GFI/BCCR Seminar: Remote sensing of the changing ice sheets

Jeremie Mouginot (University of California, Irvine, Department of Earth System Science, USA):

Remote sensing of the changing ice sheets

Abstract
Under the current changing climate, the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland responded with an increase in mass loss resulting in a significant contribution to sea level rise. In order to quantify these changes and understand the underlying processes, it is essential to monitor the glacier dynamic and geometry.

Using remote sensing techniques, I will highlight ongoing (significant) changes of two regions far apart from each other: North-Eastern Greenland and the Amundsen Sea Embayment in Antarctica. Both regions have encountered ice shelf weakening, retreat of the grounding line, acceleration of the ice streams, and finally sustained increase in mass loss than can be attributed to either the direct or indirect effects of the surrounding warm oceans.‬‬‬ In light of the existing observations, it seems unlikely that the current changes will stop, or even attenuate, in a near future. I conclude on the needs for continuous dense monitoring of the ice sheets with the current and future remote sensing missions.