Imaging Elevation of the Cryosphere from combined Analysis of Large Datasets of Satellite, Airbone and Field Observations (CASE project with IsardSAT)

Project summary
Investigating algorithms to produce high spatial and temporal resolution elevation observations over the cryosphere in a changing climate.

Project background
An estimate of ~50 and ~75% of Antarctic and Greenland ice sheet mass losses are within 100 km of coasts, but <10% of these regions are surveyed by conventional altimetry because of sparse spatial sampling and large imaging footprints failing due to high slopes. Although the world’s ~105 small glaciers and ice caps constitute less than 5% of total land-ice volume, their wide geographical distribution exposes them to changes in climate, and fluctuations in their mass are expected to constitute the greatest crysopheric component of 21st century sea level rise (IPCC, 2015). The benefit of finer spatial resolution and finer spatial sampling than is afforded by classical satellite altimeters applications is apparent when considering the distribution of global glaciers and the ground sampling patterns of the respective satellite missions. More than 90% of all glaciers and ice caps occupy an area of less than 5 km2; hence instruments with small ground-footprints are required to survey changes in their volume.
Observations of elevation and change over these regions are diverse in nature and accuracy, and have a wide range of spatial and temporal coverage and resolution. Building a comprehensive pictures of the regions‘ elevation and elevation change therefore requires development and use of strategies that account for this diversity.
As part of the European Space Agency CryoTop Evolution project (cryotop-evolution.org) and the $20m NERC-NSF International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration, we are building elevation models by combining radar and laser altimetry, radar and optical imagers, airborne lidar and field measurements with the ambition of improving upon current knowledge of how the topography of these regions
changes in response to changes in the atmosphere and ocean.

Key research questions
The aim of this project is to propose, design and apply new strategies for deriving robust high-resolution elevation change from a combination of observations from diverse imaging modes. The project will seek to address the following critical questions:
a. How best to combine observations taking into account variability in surface interaction, error, space and time.
b. Deriving time-dependant elevation over key regions in Antarctica, Greenland and ice caps and glaciers elsewhere
c. Can these new observations be used to improve our understanding of the current state of the Cryosphere?

Methodology
a. Research, propose and design algorithms to account for data bias, data noise structure, resolution differences, via e.g. Bayesian modelling, and spatial-temporal correlation via regularisation techniques. Introduce techniques from other domains of science as necessary, potentially including solid-Earth inversion, imaging and so-called migration methods that are used to image the Earth’s subsurface using seismic data despite site-specific local data perturbations.
b. Produce observations of elevation and elevation change over key ice covered regions.
c. Quantify changes affecting the Cryosphere, their link with external forcing, and their contribution to sea level change

Training
A comprehensive training programme will be provided comprising both specialist scientific training and generic transferable and professional skills. For this project, the student will receive training in valuable and employable remote sensing, signal processing, data analysis, model inversion techniques, as well as multidisciplinary training in the use and analysis of glaciological, climatic, and hydrological data.
S/he will benefit from working with an internationally leading team that includes cryosphere, radar signal processing, and solid-Earth imaging experts based in the Edinburgh Earth and Environment (E3) Doctoral Training Partnership, and from collaborative supervision with isardSAT (www.isardsat.co.uk) and the European Space Agency. The student will also be part of the 5-year NERC-NSF International Thwaites Glacier Collaboration project (https://www.bas.ac.uk/project/international-thwaites-glacier-collaboration/).
The student will also receive support to attend national and international meetings (conferences and workshops) to disseminate findings to the (inter)national scientific community and to space agencies, and be encouraged to prepare and submit scientific papers to peer-reviewed literature during the course of the studentship.
In addition to the above, the student will also have the opportunity to participate in a multitude of transferrable skills training run by the University of Edinburgh, including through participation in the School of GeoSciences Graduate School, a friendly environment in which you can practice research skills such as preparing and delivering conference talks. The student will be encouraged to participate in international summer schools in glaciology.

Requirements
We seek an enthusiastic student with suitable Undergraduate and/or Masters degree qualifications equipped with quantitative skills in remote-sensing, signal processing or imaging expertise, as well as physics, mathematics, engineering, or earth sciences.