Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits
The morphology of englacial drainage networks and their temporal evolution are poorly characterised, particularly within cold ice masses. At present, direct observations of englacial channels are restricted in both spatial and temporal resolution. Through novel use of a terrestrial laser scanning (T...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2018-02-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143017000818/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1811155872209960960 |
|---|---|
| author | J. E. KAMINTZIS J. P. P. JONES T. D. L. IRVINE-FYNN T. O. HOLT P. BUNTING S. J. A. JENNINGS P. R. PORTER B. HUBBARD |
| author_facet | J. E. KAMINTZIS J. P. P. JONES T. D. L. IRVINE-FYNN T. O. HOLT P. BUNTING S. J. A. JENNINGS P. R. PORTER B. HUBBARD |
| author_sort | J. E. KAMINTZIS |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The morphology of englacial drainage networks and their temporal evolution are poorly characterised, particularly within cold ice masses. At present, direct observations of englacial channels are restricted in both spatial and temporal resolution. Through novel use of a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) system, the interior geometry of an englacial channel in Austre Brøggerbreen, Svalbard, was reconstructed and mapped. Twenty-eight laser scan surveys were conducted in March 2016, capturing the glacier surface around a moulin entrance and the uppermost 122 m reach of the adjoining conduit. The resulting point clouds provide detailed 3-D visualisation of the channel with point accuracy of 6.54 mm, despite low (<60%) overall laser returns as a result of the physical and optical properties of the clean ice, snow, hoar frost and sediment surfaces forming the conduit interior. These point clouds are used to map the conduit morphology, enabling extraction of millimetre-to-centimetre scale geometric measurements. The conduit meanders at a depth of 48 m, with a sinuosity of 2.7, exhibiting teardrop shaped cross-section morphology. This improvement upon traditional surveying techniques demonstrates the potential of TLS as an investigative tool to elucidate the nature of glacier hydrological networks, through reconstruction of channel geometry and wall composition. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:40:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8ed5ee462d494c4f860f7f4bb8cc34f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T04:40:54Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Glaciology |
| spelling | doaj.art-8ed5ee462d494c4f860f7f4bb8cc34f02023-03-09T12:40:29ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-56522018-02-0164374810.1017/jog.2017.81Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduitsJ. E. KAMINTZIS0J. P. P. JONES1T. D. L. IRVINE-FYNN2T. O. HOLT3P. BUNTING4S. J. A. JENNINGS5P. R. PORTER6B. HUBBARD7Department of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKDeri Jones & Associates, Ltd., Machynlleth, Wales, UKDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKSchool of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, UKDepartment of Geography and Earth Sciences, Centre for Glaciology, Aberystwyth University, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DB, Wales, UKThe morphology of englacial drainage networks and their temporal evolution are poorly characterised, particularly within cold ice masses. At present, direct observations of englacial channels are restricted in both spatial and temporal resolution. Through novel use of a terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) system, the interior geometry of an englacial channel in Austre Brøggerbreen, Svalbard, was reconstructed and mapped. Twenty-eight laser scan surveys were conducted in March 2016, capturing the glacier surface around a moulin entrance and the uppermost 122 m reach of the adjoining conduit. The resulting point clouds provide detailed 3-D visualisation of the channel with point accuracy of 6.54 mm, despite low (<60%) overall laser returns as a result of the physical and optical properties of the clean ice, snow, hoar frost and sediment surfaces forming the conduit interior. These point clouds are used to map the conduit morphology, enabling extraction of millimetre-to-centimetre scale geometric measurements. The conduit meanders at a depth of 48 m, with a sinuosity of 2.7, exhibiting teardrop shaped cross-section morphology. This improvement upon traditional surveying techniques demonstrates the potential of TLS as an investigative tool to elucidate the nature of glacier hydrological networks, through reconstruction of channel geometry and wall composition.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143017000818/type/journal_articlearctic glaciologyglacier mappingglaciological instruments and methodsremote sensing |
| spellingShingle | J. E. KAMINTZIS J. P. P. JONES T. D. L. IRVINE-FYNN T. O. HOLT P. BUNTING S. J. A. JENNINGS P. R. PORTER B. HUBBARD Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits Journal of Glaciology arctic glaciology glacier mapping glaciological instruments and methods remote sensing |
| title | Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| title_full | Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| title_fullStr | Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| title_short | Assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| title_sort | assessing the applicability of terrestrial laser scanning for mapping englacial conduits |
| topic | arctic glaciology glacier mapping glaciological instruments and methods remote sensing |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143017000818/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jekamintzis assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT jppjones assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT tdlirvinefynn assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT toholt assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT pbunting assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT sjajennings assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT prporter assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits AT bhubbard assessingtheapplicabilityofterrestriallaserscanningformappingenglacialconduits |