Monitoring glacier flow in Ny-Ålesund with a high temporal resolution ground-based interferometric-phased array radar

Abstract

Monitoring glacier flow speed and calving rates is of interest for climate research, global sea-level studies and Arctic ship traffic. The research station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, offers a unique location close to multiple glacier fronts. In this study, we explore the possibilities of permanent monitoring of glaciers in the Ny-Ålesund area using a ground-based interferometric radar with a significantly higher temporal resolution than what is achievable from satellites or mechanical scanning ground-based radars. Measurements were made from two different locations—Pynten and the Ny-Ålesund research station—located 5 and 15 km from Kronebreen glacier, respectively. The temporal resolution of the radar is flexible, and in this experiment is limited to five images per minute, providing data with high temporal resolution of glacier flow. We calculated a geo-located two-dimensional flow map of the glacier from the radar data, extracted glacier speed profiles and identified major calving onsets. This type of near real-time data may well be used with machine-learning techniques for more advanced monitoring systems. The radar measurements agree well with previous satellite measurements at lower temporal resolution. The observed mean flow of the Kronebreen glacier front varies across the glacier from around 0.4 m/day at the edges to 3 m/day in the central part. We identify and discuss possible improvements to the radar system and conclude that Ny-Ålesund is a well-suited location for radar monitoring of glacier flow velocities.

Keywords

• terrestrial radar interferometry
• phased array
• svalbard
• remote sensing
• atmosphere
• glacier surface velocity