Satellite remote Sensing of Ice Sheets

Satellite remote sensing is a very efficient way to survey ice sheets and to quantify changes of ice sheets, from retreat of glaciers, acceleration to volume loss of ice sheets. This course gives an introduction into the different satellite remote sensing fields and the methods that are applied in glaciology.

After successful completion of the course, students will have acquired …
a) basic knowledge
- in optical remote sensing and its application to detect calving front positions and supraglacial lakes
- in radar remote sensing, comprising offset tracking, SAR interferometry and polarimetry and its applications to acceleration of glaciers, grounding line detection and process studies
- in satellite altimetry over ice sheets, including laser and radar altimetry for quantifying volume loss of Greenland and Antarctica

b) experience in
- selecting the adequate remote sensing method for a given scientific question
- interpretation of satellite remote sensing data

Written exam, jointly with the Theoretical Glaciology course (module exam).

Klausur

Course manuscript, further literature is given during the lecture.

1. SWS: Introduction
2. SWS: Optical Satellite Remote Sensing – basics
3. SWS: Optical Satellite Remote Sensing – glaciological
4. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – basics
5. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – applications
6. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – offset tracking basics
7. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – offset tracking applications
8. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – SAR Interferometry basics
9. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – SAR Interferometry applications
10. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – Polarimetry basics
11. SWS: Radar Satellite Remote Sensing – Polarimetry applications
12. SWS: Altimetry – basics
13. SWS: Altimetry – quantifying volume loss of ice sheets
14. SWS: exam