Open AccessDevelopment of an Antarctic digital elevation model by integrating cartographic and remotely sensed data: A geographic information system based approach
Author(s) -
Liu Hongxing,
Jezek Kenneth C.,
Li Biyan
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/1999jb900224
Subject(s) - digital elevation model , elevation (ballistics) , classification of discontinuities , geology , remote sensing , geographic information system , interpolation (computer graphics) , scale (ratio) , ice sheet , geodesy , cartography , geomorphology , geography , computer science , computer graphics (images) , geometry , mathematics , animation , mathematical analysis
We present a high‐resolution digital elevation model (DEM) of the Antarctic. It was created in a geographic information system (GIS) environment by integrating the best available topographic data from a variety of sources. Extensive GIS‐based error detection and correction operations ensured that our DEM is free of gross errors. The carefully designed interpolation algorithms for different types of source data and incorporation of surface morphologic information preserved and enhanced the fine surface structures present in the source data. The effective control of adverse edge effects and the use of the Hermite blending weight function in data merging minimized the discontinuities between different types of data, leading to a seamless and topographically consistent DEM throughout the Antarctic. This new DEM provides exceptional topographical details and represents a substantial improvement in horizontal resolution and vertical accuracy over the earlier, continental‐scale renditions, particularly in mountainous and coastal regions. It has a horizontal resolution of 200 m over the rugged mountains, 400 m in the coastal regions, and approximately 5 km in the interior. The vertical accuracy of the DEM is estimated at about 100–130 m over the rugged mountainous area, better than 2 m for the ice shelves, better than 15 m for the interior ice sheet, and about 35 m for the steeper ice sheet perimeter. The Antarctic DEM can be obtained from the authors.