Grounding Line Location using Echograms - CReSIS

• Plot the coordinates from the x-axis of the echogram and determine which direction the plane was flying and
record in Table 1. Make sure to carefully label the points from each echogram so as to not confuse them with
other years.
• Repeat for each of the two 2007 images. You should have a total of 28 coordinates plotted.
Table 2 - Fill in coordinates for estimated grounding line locations.
2003 A
2003 B
2007 A
2007 B
Q8) Do the grounding lines fall between the flight lines? If
not recalculate your estimated grounding line
Q9) Briefly describe the changes you observe in the location
of the grounding line in 2003, 2007.
Q10) Briefly explain how you determined the flight direction
for the data collected for each echogram.
Explain:
Q11) Does the location of your estimated grounding lines
look the same as the Petermann Glacier Grounding Line Map
(Figure 3)? If not, what are some possible sources of error?
Q12) Why would it be important for researchers to record
this type of data over several years?
Extend:
Latitude Longitude Flight Direction
The northern part of Petermann Glacier experienced many dramatic changes in 2009 and 2010. Scientists have recorded
images or video of the great glacier break-off from August 2010.
• View the following videos related to Petermann Glacier.
o Byrd Polar Research Center: http://bprc.osu.edu/wiki/Petermann_Glacier_before-after-photos_2010-
2011
o Discovery News: http://news.discovery.com/videos/news-arctic-melt-caught-on-video.html
o Earth Observatory: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/NaturalHazards/view.php?id=45112
• Recently processed 2011 data is now available on the CReSIS web site. A couple of images have been included
on the ‘Petermann Glacier’ PDF.
• Go through the same processes outlined above to determine the grounding line in 2011.
Q13) How has the grounding line changed position since 2007? 2003?
Figure 3 – Scientists accepted grounding line locations from 2003 and
2007 echogram data.