Elevation change measurements of the Greenland Ice Sheet

Earth Planets Space, Vol. 52, p. 1049-1053, 2000 

R. Forsberg, K. Keller, C.S. Nielsen
Geodynamics Department, KMS, Rentemestervej 8, DK-2400 Copenhagen NV, Denmark.
N. Gundestrup, C.C. Tscherning
Departement of Geophysics, The Niels Bohr Institute of Astronomy, Physics and Geophysics, University of Copenhagen.
S.N. Madsen, J. Dall
Danish Centre for Remote Sensing, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Lyngby, Denmark.

ABSTRACT.
Repeated GPS measurements have been performed at the centre of the Greenland Ice Sheet since 1992. Results have shown that the ice sheet is essentially stable at this location, with GPS-determined strain and elevation change rates in good accordance with yearly snow accumulation and glaciological flow models. In a local ice cap in East Greenland (Geikie Plateau) repeated GPS, airborne laser altimetry and SAR interferometry have been used to study ice movements in the more climatically variable coastal zone, where meter-level annual elevation changes are possible due to the high precipitation. The paper outlines the surveys carried out, some preliminary results, and intercomparisons of GPS, laser altimetry and SAR techniques.