Science applications of ARIES data at BAS McMurdo Ground Station Science Workshop 9 – 11 March 2004 Andrew Fleming British Antarctic Survey

Summary Responsibility for co-ordination of remote sensing data and activities in BASResponsibility for co-ordination of remote sensing data and activities in BAS BAS science programme makes use of a wide range of remote sensing applicationsBAS science programme makes use of a wide range of remote sensing applications Ensure that we keep track of new developments and forthcoming changes to existing systems that will impact our operations and science programmeEnsure that we keep track of new developments and forthcoming changes to existing systems that will impact our operations and science programme This presentation will provide an overview of some applications of satellite dataThis presentation will provide an overview of some applications of satellite data

Satellite imagery used for mapping, cartography… …glaciology, geology…

…field work planning and operations support. But this presentation will concentrate on the use of the AVHRR data collected by our SRIES system and analogous datasets.

Application areas Real time applications in weather forecasting at Rothera StationReal time applications in weather forecasting at Rothera Station Field operations supportField operations support Logistics and new base planningLogistics and new base planning Research at BAS into:Research at BAS into: Synoptic and mesoscale weather systemsSynoptic and mesoscale weather systems Antarctic cloudsAntarctic clouds Ice shelf monitoringIce shelf monitoring Biological science applicationsBiological science applications VolcanoesVolcanoes

The BAS base at Rothera on the Antarctic Peninsula. The other main BAS base is located on the Brunt Ice Shelf.

ARIES data is used for met forecasting to support flights for field scientists and aerial photography.

Clouds and weather systems

Cloud data assessed to help in planning of new bas to replace Halley on the Brunt Ice Shelf.

Ice shelf monitoring

AVHRR data used in conjunction with SAR and altimetry data to monitor ice shelves on the Antarctic Peninsula.

More detail of the break-up of the Larsen Ice Shelf available from data such as the Landsat 7 ETM+ image.

Volcanic monitoring

Monitoring of volcanic eruptions on the South Sandwich Islands.

For a given lava surface temperature it is possible to estimate the lava surface area and derive an indication of volcanic activity over the duration of the ARIES archive.

Similar volcanic detection algorithms are now integrated into the MODIS processing chain. This example comes from the MODVOLC system run by the University of Hawaii.

Biology of the Southern Ocean

Some SeaWiFS data has been collected by the ARIES system.

SeaWiFS and MODIS ocean colour products are used in the study of the biology of the Southern Ocean.

Using statistical techniques to determine spatial and temporal variability of chlorophyll concentration.

Satellite data is also compared with in-situ data acquired during scientific cruises.