Multi-Temporal Investigation of the Boulder Clay Glacier and Northern Foothills (Victoria Land, Antarctica) by Integrated Surveying Techniques

Abstract

The paper aims to detect the main changes that occurred in the area surrounding the Mario Zucchelli Station (MZS) through analysis of multi-temporal remote sensing integrated by geophysical measurements. Specific attention was directed at realizing an integrated geomorphological study of the Boulder Clay Glacier, a partially debris-covered glacier belonging to the Northern Foothills (Victoria Land, Antarctica). This area was recently chosen as the location for the construction of a new semi-permanent gravel runway for MZS logistical airfreight operations. Photogrammetric analysis was performed by comparing three historical aerial photogrammetric surveys (carried out in 1956, 1985, and 1993) and Very High Resolution (VHR) GeoEye-1 satellite stereo-image coverage acquired in 2012. The comparison of geo-referenced orthophoto-mosaics allowed the main changes occurring in some particular areas along the coast nearby MZS to be established. Concerning the study of the Boulder Clay Glacier, it has to be considered that glaciers and moraines are not steady-state systems by definition. Several remote sensing and geophysical investigations were carried out with the main aim of determining the general assessment of this glacier: Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR); Geodetic Global Positioning System (GPS) network; multi-temporal satellite Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) interferometry. The analysis of Boulder Clay Glacier moraine pointed out a deformation of less than 74 mm y −1 in a time span of 56 years, value that agrees with velocity and deformation data observed by GPS and InSAR methods. The presence of unexpected brine ponds at the ice/bedrock interface and the deformation pattern observed in the central part of the moraine has to be monitored and studied, especially under the long-term maintenance of the future runway.

Structure-From-Motion Photogrammetry of Antarctic Historical Aerial Photographs in Conjunction with Ground Control Derived from Satellite Data

“…To the best of our knowledge, there are no other studies in Antarctica using SfM photogrammetry processing with manually extracted ground control to generate elevations from analog aerial imagery. Urbini et al [15] do use some form of SfM processing with extracted GCPs, but only to orthorectify aerial imagery; no historical elevations are produced. Our workflow, which relies on modern processing techniques applied to historical images with little ground control, can also be applied to other historical aerial images.…”

Tracking Deformation Processes at the Legnica Glogow Copper District (Poland) by Satellite InSAR—I: Room and Pillar Mine District

“…Differential SAR Interferometry (DInSAR) has been successfully applied in the investigation of different ground deformation processes and is mainly characterized by impulsive or intermittent behavior. Indeed, DInSAR provides good results for the investigation of displacement characterized by wide, spatially smooth deformation processes, such as coseismic and postseismic deformations [38][39][40], volcanic deformation processes [41,42], or ice and glacier dynamics [17,43] or landslide detection [44][45][46]. Furthermore, mining-related deformations phenomena have also been detected and measured by DInSAR (e.g., [3,29]).…”

“…This technique is very effective for structural health monitoring purposes involving structures like dams (e.g., [9][10][11] and Cultural Heritage degradation (e.g., [12])). Specifically, Advanced Differential SAR Interferometry (A-DInSAR) can provide information about the ongoing and past deformations with millimeter accuracy and can be used for many different applications in the field of engineering geology, e.g., subsidence and settlements [13,14], landslides (e.g., [15,16]), glaciers, and dynamics of permafrost [17,18].…”

Assessment of Remote Sensing Techniques Applicability for Beach Morphology Mapping: A Case Study of Hvar Island, Central Adriatic, Croatia

“…Satellite imagery has tremendous advantages, for example, in the study of vast or difficult-to-access areas, such as aeolian landforms [20] or glacial processes [21]. Even though rapid development, increasing global coverage, and many free or relatively cheap data allow easier and more frequent investigations, they could not replace traditional geomorphological fieldwork.…”