Airborne Laser Altimetry for Thwaites Glacier Surface Evolution

35,000 line-kilometers of airborne laser altimetry data sampled at 20-meter intervals track the surface of Thwaites Glacier in West Antarctica. Collected by the AMD/USAPDC, this dataset provides a high-precision temporal reference from 2005 for monitoring ice stream evolution and constructing Digital Elevation Models. The primary data subset achieves an internal error of ±8 cm, with a full dataset error of ±20 cm.

Use Cases

• Calibrate satellite altimetry data like the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) by analyzing the reported +20 cm bias over flat interior regions.
• Construct future high-resolution Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) using the dense 20-meter along-track sampling of surface elevation.
• Analyze surface evolution over time by using this dataset as a 2005 temporal reference for change detection studies.
• Validate ice flow and subsidence models by comparing altimetry line data against other geophysical measurements for the glacier catchment and main trunk.

Strengths

• 35,000 line-kilometers of spatial coverage provides dense measurement tracks.
• Primary data subset has high precision with an internal error of ±8 cm.
• 20-meter along-track sampling enables detailed surface profile analysis.

Limitations

• Data is from a single year (2005), limiting analysis of recent changes.
• Potential bias of +20 cm when compared to GLAS data indicates need for cross-calibration.
• Unknown row count and sample size for statistical robustness.

Provenance

Source

AMD_USAPDC via NASA EarthData.

Collection Method

Airborne laser altimetry collected over the glacier catchment and main trunk.

Time Range

2005 (single reference year).

Freshness

null

Geography

Thwaites Glacier catchment and main trunk, West Antarctica.