A comparison of supraglacial lake observations derived from MODIS imagery at the western margin of the Greenland ice sheet

Leeson, Amber A. and Shepherd, Andrew and Sundal, Aud V. and Johansson, A. Malin and Selmes, Nick and Briggs, Kate and Hogg, Anna E. and Fettweis, Xavier (2013) A comparison of supraglacial lake observations derived from MODIS imagery at the western margin of the Greenland ice sheet. Journal of Glaciology, 59 (218). pp. 1179-1188. ISSN 0022-1430

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Supraglacial lakes (SGLs) affect the dynamics of the Greenland ice sheet by storing runoff and draining episodically. We investigate the evolution of SGLs as reported in three datasets, each based on automated classification of satellite imagery. Although the datasets span the period 2001-10, there are differences in temporal sampling, and only the years 2005-07 are common. By subsampling the most populous dataset, we recommend a sampling frequency of one image per 6.5 days in order to minimize uncertainty associated with poor temporal sampling. When compared with manual classification of satellite imagery, all three datasets are found to omit a sizeable (29, 48 and 41%) fraction of lakes and are estimated to document the average size of SGLs to within 0.78, 0.48 and 0.95km2. We combine the datasets using a hierarchical scheme, producing a single, optimized, dataset. This combined record reports up to 67% more lakes than a single dataset. During 2005-07, the rate of SGL growth tends to follow the rate at which runoff increases in each year. In 2007, lakes drain earlier than in 2005 and 2006 and remain absent despite continued runoff. This suggests that lakes continue to act as open surface-bed conduits following drainage.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Journal of Glaciology
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1900/1904
Subjects:
?? EARTH-SURFACE PROCESSES ??
ID Code:
79032
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
11 Apr 2016 10:48
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
21 Sep 2023 01:56