Timelapse from space reveals glacier in motion
Animations that compress 25 years of satellite images into just one second reveal the complex behavior and flow of glaciers in the Karakoram mountain range in Asia.
Frank Paul, a glaciologist at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, used images from 1990 to 2015 captured by three different Landsat satellites to create timelapse sequences of four regions in the central Karakoram: Baltoro, Panmah, Skamri–Sarpo Laggo and Shaksgam.
This mountain range is home to some of the highest peaks in the world, including the famous K2.
While timelapse films using daily photographs from cameras stationed at glacier fronts are available for some glaciers, they show only changes over a few days to a few years and only for a small part of a glacier.
Since global change is having a direct effect on the environment and society at large, it is more important than ever to understand exactly what is happening to our planet so that informed decisions can be made.
Satellites are the only realistic means of observing changes systematically over a long period of time, particularly in remote regions such as this mountain range.
The study was carried out through ESA’s Climate Change Initiative which treats glaciers as an ‘essential climate variable’. The initiative has assembled comprehensive datasets going back decades for scientists to understand exactly how these sensitive components of our environment are changing.
PR:
http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Observing_the_Earth/Timelapse_from_space_reveals_glacier_in_motion
#ESA #glacier #universe #science
Nice picture.
ReplyDeleteLived in Iqaluit 3 years, over to Greenland, waiting for the May 16 IcelandAir tours.
ReplyDeleteamazing jceflow here.
What I take to be alluvial deposits look like creeping blood flow.
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting in vain for a hand to come into frame and slap the side of the image to get it to stabilize. :)
The gif gives us the incorrect perception that we are watching a cycle, rather than a trend.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Bliss it wouldn't be helpful if the gif ran through the sequence once... I'd expect that people have a head on their shoulders, are aware of global warming and are reading the text of the post...
ReplyDeleteCool
ReplyDeleteThe gif is pretty clear...but first you have to use your brain.
ReplyDeletePretty just plan pretty wow
ReplyDeleteAaaaaaaàaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa... cool stuff
ReplyDeleteHola
ReplyDeleteCorina Marinescu smart & beautiful your a keeper
ReplyDeleteThe technology is truly amazing.
ReplyDeleteI don't feel that too many conclusiones are drawn from this minute blip in time based upon extrapolation of data that is a best guess.
Awesome
ReplyDeleteCorona M. / what IF anything can/be done about ?
ReplyDeleteLongfellow Brown this is the earth breathing. The fact is long before the technology of arrogance the earth has changed.
ReplyDeleteI would like to see people notice as the Arctic recedes the Antarctic expands in direct correlation.
Climate disruption is just a buzz word for taxing and control.
Dear Corina - please publish some of your snowboard photos again please ...
ReplyDelete