TY - JOUR

T1 - High-resolution digital elevation models from single-pass TanDEM-X interferometry over mountainous regions

T2 - A case study of Inylchek Glacier, Central Asia

AU - Neelmeijer, Julia

AU - Motagh, Mahdi

AU - Bookhagen, Bodo

N1 - Funding information: This study was supported by the Initiative and Networking Fund of the Helmholtz Association in the framework of the Helmholtz Alliance “Remote Sensing and Earth System Dynamics” (EDA). The authors thank D.H. Shangguan and T. Bolch for providing the Inylchek Glacier outline and A. Wendleder and A. Roth from the German Aerospace Center (DLR) for distributing the ICESat-corrected C-SRTM DEM. The TanDEM-X (proposal ID XTI_GLAC6883) and SRTM-X DEM data were also kindly provided by DLR. The C-SRTM DEM v4 was derived from the Consortium for Spatial Information of the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR-CSI). The Landsat data were obtained from the U.S. Geological Survey.

PY - 2017/8

Y1 - 2017/8

N2 - This study demonstrates the potential of using single-pass TanDEM-X (TDX) radar imagery to analyse inter- and intra-annual glacier changes in mountainous terrain. Based on SAR images acquired in February 2012, March 2013 and November 2013 over the Inylchek Glacier, Kyrgyzstan, we discuss in detail the processing steps required to generate three reliable digital elevation models (DEMs) with a spatial resolution of 10 m that can be used for glacial mass balance studies. We describe the interferometric processing steps and the influence of a priori elevation information that is required to model long-wavelength topographic effects. We also focus on DEM alignment to allow optimal DEM comparisons and on the effects of radar signal penetration on ice and snow surface elevations. We finally compare glacier elevation changes between the three TDX DEMs and the C-band shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) DEM from February 2000. We introduce a new approach for glacier elevation change calculations that depends on the elevation and slope of the terrain. We highlight the superior quality of the TDX DEMs compared to the SRTM DEM, describe remaining DEM uncertainties and discuss the limitations that arise due to the side-looking nature of the radar sensor.

AB - This study demonstrates the potential of using single-pass TanDEM-X (TDX) radar imagery to analyse inter- and intra-annual glacier changes in mountainous terrain. Based on SAR images acquired in February 2012, March 2013 and November 2013 over the Inylchek Glacier, Kyrgyzstan, we discuss in detail the processing steps required to generate three reliable digital elevation models (DEMs) with a spatial resolution of 10 m that can be used for glacial mass balance studies. We describe the interferometric processing steps and the influence of a priori elevation information that is required to model long-wavelength topographic effects. We also focus on DEM alignment to allow optimal DEM comparisons and on the effects of radar signal penetration on ice and snow surface elevations. We finally compare glacier elevation changes between the three TDX DEMs and the C-band shuttle radar topography mission (SRTM) DEM from February 2000. We introduce a new approach for glacier elevation change calculations that depends on the elevation and slope of the terrain. We highlight the superior quality of the TDX DEMs compared to the SRTM DEM, describe remaining DEM uncertainties and discuss the limitations that arise due to the side-looking nature of the radar sensor.

KW - DEM generation

KW - InSAR

KW - Inter-annual glacier elevation change

KW - Inylchek Glacier

KW - TanDEM-X

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85020001958&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2017.05.011

DO - 10.1016/j.isprsjprs.2017.05.011

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85020001958

VL - 130

SP - 108

EP - 121

JO - ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

JF - ISPRS Journal of Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing

SN - 0924-2716

ER -