Ice sheet surface features from satellite radar altimetry

Abstract

Fourteen SEASAT and ten GEOS‐3 satellite radar altimeter ground tracks across a 1° by 2.5° study area in southwestern Greenland have yielded 3,328 ice sheet surface elevations. The surface elevations derived from SEASAT were recalculated based on a waveform retracking algorithm. The elevations have been used to develop a surface profile, a three‐dimensional surface representation, and surface contours. Analysis of the elevations reveals the presence of surface terraces, some greater than 100 km in length; each terrace is at a discrete elevation. The ice surface undulations caused frequent altimeter losses of lock. Future satellite radar altimeters could significantly contribute to ice sheet mapping in the next decade, particularly if they incorporate tracking systems with more frequent updates.