Topic 2c - Finding detail in the snow-pack (part 1) - Snow density & snow profile

The Greenland ice sheet has a top layer consisting of more recent snow. This ‘snow-pack’ is complex, consisting of multiple layers which reveal characteristics of the changes in the ice sheet and climatic conditions in recent months and years.

In this video, you will learn how digging a snow profile can reveal important information about the ice sheet and the intricacies of the structures within the snow. Professor Steffen and his colleagues outline how ground-based instruments can be used to measure this detail, and also to interpret and validate satellite data.

Featured Educators:

  • Professor Konrad Steffen

  • Dr Martin Schneebeli

  • Dr Neige Calonne

Don’t forget you can download the video, transcript and take any quizzes available with the links on the right.

Imagery

Petermann Glacier on the move

This ‘interferogram’ shows Petermann Glacier grinding towards the sea along the northwestern coast of Greenland. Two Radarsat-2 TOPS images acquired 24 days apart were used to generate it.

http://www.esa.int

Greenland surface elevation

This print resolution image shows the accumulated change in the surface elevation of the Greenland ice sheet between 2003 and 2012.

https://svs.gsfc.nasa.gov

GPR Data

Upward looking GPR measurements between 1st December - 1st July from installation at Weissfluhjoch, Swiss Alps.

GPR Measurement Diagram

Diagram showing how GPR measurements are taken

Swiss Camp SMP data

SMP transect: between AWS and tower

SnowMicroPen 1

Close up image of a SnowMicroPen (SMP)

SnowMicroPen 2

Image of a Snow Micro Pen being used