Constraints of the enhanced snow melt in the northern Antarctic Peninsula during the 2021/22 melt season from Sentinel-1 data and in-situ observations

IF 4.9 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CIVIL

Cold Regions Science and Technology Pub Date : 2026-01-15 Epub Date: 2025-10-20 DOI:10.1016/j.coldregions.2025.104722

Kateřina Fárová , Kamil Láska , Zbyněk Engel

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Abstract

A time series of 32 Sentinel-1 images were used to establish the constraints of the surface melt on the Trinity Peninsula and James Ross Island from October 2021 to April 2022. The consistency of the decrease in the backscatter coefficient (σ⁰) with the rise in air temperature above 0 °C was validated through in-situ measured meteorological data. The correlation coefficient between the air temperature characteristics and σ⁰ was highest in the accumulation area of the glaciers on James Ross Island. A decrease of σ⁰ by −4 dB, compared to the winter mean value, was chosen as the threshold for the melt constraint. The number of melt days, derived from the Sentinel-1 data, was in better agreement with the same characteristics retrieved from the six-day mean air temperature, than that from the sum of positive degree days. The method proved to be useful when applied to the percolation zone, but unsuitable for the termination zone of glaciers with bare ice and for the dry snow zone. The snow-melt indices were subject to detailed analysis along selected transects across the Trinity Peninsula and James Ross Island in terms of both elevation and local/regional differences. The maximum number of melt days ranged from 150 to 180 days on the west coast of the Trinity Peninsula to 90–120 days on the southeastern part of James Ross Island. The earliest occurrence and longest duration of snow melt was observed on the northwestern coast of the Trinity Peninsula. On the east coast of the Peninsula, in the area from 200 to 600 m a.s.l., the melt duration was approximately 100 days. During a significant temperature anomaly in early February 2022, the snow melt extended to the summit of Mt. Haddington. At the same time, surface snow melting advanced to an elevation of 1600 m a.s.l. on the Trinity Peninsula. Apart from this extreme event, melting at altitudes above 1000–1200 m a.s.l. was rarely observed.

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基于Sentinel-1数据和现场观测的南极半岛北部2021/22年融雪季融雪增强的制约因素

利用Sentinel-1卫星的32张时间序列图像，建立了2021年10月至2022年4月期间三一半岛和詹姆斯罗斯岛表面融化的约束条件。通过实测气象资料验证了后向散射系数（σ0）随0℃以上气温升高而减小的一致性。气温特征与σ0的相关系数在詹姆斯罗斯岛冰川堆积区最高。与冬季平均值相比，σ0下降- 4 dB作为熔体约束的阈值。从Sentinel-1数据中得到的融化日数与从6天平均气温中得到的相同特征比从正度日数中得到的特征更符合。结果表明，该方法适用于渗流带，但不适用于裸冰冰川终止带和干雪带。在选定的三位一体半岛和詹姆斯罗斯岛的样带上，对融雪指数进行了详细的分析，包括海拔和局部/区域差异。最大融化日数在三一半岛西海岸为150 - 180天，在詹姆斯罗斯岛东南部为90-120天。融雪发生最早、持续时间最长的地区是三一半岛西北海岸。在半岛东海岸，在海拔200至600米的区域，融化持续时间约为100天。在2022年2月初的一次明显的温度异常中，融雪延伸到了哈丁顿山的山顶。与此同时，在三一半岛，地表融雪推进到海拔1600米。除了这一极端事件外，在海拔1000-1200米以上的高度很少观察到融化。

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来源期刊

Cold Regions Science and Technology 工程技术-地球科学综合

CiteScore

7.40

自引率

12.20%

发文量

209

审稿时长

4.9 months

期刊介绍： Cold Regions Science and Technology is an international journal dealing with the science and technical problems of cold environments in both the polar regions and more temperate locations. It includes fundamental aspects of cryospheric sciences which have applications for cold regions problems as well as engineering topics which relate to the cryosphere. Emphasis is given to applied science with broad coverage of the physical and mechanical aspects of ice (including glaciers and sea ice), snow and snow avalanches, ice-water systems, ice-bonded soils and permafrost. Relevant aspects of Earth science, materials science, offshore and river ice engineering are also of primary interest. These include icing of ships and structures as well as trafficability in cold environments. Technological advances for cold regions in research, development, and engineering practice are relevant to the journal. Theoretical papers must include a detailed discussion of the potential application of the theory to address cold regions problems. The journal serves a wide range of specialists, providing a medium for interdisciplinary communication and a convenient source of reference.