurring in the polar environments and ecosystems. This paper presents the applicability of air and spaceborne earth observation data in the estimation of planimetric and elevation changes of the Barnes ice cap, located on Baffin Island, Nunavut in Norther...

Large uncertainties in terrestrial carbon stocks and sequestration predictions result from insufficient regional data characterizing forest structure. This study uses satellite waveform lidar from ICESat to estimate regional forest structure in central New England, where each lidar waveform estimates fine-scale forest heterogeneity. ICESat is a global sampling satellite, but does not provide wa...

Sea-ice freeboard heights for 17 ICESat campaign periods from 2003 to 2009 are derived from ICESat data. Freeboard is combined with snow depth from Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer for Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) data and nominal densities of snow, water and sea ice, to estimate sea-ice thickness. Sea-ice freeboard and thickness distributions show clear seasonal variations that reflec...

Subglacial lakes beneath Antarctica’s fast-moving ice streams are known to undergo 1 km volume changes on annual timescales. Focusing on the MacAyeal Ice Stream (MacIS) lake system, we create a simple model for the response of subglacial water distribution to lake discharge events through assimilation of lake volume changes estimated from Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) laser a...

Global elevations are critical to understanding the Earth's dynamic processes and changing climate. These measurements best acquired from a space-based vantage point most accurate using laser altimetry technology. However, accuracy associated with elevation retrievals relies heavily on ability precisely determine pointing angle of beams satellite illuminated spot surface. The Ice, Cloud, land E...

Fractures are important structural features that affect the stress condition and stability of ice shelves. Previous studies have mainly focused on measurement fractures in horizontal dimension. However, vertical morphology could also be potentially determining their evolution role shelf stability. In this regard, dense high-resolution surface elevation measurements collected by Ice, Cloud, Land...