GlobGlacier: a new ESA project to map the world's glaciers and ice caps from space

Abstract

In this paper we provide an overview of the GlobGlacier project, a new data user element activity within ESA’s Living Planet program. The main aim of the project is to map glaciers from key re-gions all over the world and to generate digital glacier outlines in large quantities in order to fill data gaps in currently existing databases (GLIMS and World Glacier Inventory, WGI). Further goals are to provide additional information (snow line, topography, elevation change, velocity) for a smaller number of glaciers in selected regions from space-borne sensors and to document the applied techniques for later use. Apart from a short description of the project and the products that are generated, an overview of available remote sensing techniques that have been used on glaciers and ice caps is given.