This 2004 workshop (Days Hotel, Herndon, VA) focused on a multidisciplinary, long-range aircraft for Antarctic research. Scientists from aerophysics, glaciology, atmospheric science, and oceanography explored science opportunities and instrumentation needs for such a platform. The NSF/NCAR C130Q served as a model for payload capacity, with discussions on modifying an existing LC-130 and potential international collaboration. This workshop aimed to develop a plan for this specialized aircraft to address unique Antarctic research challenges.

This study examines the current surface conditions of a study area near Toolik Lake, Alaska, and seeks to differentiate the surficial geology and geomorphology, largely influenced by glacial activity, as well as the ecology of the region, in order to characterize the current state of the permafrost table. Using an object-oriented multi-scale segmentation approach, this study will utilize Definiens Professional, a remote sensing application that, among other things, allows for rapid reproduction of GIS-ready information (Definiens 2006), fuzzy analysis of data and integration of multiple data types within the same project. Working in conjunction with ENVI, it will allow for the construction of a model based on spectral properties of the surface materials and hopefully yield more accurate results than a pixel-based classification solely based on a training set.

Data for this thesis project will include Hyperion, EO-1, and Landsat images; as well as, various vector datasets including elevation and land cover.

DOWNLOADS

• Spectral radiometer data for sites near Toolik and Galbraith Lakes, Alaska – Launch
• Poster Presented (low-resolution version) during the 38^th annual Arctic Workshop in Boulder, CO
  • Poster – Download

Useful Links

• Arctic Long-Term Ecological Research Site – Launch
• Toolik Lake Field Station GIS – Launch
• National Snow and Ice Data Center – Launch

• Mapping subglacial geology by using airborne geophysical measurements
• Investigating the effect of subglacial geology on ice dynamics

Projects

• Collaborative research: Science opportunities for a multidisciplinary long-range aircraft for Antarctic research. B. Csatho and D. Bromwich, NSF, 2004 – 2005.
• Airborne geophysics and remote sensing applied to study Greenland ice dynamics. B. Csatho, NASA, 2001.
• Architecture and evolution of a rift accommodation zone: remote sensing of the Transantarctic Mountains. T. Wilson, B. Csatho, NSF, 1997 – 2001.

Past Meetings

• Workshop on Science Opportunities for a Multidisciplinary Long-Range Aircraft Antarctic Research
  • Workshop homepage
  • Workshop report

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Leftwich, T. E., C. J. van der Veen, R. R. von Frese, B. Csatho, 2006. Subglacial topographic effects on the geothermal heat flux of the Greenland ice sheet, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall meeting. Suppl., Abstract C41A-0319.
• Csatho, B., C.J. van der Veen, R. von Frese, H. Rae Kim, J. Kiss, T. Leftwich and A. Braun, 2006. Subglacial control on glacier flow in northern Greenland. International Glaciological Society Symposium on Earth and Planetary Ice-Volcano Interactions, 19-23 June 2006, Reykjavik, Iceland. (pdf)
• Braun, A., H-R. Kim, B. Csatho, R.R.B. von Frese, in review. Gravity-inferred crustal thickness of Greenland. Earth and Planetary Science Letters
• Studinger, M., D. Bromwich, B. Csatho, R. Muench, T, Parish and J. Stith, 2005. Science opportunities for a long-range Antarctic Research Aircraft (LARA). EOS, 86(4), 39-40.

Utilizing historical imagery to extend the time line as far as possible

Projects

• Reconstruction the history of Greenland outlet glaciers since the Little Ice Age. B. Csatho, T. Schenk and C.J. van der Veen, NASA, 2006 – 2007.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Yoon, T., T. Schenk, B. Csatho, 2006. Long-term change detection from historical photography, Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract IN41A-0880. (pdf)
• Thomas, R. H., W. Abdalati, T. Akins, B. Csatho, E. Frederick, P. Gogineni, W. Krabill, S. Manizade, and E. Rignot, 2000. Substantial thinning of a major east Greenland outlet glacier. Geophysical Research Letters, 27(9), 1291-1294.
• Csatho, B. M., J. F. Bolzan, C. van der Veen, T. F. Schenk, and D-C. Lee, 1999. Surface velocities of a Greenland outlet glacier from high-resolution visible satellite imagery. Polar Geography, 23, 71-82. (pdf)

International Initiatives And Related Meetings

• IPY proposal #406 ‘Identification and Dissemination of Historical Data and Derived Products of the Polar Regions’ (T. Schenk and B. Csatho), part of IPY Project #49 “International Polar Year (IPY) Data and Information Service (DIS) for Distributed Data Management”.
• Planned special session at IPY GeoNorth 2007 Conference
• ISPRS Working Group VIII/8 on Polar and Alpine Research

Investigating mass balance changes of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets by using remote sensing and geodetic measurements.

