Research project Satellite measurements of the Antarctic ice sheet and ice shelves

This research aims to improve the tools available for processing and analyzing satellite data on ice sheets and ice shelves. Focusing on East Antarctica, we will use data from several satellite missions to assess the impact of climate change on the ice sheet's mass. The large East Antarctic Ice Sheet is increasingly affected by climate change, but the effects of warmer oceans and atmosphere are complex and difficult to predict, as is the timeline for these changes.

By utilizing satellite data, we aim to expand the spatial coverage of these measurements, and by examining archived data, we can investigate how the ice sheet has changed over time. We are combining radar and laser sensors to map changes in three dimensions. Our study focuses on: i) how the mass of the ice changes over time, ii) how wave impacts and ocean warming affect the ice shelves, and iii) how the movement of the ice sheet transfers ice from the interior to the sea.

We are collaborating with colleagues from Germany and Finland. This research is part of the Swedish Antarctic Program's research theme, iQ2300. The iQ2300 team consists of 25 senior researchers from across Europe, North and South America. As part of our work, we are committed to supporting early-career researchers. We will also conduct an extensive outreach program, working with policymakers and youth groups. Together, we aim to understand how the ice sheet and ice shelves of Dronning Maud Land will evolve over the next 280 years—a critical piece of knowledge needed to prepare for rising global sea levels.