User:Kemmer.b/sandbox

Glacial Remote Sensing

Chilean Glacier

Remote Sensing is a way of getting information on a glacier when it is not possible to come in contact with that glacier. In the word remote sensing the word remote means that there is no connection between the glacier and the people studying the glacier. The word sensing means that the remote sensing will take measure of the glacier.

Techniques of Remote Sensing

• Photography from the sky are used to take pictures of the large glaciers
• Thermal Imaging takes pictures of a glacier with a special camera that shows change in temperature

Radar

• Shuttle Radar is used with a Space Shuttle to bounce radio waves off the surface of a glacier. Radar is also used for the collection of elevation points.
• Lasers are used to collect a observation of high and low points on the glaciers surface.

Reasons for Glacier Remote Sensing

• Glaciers are very large: Glaciers cover a very large area of the Earth's surface. A single glacier can be hundreds of kilometers.
• Glaciers are not easy to get to: Glaciers are found in areas of the World that are not easy to get to.
• There are very large numbers of glaciers: Scientist can not physically go to every glacier.
• The efficiency of remote sensing is very high: Scientists can gather a lot of information using remote sensing.

Technology used in Glacial Remote Sensing

• Radar
• Laser
• Photography
• Thermal Imaging
• Microwave

References

1. A review of remote sensing methods for glacier mass balance determination. [1], Global and Planetary Change. 2007 pp. 138-148. Retrieved October 4,2013
2. Combining optical and thermal remote sensing data for mapping debris covered glaciers (Alamkouh Glaciers, Iran). [2], Cold Regions Science and Technology. 2012 pp. 73-83. Retrieved October 4,2013
3. Introduction to the Physics and Techniques of Remote Sensing (2nd Edition). [3], Electronics and Semi Conductors. 2006 pp. 1-249. Retrieved November 3,2013