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Development of operational monitoring system for european glacial areas - synthesis of earth observation data of the present, past and future (OMEGA)

Exploitable results

Contemporary rates of ice loss processes in linear, areal, volumetric, and fluxometric terms were determined over Franz Josef Land, North Novaya Zemlya and South Spitsbergen for the last decade and for the past 50 years. Several new geographic objects (capes, bays, islands) were discovered in the study areas due to the glacier retreat. New tendencies in the behaviour of large tidewater glaciers caused by climate changes and environmental forcing were revealed.
New set of robust algorithms for INSARAL data fusing, which can be used in commercial / non-commercial software packages for robust processing of publicly available INSAR and ALTI data. The height accuracy of spaceborne INSARAL composites was given as +/-5m, which is, at least, twice better than that of standard INSAR products.
Set of visualized tracks of ICESat - GLAS data taken over the Barents Sea Region in cold seasons, 2003 - 2005 (quality-controlled) representing contemporary heights of ice-coasts and main ice divides in the Novaya Zemlya, Svalbard and Franz Josef Land study areas.
Advanced observation technology of large glacial complexes using satellite interferometry and altimetry. The monitoring concept is based on a new remote sensing method involving the combination of satellite interferometry and altimetry (INSARAL). Unique combination of technical parameters related with glacier monitoring is specified, argued and verified.
New computer animations, 3-D displays and documentary film demonstrating the INTEGRAL research results to the general public. The multi-media models can be freely accessed at http://dib.joanneum.at/integral
New sequence of software blocks and functionalities for geometric processing of overlapping (multitemporal) interferometric models including joint processing of C- and L-band SAR interferograms and interferometric mapping of ice flow and glacier changes (freely accessible and applicable to the ERS-AMI, ENVISAT-ASAR, ALOS-PALSAR and TerraSAR data processing) realized in the form of licensed RSG software package, release 5.1, stand-alone version.
Straightforward differential analysis of INSAR data using phase-gradient and transferential approaches providing new series of INSAR value-products such as topogram (phase-gradient image), fluxogram (differential phase-gradient image) and STRIP (strain rate image product). New approaches to DINSAR data processing mitigating some problems related to the operation of interferometric phase unwrapping and differential interferometry and a new set of robust algorithms for DINSAR data processing, which can be used in commercial software packages.
New, precise and simple "touch-and-go" technique for measuring glacier (frontal) velocities using laser rangefinder and dGPS records of the fast-sea-ice translation. INSAR velocities of 9 test glaciers in the Höhe Tauern, Svalbard and Novaya Zemlya test sites were validated during the field surveys with the total duration of 2.5 weeks.
Database REGARD represents the present regime and spatial changes of large tidewater glaciers at the pan-European scale. Integral estimations of glacier changes are provided in linear, areal, volumetric and fluxometric terms. Database can be freely accessed at http://dib.joanneum.at/integral
Interferometric image map series and animations showing changes of the largest European glaciers in the Barents Sea Region at scales ranging from 1:50,000 to 1:10,000000. These detailed cartographic products served the basic input to the REGARD database and allowed precise cartometric studies of glacier changes to be carried out at the pan-European scale. Image map series using strain-rate image products (STRIP) enable equivalent forecast of glacier changes for the nearest future.
Precise geocoding of spaceborne interferometric models and straightforward production of semi-controlled interferometric mosaics without surveyed ground control points. Serious height mistakes in available topographic maps were revealed over the largest European ice caps. Rapid negative changes of glacier elevations were detected and mapped in the Hornbreen-Hambergbreen ice bridge area, south Svalbard. The rate of changes is twice of that detected over neighboring glaciers, which indicates the presence of subglacial strait beneath the ice bridge.
Two new teaching courses, three PhD studies and one Diploma work were set up and completed using the INTEGRAL project results. New per-reviewed publications and presentations based on the innovative research results can be accessed at http://dib.joanneum.at/integral. Several new follow up project proposals (MIRAGE, INTERSTEREO, POLARIS) were submitted.

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