Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles
Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are frequently used in glaciological applications, among other things, for photogrammetric assessments of calving dynamics at glacier termini. However, UAVs are often limited by battery endurance and weight constraints on the scientific payload that can be added. At S...
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Cambridge University Press
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000340/type/journal_article |
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| author | Florian Vacek Clemens Deutsch Jakob Kuttenkeuler Nina Kirchner |
| author_facet | Florian Vacek Clemens Deutsch Jakob Kuttenkeuler Nina Kirchner |
| author_sort | Florian Vacek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are frequently used in glaciological applications, among other things, for photogrammetric assessments of calving dynamics at glacier termini. However, UAVs are often limited by battery endurance and weight constraints on the scientific payload that can be added. At Sálajiegna, the largest freshwater calving glacier in Sweden, we explored the combined use of a versatile maritime robot (uncrewed surface vehicle, USV) and a UAV to characterise Sálajiegna's short-term and seasonal calving front dynamics and mass loss. For this, a photogrammetric payload suite was integrated into the USV. Consecutive USV surveys of Sálajiegna's front, followed by point cloud based calving detection and surface-reconstruction based volume quantification, allowed for a detailed description of calving-induced terminus changes and is hence suggested as a viable alternative to the differencing of digital elevation models. By combining USV and UAV measurements, we identify sectors of high and low calving activity, a calving front retreat of up to 56 m and a thinning rate in the terminus region of 5.4 cm d−1 during the summer of 2022. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-f1671b2f3253444eacda0e80fad42c36 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj-art-f1671b2f3253444eacda0e80fad42c362025-01-16T21:50:28ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522024-01-017010.1017/jog.2024.34Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehiclesFlorian Vacek0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0826-9613Clemens Deutsch1Jakob Kuttenkeuler2Nina Kirchner3Department of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Physical Geography, Utrecht University, Utrecht, NetherlandsDepartment of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Engineering Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden Bolin Centre for Climate Research, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenDepartment of Physical Geography, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden Tarfala Research Station, Stockholm University, Stockholm, SwedenUncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) are frequently used in glaciological applications, among other things, for photogrammetric assessments of calving dynamics at glacier termini. However, UAVs are often limited by battery endurance and weight constraints on the scientific payload that can be added. At Sálajiegna, the largest freshwater calving glacier in Sweden, we explored the combined use of a versatile maritime robot (uncrewed surface vehicle, USV) and a UAV to characterise Sálajiegna's short-term and seasonal calving front dynamics and mass loss. For this, a photogrammetric payload suite was integrated into the USV. Consecutive USV surveys of Sálajiegna's front, followed by point cloud based calving detection and surface-reconstruction based volume quantification, allowed for a detailed description of calving-induced terminus changes and is hence suggested as a viable alternative to the differencing of digital elevation models. By combining USV and UAV measurements, we identify sectors of high and low calving activity, a calving front retreat of up to 56 m and a thinning rate in the terminus region of 5.4 cm d−1 during the summer of 2022.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000340/type/journal_articleGlacier calvingice dynamicsice velocitylake-terminating glacier |
| spellingShingle | Florian Vacek Clemens Deutsch Jakob Kuttenkeuler Nina Kirchner Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles Journal of Glaciology Glacier calving ice dynamics ice velocity lake-terminating glacier |
| title | Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| title_full | Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| title_fullStr | Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| title_full_unstemmed | Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| title_short | Short-term calving front dynamics and mass loss at Sálajiegna glacier, northern Sweden, assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| title_sort | short term calving front dynamics and mass loss at salajiegna glacier northern sweden assessed by uncrewed surface and aerial vehicles |
| topic | Glacier calving ice dynamics ice velocity lake-terminating glacier |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143024000340/type/journal_article |
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