Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica
This study examines the performance of low-cost, low-power GNSS positioning systems for glacier monitoring in high-latitude environments. We compare the positioning performance of co-located low-cost u-blox ZED-F9P GNSS units (a few hundred USDs) and survey-grade Trimble R10 units (> $10,000 USD)...
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
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Series: | Journal of Glaciology |
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Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023001016/type/journal_article |
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author | Holly Still Robert Odolinski M. Hamish Bowman Christina Hulbe David J. Prior |
author_facet | Holly Still Robert Odolinski M. Hamish Bowman Christina Hulbe David J. Prior |
author_sort | Holly Still |
collection | DOAJ |
description | This study examines the performance of low-cost, low-power GNSS positioning systems for glacier monitoring in high-latitude environments. We compare the positioning performance of co-located low-cost u-blox ZED-F9P GNSS units (a few hundred USDs) and survey-grade Trimble R10 units (> $10,000 USD) under stationary (on land) and dynamic (on glacier) conditions near Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Low-cost and survey-grade systems yield almost identical error magnitudes under short (3 m), medium (34 km) and long (390 km) baseline kinematic-positioning scenarios. We further examined the efficacy of low-cost GNSS for glaciological applications by installing four u-blox and two Trimble receivers on Priestley Glacier to observe tide-modulated ice flexure. All receivers successfully detected subtle tidal oscillations with amplitudes < 3 cm, consistent with the predicted phasing from a tide model. These experiments offer a strong rationale for the widespread use of low-cost receivers to expand and densify GNSS monitoring networks, both in Antarctica and in glaciated regions worldwide. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:09Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-96312aedb26a40b59c2c32562f7adb95 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 0022-1430 1727-5652 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-08T14:48:09Z |
publisher | Cambridge University Press |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Glaciology |
spelling | doaj.art-96312aedb26a40b59c2c32562f7adb952024-01-11T07:40:17ZengCambridge University PressJournal of Glaciology0022-14301727-565211810.1017/jog.2023.101Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, AntarcticaHolly Still0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6021-1964Robert Odolinski1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5073-4457M. Hamish Bowman2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0455-9421Christina Hulbe3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4765-7037David J. Prior4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4653-2112School of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandSchool of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandDepartment of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandSchool of Surveying, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandDepartment of Geology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New ZealandThis study examines the performance of low-cost, low-power GNSS positioning systems for glacier monitoring in high-latitude environments. We compare the positioning performance of co-located low-cost u-blox ZED-F9P GNSS units (a few hundred USDs) and survey-grade Trimble R10 units (> $10,000 USD) under stationary (on land) and dynamic (on glacier) conditions near Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica. Low-cost and survey-grade systems yield almost identical error magnitudes under short (3 m), medium (34 km) and long (390 km) baseline kinematic-positioning scenarios. We further examined the efficacy of low-cost GNSS for glaciological applications by installing four u-blox and two Trimble receivers on Priestley Glacier to observe tide-modulated ice flexure. All receivers successfully detected subtle tidal oscillations with amplitudes < 3 cm, consistent with the predicted phasing from a tide model. These experiments offer a strong rationale for the widespread use of low-cost receivers to expand and densify GNSS monitoring networks, both in Antarctica and in glaciated regions worldwide.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023001016/type/journal_articleAntarctic glaciologyice dynamicsglacier monitoringglaciological instruments and methods |
spellingShingle | Holly Still Robert Odolinski M. Hamish Bowman Christina Hulbe David J. Prior Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica Journal of Glaciology Antarctic glaciology ice dynamics glacier monitoring glaciological instruments and methods |
title | Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica |
title_full | Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica |
title_fullStr | Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed | Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica |
title_short | Observing glacier dynamics with low-cost, multi-GNSS positioning in Victoria Land, Antarctica |
title_sort | observing glacier dynamics with low cost multi gnss positioning in victoria land antarctica |
topic | Antarctic glaciology ice dynamics glacier monitoring glaciological instruments and methods |
url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0022143023001016/type/journal_article |
work_keys_str_mv | AT hollystill observingglacierdynamicswithlowcostmultignsspositioninginvictorialandantarctica AT robertodolinski observingglacierdynamicswithlowcostmultignsspositioninginvictorialandantarctica AT mhamishbowman observingglacierdynamicswithlowcostmultignsspositioninginvictorialandantarctica AT christinahulbe observingglacierdynamicswithlowcostmultignsspositioninginvictorialandantarctica AT davidjprior observingglacierdynamicswithlowcostmultignsspositioninginvictorialandantarctica |