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Contribution to Book
Digital Terrain Modeling and Glacier Topographic Characterization
Global Land Ice Measurements from Space
  • Duncan J. Quincey, University of Leeds
  • Michael P. Bishop, University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • Andreas Kääb, University of Oslo
  • Etienne Berthier, Laboratoire d’Etude en Ge´ophysique et Oce´anographie Spatiales
  • Boris Flach, University of Zurich Irchel
  • Tobias Bolch, University of Zurich Irchel
  • Manfred Buchroithner, Geo-Und Hydrowissenschaften Fachrichtung
  • Ulrich Kamp, University of Montana, Missoula
  • Siri Jodha Singh Khalsa, University of Colorado
  • Thierry Toutin, Natural Resources Canada
  • Umesh K. Haritashya, University of Dayton
  • Adina Racoviteanu, Laboratoire de Glaciologie et Géophysique del’Environnement
  • John F. Shroder, University of Nebraska at Omaha
  • Bruce H. Raup, University of Colorado
Document Type
Book Chapter
Publication Date
7-1-2014
Abstract

The Earth’s topography results from dynamic interactions involving climate, tectonics, and surface processes. In this chapter our main interest is in describing and illustrating how satellite-derived DEMs (and other DEMs) can be used to derive information about glacier dynamical changes. Along with other data that document changes in glacier area, these approaches can provide useful measurements of, or constraints on glacier volume balance and—with a little more uncertainty related to the density of lost or gained volume—mass balance. Topics covered include: basics on DEM generation using stereo image data (whether airborne or spaceborne), the use of ground control points and available software packages, postprocessing, and DEM dataset fusion; DEM uncertainties and errors, including random errors and biases; various glacier applications including derivation of relevant geomorphometric parameters and modeling of topographic controls on radiation fields; and the important matters of glacier mapping, elevation change, and mass balance assessment. Altimetric data are increasingly important in glacier studies, yet challenges remain with availability of high-quality data, the current lack of standardization for methods for requiring, processing, and representing digital elevation data, and the identification and quantification of DEM error and uncertainty.

Inclusive pages
113-144
ISBN/ISSN
9783540798170
Publisher
Springer
Place of Publication
Berlin, Germany
Peer Reviewed
Yes
Citation Information
Duncan J. Quincey, Michael P. Bishop, Andreas Kääb, Etienne Berthier, et al.. "Digital Terrain Modeling and Glacier Topographic Characterization" Global Land Ice Measurements from Space (2014)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/umesh_haritashya/28/