Interferometry and finite-element modeling on glacier flow

by Marjorie Schmeltz
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory

3-4pm
Friday November 22, 2002
Refreshments served at 2:45pm
Munk Conference Room
Cecil and Ida M. Green Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics
Scripps Institution of Oceanography
University of California, San Diego
http://mahi.ucsd.edu/seminar/

Abstract

Polar ice sheets are very sensitive to global warming.  Because of their
water content, their response to climate changes would directly affect
sea-level rise and oceanic stratification.  Remote sensing is a great tool
to study these areas and in particular, we use synthetic-aperture radar
(SAR) interferometry to measure physical and dynamical characteristics
of glaciers.  We focus on some areas in Antarctica, where multi-year data
exist, which allow us to monitor grounding-lines advance or retreat and
subtle changes in thickness.  A numerical model of ice-stream/ice-shelf
flow is used on Pine Island Glacier in West Antarctica.  It shows
that changes in the characteristics of the glacier have an important
influence on its overall behavior.  Well constrained with interferometric
observations, the model highlights the fact that ice shelves exert a
significant control on the upstream flow of a glacier.