Influence of glaciers and snow cover on terrestrial and marine ecosystems as revealed by remotely-sensed data

Abstract

King George Island, the largest of the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, is dominated by an ice cap. Less than 10% of the islands area is ice free, but biological activity is concentrated on these small areas and on the coastal zone. Processes related to melt water from snow and ice strongly control these environments. Remote sensing offers a suite of methods and tools that can assist in addressing the influence of glaciers and snow cover on terrestrial and marine ecosystems. Four case studies test the use of spaceborne remotely sensed data to assess these processes on King George Island. Active microwave data (SAR) are used to assess ablation patterns that indicate melt water discharge. Data from the visible spectrum are applied on monitoring sediment plumes in the coastal ecosystems. Another case study demonstrates the use of SAR and optical data to monitor the seasonal and inter-annual changes in the morphometry and location of lakes. An example of how to use multi-spectral imagery to estimate physical properties of lentic water bodies is also given. These case studies confirm the applicability of remote sensing tools to assess the influence of glaciers and snow cover on ecosystems in maritime Antarctica.