Projects

• Collaborative research: IPY: POLENET/Greenland: Using bedrock geodesy to constrain past and present day changes in Greenland’s ice mass. Michael Bevis, Bea Csatho, NSF-OPP, 2007 – 2009.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Spikes, V. B., B. M. Csatho G. S. Hamilton and I. M. Whillans, 2003, Thickness changes on Whillans Ice Stream and Ice Stream C, West Antarctica, derived from laser altimetry measurements. Journal of Glaciology, 49(165), 223-230.
• Spikes, V. B., B. Csatho, and I. Whillans, 2003 Laser profiling over Antarctic ice streams: methods and accuracy. Journal of Glaciology, 49(165), 315-322.
• Filin, S., and B. Csatho, 2002. Improvement of elevation accuracy for mass balance monitoring using in-flight laser calibration. Annals of Glaciology, 34, 330-334.
• Thomas, R., B. Csatho, C. Davis, C. Kim, W. Krabill, S Manizade, J. McConnell, and J. Sonntag, 2001. Mass balance of higher-elevation parts of the Greenland ice sheet. J. Geophys. Res., 106(D24), 33,707-33,716 (2001JD900033).
• Thomas, R., T. Akins, B. Csatho, M. Fahnestock, P. Gogineni, C. Kim, and J. Sonntag, 2000. Mass balance of the Greenland ice sheet at high elevations. Science, 289(5478), 426-428.

• Satellite laser altimetry for mapping surface topography and monitoring mass balance changes of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets
• Calibration and validation of ICESat data products

Projects

• Long-term mass balance of the Pacific ocean sector of Antarctica based on multisensor fusion. B. Csatho, T. Schenk and C. J. van der Veen, NASA, 2006 – 2009.
• Research Support for R. H. Thomas Science Team member for the Geosciences Laser Altimeter System (GLAS). B. Csatho and D. Bromwich. NASA, 1998 – 2005.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Csatho, B., Y. Ahn, T. Yoon, C.J. van der Veen, S. B. Spikes, G. Hamilton, D. Morse, and S. Vogel, 2005. ICESat measurements reveal complex patterns of thickness changes on Siple Coast ice streams, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 32, L23S04, doi:1029/2005GL024289.
• Schenk, T., B. Csatho, C.J. van der Veen, Y. Ahn and T. Yoon, 2005. Registering imagery to ICESat data for monitoring elevation changes on Byrd Glacier, Antarctica. Geophysical Research Letters, 32, L23S05, doi:10.1029/2005GL024328.
• Csatho, B. M., editor, 1999. Proceedings of Joint workshop of ISPRS WG III/5 and III/2 on Mapping surface structure and topography by airborne and spaceborne lasers, International Archives of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, 32(3 W14), 214 pages.

Mapping and monitoring glacial geomorphology, permafrost and soil distribution from remotely sensed data.

Projects

• Reconstruction of the history of Greenland outlet glaciers since the Little Ice Age. B. Csatho, T. Schenk and C.J. van der Veen, NASA, 2006 – 2007.
• Pilot study for using ASTER images to map glacial geomorphology. C.J. van der Veen, B. Csatho, NASA, 2004 – 2005.
• Investigating long-term behavior of outlet glaciers in Greenland. B. Csatho, T. Schenk and C. J. van der Veen, NASA, 2003 – 2004.

Selected Publications and Presentations

• Csatho, B.M., C. Ping, L.R. Everett, J.M. Kimble, G. Michaelson and C. Tremper, 2006. Characterizing frozen ground with multisensor remote sensing. Eos Trans. AGU, 87(52), Fall Meet. Suppl., Abstract C13A-01. (pdf)
• van der Veen, C.J. and B. Csatho, 2005. Spectral characteristics of Greenland lichens. Geographie et Physique Quaternaire, 59(1), 63-73.
• Csatho, B., C.J. van der Veen and C. Tremper, 2005. Trimline mapping from multispectral Landsat ETM+ imagery. Geographie et Physique Quaternaire, 59(1), 49-62.
• Csatho, B., T. Schenk, W. Krabill, T. Wilson, W. Lyons, G. McKenzie, C. Hallams, S. Manizade and T. Paulsen, 2005. Airborne laser scanning for high-resolution mapping of Antarctica. EOS, 86(25), 237-238.
• Csatho, B., J. Kimble, C. Tremper, L. Everett and Y. Ahn, 2004. Toward mapping soils and geomorphology by remote sensing: an example of multi-sensor data fusion from the Dry Valleys. Antarctic Permafrost Workshop, Madison, WI, November 14-18, 2004. (jpg)

Abstract: A multidisciplinary team of researchers reports the results of a study of the feasibility of utilizing high-resolution Declassified Intelligence Satellite Photographs (DISP) to derive surface speeds of fast-moving Greenland outlet glaciers from tracking surface features on sequential DISP images. The images provide coverage of the entire Greenland Ice Sheet for most of the 1960s and their value as a resource for establishing a baseline for assessing ongoing and future changes in the ice sheet is demonstrated.