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Three‐dimensional mapping by CryoSat‐2 of subglacial lake volume changes
Author(s) -
McMillan Malcolm,
Corr Hugh,
Shepherd Andrew,
Ridout Andrew,
Laxon Seymour,
Cullen Robert
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/grl.50689
Subject(s) - geology , altimeter , ice sheet , meltwater , elevation (ballistics) , ice stream , volume (thermodynamics) , ocean surface topography , geomorphology , glacier , remote sensing , geodesy , climatology , cryosphere , sea ice , physics , geometry , mathematics , quantum mechanics
We analyze data acquired by the CryoSat‐2 interferometric radar altimeter and demonstrate its novel capability to track topographic features on the Antarctic Ice Sheet. We map the perimeter and depth of a 260 km 2 surface depression above an Antarctic subglacial lake (SGL) and, in combination with Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite laser altimetry, chart decadal changes in SGL volume. During 2007–2008, between 4.9 and 6.4 km 3 of water drained from the SGL, and peak discharge exceeded 160 m 3 s −1 . The flood was twice as large as any previously recorded and equivalent to ~ 10% of the meltwater generated annually beneath the ice sheet. The ice surface has since uplifted at a rate of 5.6 ± 2.8 m yr −1 . Our study demonstrates the ability of CryoSat‐2 to provide detailed maps of ice sheet topography, its potential to accurately measure SGL drainage events, and the contribution it can make to understanding water flow beneath Antarctica.