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).

written exam

Course manuscript, further literature is given during the lecture.

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